Male Or Female?

[Steve-In-Devon]

Hi people,

Steve Mingo here. Got my net back and I have returned to the forum. I'm at my school (Exmouth Community College) doing my GCSEs. After I have all my qaulifications and exams out of the way I will be able to get my first bird of prey. I am going to get a harris hawk. But the question is male or female? And while I think about it not just for me but overall, which is better a male harris hawk or a female harris hawk?

[AmateurAustringer]

Hi people,

Steve Mingo here. Got my net back and I have returned to the forum. I'm at my school (Exmouth Community College) doing my GCSEs. After I have all my qaulifications and exams out of the way I will be able to get my first bird of prey. I am going to get a harris hawk. But the question is male or female? And while I think about it not just for me but overall, which is better a male harris hawk or a female harris hawk?

What are you going to hunt Steve?

Steve.

[Barbary Boy]

which came 1st the chicken or the egg? depends on what you want to fly it at, type of land, housing and your own personal preference?

[Saker-Sucker]

In general the male will be more forgiving with regards to mistakes or poor handling; the female is likely to have ago at you if you do something a bit too rough or not just right.............................

[AmateurAustringer]

which came 1st the chicken or the egg? depends on what you want to fly it at, type of land, housing and your own personal preference?

According to Darwin the egg. :)

Steve.

[Bones]

In general the male will be more forgiving with regards to mistakes or poor handling; the female is likely to have ago at you if you do something a bit too rough or not just right.............................
Take my MHH on for a week and then tell me its forgiving never had one as aggressive or tempremental mate as this one lol.But excellent in the field and 100% silent and i love him for his bad habits
As for male or female depends on what quarry you will be hunting as the only thing females will catch easier then male is hares apart from that most males will take up to and including cock pheasants(maybe the odd hare if yer real lucky)and as Saker Sucker says the males are usually more forgiving then the females but then again if yer not hundred percent dont take either on wait a while longer just my oppinion
PAUL

[Harrisii]

hard one as both have loads of appeal. as a beginner a male would suit best as they aint so intimidating in the early stages and are (in my experience) a much better temperament. i love wee males as they are great fun but my female is my pride and joy.
sorry cannot help you i love them both.

[Saker-Sucker]

Take my MHH on for a week and then tell me its forgiving never had one as aggressive or tempremental mate as this one lol.But excellent in the field and 100% silent and i love him for his bad habits
As for male or female depends on what quarry you will be hunting as the only thing females will catch easier then male is hares apart from that most males will take up to and including cock pheasants(maybe the odd hare if yer real lucky)and as Saker Sucker says the males are usually more forgiving then the females but then again if yer not hundred percent dont take either on wait a while longer just my oppinion
PAUL

I agree Paul, there are always some exceptions as with anything;:supz: a guy in the club, got a last years male from the breeder; we've tried numerous times to get it to fly to other people but it is dare I say it 'imprinted' on this guy. The bird was parent reared but it will not let anyone else apart from the handler or his family near it!!!!!!!!:confused:

[Tarqers]

i would go for a male they eat less,and are easier to carry,try and get a larger type,and apart from hare he will do pretty much the same, and prhaps a bit more,,,,tarqs

[Finnish]

Hello Steve welcome back to the forum mate. I have been down to your club a few times you have not been there.. Get a male but it do depend on what your flying at mate.

[Steve-In-Devon]

Sorry Finnish I have missed a couple because of illnesses, car not working etc. But back to the bird thing. I would be flying at rabbits, pheasants those kind of things as I'd be flying on one of the farms near to me. I've also heard one bird's weight is easier to control than the other I think it was female. Not sure.

[AndyYounger]

weight controll is the same principle for all hh. ive flown both. i have a female flying at 2ld12 and a male at 1lb10. the male is fater and more manuverable where as the female will hold the bigger quarry better.ie cock pheasant and hare. although i dont fly her at hare as the chilean is much better suited to that and has less chance of getting hurt. in normal circumstances a good big male is the ideal bird for most.

[Albie]

Hi Steve,
I do'nt want this to read like I'm putting your getting your first bird down, but I would advise you first to join a Falconry course if you have one near you or maybe someone nearby with birds that you can go out with to learn the ropes.. so to speak.
That way you get to learn what is involved with owning your own bird and all that is needed to keep it Safe, Fit and Healthy.
All the Best,
Albie..

[Steve-In-Devon]

Hey i'm way ahead of ya there, I'm getting some more books for my b'day I already bought a glove and some dvds, I got to the welsh hawking club, I go out on field meets and I'm taking part in the LANTRA down here as well. In fact thats a reason I asked this qeustion of male or female. When it comes down to it I'm going to say I'm gonna have to wait to decide that, but it will be a male or female :P harris hawk. Anyway if anyone has any more views on the subject go ahead but I'm moving on to qeustion number 2 lol I'm on the section about housing.

[FalconMistress]

i have had hh for years and only males because they can catch more than females due to being more nippier and also i believe that they less nasty natured

[MattSpar]

i would go for a male they eat less,and are easier to carry,try and get a larger type,and apart from hare he will do pretty much the same, and prhaps a bit more,,,,tarqs

Yes, I'd go along with this pretty much. I have a male who's a game specialist, having had 44 pheasants so far this season, along with the odd grey partridge, rat, stoat, and several other "various". I only differ on one point. I virtually never carry him in the field.

[Tr1gger]

U've sparked off another good debate i think m8, i love the male harris' i think they are less crabby and hav more character to them. The argument about males been lighter and easier to carry i think it really pointless because u should be giving ur bird slips regular and a female harris' isnt really goin to be that bad at the end of the day. Its really falconers choice, i do however think a male would be more suited to the quarry u would want to fly, have u got land eyed up that has the quarry u would like on it though?

[Kanati]

i agree with everyone who has said the males are nicer. They seem so much more easy going...less mood swings... will put up with more mistakes...dont take offence at anything (mine dont anyway)... I would rather a male based on my limited experience.:roll: The ladies I have found a bit more predictable in turms of hunting. the ones I have had have been more controlable in turms of hunting and weight control. The female hits the right weight and seems to be ready and willing to chase and hopfuly catch stuff. The males get to the correct weight (or even lower then would be desired) and might still be a bit odd and not want THAT rabbit for what ever reason. (maybe its just me) they just need a little bit of extra effort got get them going. but apart from that...the males are great.

[Tarqers]

i agree with everyone who has said the males are nicer. They seem so much more easy going...less mood swings... will put up with more mistakes...dont take offence at anything (mine dont anyway)... I would rather a male based on my limited experience.:roll: The ladies I have found a bit more predictable in turms of hunting. the ones I have had have been more controlable in turms of hunting and weight control. The female hits the right weight and seems to be ready and willing to chase and hopfuly catch stuff. The males get to the correct weight (or even lower then would be desired) and might still be a bit odd and not want THAT rabbit for what ever reason. (maybe its just me) they just need a little bit of extra effort got get them going. but apart from that...the males are great.
the latter part of your peice is a warning to people getting there first male harris,some not all have to be cut quiet hard below a weight that they are istantly resposive,some up to an ounce,many a newby has ended up with a hawk that they believe to be a vegitarian kite,,,,tarqs

[Tarqers]

this very thing makes the harris an unsuitable beginers bird,and is the reason alot end up in the exchange and mart,,,tarqs