TNT
27-01-2006, 05:23 AM
Hi every one. I probably know more about the new "Space age molded hoods" than anyone. I have been using them for more than two years, and on a number of different birds. From kestrels, Merlin’s, Harris Hawks, Goshawks, and a number of hybrids. Here is what I have found. If the hood fits, the birds preferred the ultra light hood to the leather hood. I attribute this to its lightness. I say this because the birds scratched at the molded hood less or not at all compared to the leather one. The kestrels and Merlin’s especially like the light molded hoods. I found it challenging to get a good fit on some hybrids. It seems the width of their beaks is wider than their pure bread parents. Unfortunately the solution for this was to have a new mold made, to the consternation of the hood maker. It seems that when you go with a molded hood you need a heck of a lot more molds! At $300 a pop it gets your attention if you’re a hood maker trying to make a buck. If there are any drawbacks with this hood, it is that you can’t sit on it, or run it over with your car. You can’t leave it on your dashboard of your car in the sun when it is over 100 degrees. However the solution to these problems is easy solved by getting a hood holder, and taking care of it as well as you would your bird. As far as “sweating”, the birds don’t sweat. The moisture is condensation that takes place whether or not it is a leather hood or a molded. The difference is that the leather hood soaks up the moisture, which can be a Petrie dish for bacteria, as well as slowly breaking down the leather. Simply punching holes in the leather just facilitates the wicking process. The molded hood has a vented model called the ultra vent that allows air to get into the eye of the bird, while keeping the daylight out. The biggest reason why some birds condensate more that others is that some birds leave their eye membranes open while other do not. On the regular molded hoods the moister can simply be wiped away. I personally feel that molded hoods will never replace leather ones. The beauty, craftsmanship is an art form in and of itself. But I have to admit when one looks at an ultra light hood he thinks, of an exotic sports car.