How much should I feed my kestrel?

[lilbenger320]

I just recently became an apprentice and got my first bird. I only got her two days ago but she's eating like a champ. I dont want to feed her too much but I dont want to starve her either. Today I gave her two mice (19 grams of food). Is that too much? With her jesses on she weights between 110 and 117 grams. What are your suggestions on how much to feed american kestrels?

[falconer147]

that is a little bit too much for a newly trapped kestrel IMO. I fed my kestrel around 18g after she was trained, you will have to drop her weight to make her hungry, so that she will train good. My female ended up flying at 96g. It also depends on what you feed them?

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2011 21:23:36 GMT -5 lilbenger320 said:

I just recently became an apprentice and got my first bird. I only got her two days ago but she's eating like a champ. I dont want to feed her too much but I dont want to starve her either. Today I gave her two mice (19 grams of food). Is that too much? With her jesses on she weights between 110 and 117 grams. What are your suggestions on how much to feed american kestrels?

This is somthing you should be asking and discusing with your sponsor .

[falconer147]

50 years?? really?? but I fed my kestrel 5-7g twice a day but that was with meat that stuck to her for longer periods of time, so it does depend on what you feed her and how she is reacting to training and how much weight you need to drop, etc.

[forestfalcon]

Jan 25, 2011 22:24:59 GMT -5 @lilbenger said:

Do you feed yours once or twice a day? My sponser said to just watch how she reacts to the food and go off of that. I am doing that, but in the mean time I'd like other peoples opinions. I just want to be as well-informed as I can. I want to know what other kestrel owners currently do. My sponsor has not flown kestrels in at least 50 years since he has long since moved on to bigger birds.

Then perhaps you should consider a new sponsor. If this person hasn't flown a kestrel in the better part of a CENTURY, then what are they teaching you, and what are you learning from them? Coming on to a forum and asking any random Joe what/how to feed your Kestrel is a big red flag. You should take some time and reevaluate your and your sponsor's relationship.

[Deleted]

"better part of a CENTURY"

is that a glass half full or half empty thing ?

I agree big red flags.....

[forestfalcon]

Jan 26, 2011 9:00:28 GMT -5 @steveouk said:

"better part of a CENTURY"

is that a glass half full or half empty thing ?

I agree big red flags.....

It's a "century half full' thing.

[MarkT]

The basics of weight control are pretty much the same regardless of what kind of bird you are flying. Your sponsor should have done a better job at explaining that.

Basically you need to keep track of what type of food and how much you are feeding your bird every day and then compare that to how much the bird gains or loses over that 24 hour period. There are so many variables involved that no one here can say you should be feeding X-amount each day.

Kestrels are small bird and in my opinion there weight should be brought down slowly. During the first few days I would be shooting for 2 to 3 grams a day and then a gram or less as the bird starts responding.

It does concern me that you describe the birds weight as being between 110 and 117 grams with jesses. You need to be a lot more exact with the weight than that. With a kestrel, half a gram can make a difference. If your scale is not able to consistently weight your bird I would get a new scale. For a kestrel I would want a scale that is accurate to a 1/10 gram.

[Deleted]

i was thinking of getting these in the summer

www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-triple-beam-balance.aspx

[forestfalcon]

Jan 28, 2011 23:13:17 GMT -5 @steveouk said:

i was thinking of getting these in the summer

www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-triple-beam-balance.aspx

That's the one that I used with all 4 of my kestrels. worked great!

[oldguy]

I bought a digital scale on eBay from that guy a few years ago. Cost me around $40. if I remember right.
It has a stainless steel pan on top and buttons to change from oz. to grams.

I made a perch out of aluminum bar stock and a wooden dowel covered in leather bolted to top. Works great. I can weigh daily ration on pan under perch and wipe off any blood. Keep your equipment clean !

I agree you need a scale that gives you tenths of grams with a kestrel.
They burn hot and need a close watch to keep them hunting well and healthy.

Not to be preachy, but maybe your current sponsor might not be meeting your needs. He or she shouldn't be offended if you look for someone with more current experience with kestrels.

Good luck, Dan aka oldguy.