Moulting weight

[Pitbull]

As this is my first time for going through the moult I was wondering what you think is the best addition of weight for the moult.
I dont want to have a fat bird sitting on a perch but at the same time I dont want a hungry bird. What is the best way too gauge this. Hopefully that doesnt sound stupid, but sod it if it does.
I got him just over 2 months ago not long out the avary at 1lb 9oz. at the moment he flys at 1lb 5oz. would you say too go back upto that weight or what. Or is it just a wing and a prayer. All thoughts welcome.

[BrianM]

if hes eating all you put in and looking for more ,, hes not getting enough,, if hes leaving food hes getting too much

[Barbary Boy]

fat as you can get him in my opinion. on a good top quality diet of course.

[Pitbull]

so your saying crop him up, wait for the cast and crop him up agin, then gauge how much food he is taken in

[Barbary Boy]

how you going to moult him? on the bow or free lofted? it makes a bit of difference m8.

[Pitbull]

I would like too free loft but periodically handle him.

[Barbary Boy]

only my opinion but i dont think it would work that well, he would get a little to independant whilst freelofted so the occasional handling would become stressfull. my personal prefference is free lofting in seclusion avieries, i think birds moult fuller and quicker in this environment if a little trickier to start off again when finished.the advantage to moulting on the boe/fist is they retain their taimnes but with the added risk of breaking delicate moulting feathers.

[ScotsFalconer]

wat i have done with my lanner last year was to feed him up to top flying flying weight and keep him perched worked a trick.

[Pitbull]

yeah, the last thing I want is too be going into his avary and having him thrashing about.
But I believe I have read on previous threads that people have done this type of moulting

[Pitbull]

wat i have done with my lanner last year was to feed him up to top flying flying weight and keep him perched worked a trick.

what moulting on the block rather than free loft

[ScotsFalconer]

ye on a block but i have moulted birds b4 in avairies and they all sem perfectly fine to come to the fist every day as long as they aint to heavy

[Goldie]

Your bird will moult out perfectly well at 20% above hunting weight. Feeding him to excess is putting unecessary stress around the heart area and if he is bowed or blocked with only one perch, the extra weight sitting around for months can lead to foot problems. Freelofted would be the preferred option and a good quality diet.

[Goldie]

wat i have done with my lanner last year was to feed him up to top flying flying weight and keep him perched worked a trick.

What do you mean by top "flying weight" or is that a misprint ?

[Bod]

Last year I moulted my Harris out on the trolly system. Still had to put her in the mews at night but she had the choice of perch during the day and was able to fly approx 10m when she wanted. Turned out good with no feather damage and I still maintained some degree of contact, which made it easier to take her up again at the end of the moult

[AmateurAustringer]

only my opinion but i dont think it would work that well, he would get a little to independant whilst freelofted so the occasional handling would become stressfull. my personal prefference is free lofting in seclusion avieries, i think birds moult fuller and quicker in this environment if a little trickier to start off again when finished.the advantage to moulting on the boe/fist is they retain their taimnes but with the added risk of breaking delicate moulting feathers.

Only my own experiences but I've had no problem doing this with my Female HH and a Female Redtail in the past, tried with a Spar but it didnt work for the reasons you stated so opted for seclusion.

See no problem, free-lofting and daily handling with a HH or Red, though keeps the avairy clean too.

Steve.

[Mr_Colin]

Some people fly their HH's through the moult. Not me but I know of a couple of people who do.

[MickeyDredd]

if hes eating all you put in and looking for more ,, hes not getting enough,, if hes leaving food hes getting too much

That'll do for me too, the hawk will tell you the answer to your question.

[Harrisii]

if hes eating all you put in and looking for more ,, hes not getting enough,, if hes leaving food hes getting too much

agreed.


also. some harrises will remain calm enough to handle in a free flight mews through the moult. i shall be moulting out both my birds in free flight (as they are year round), and they will be staedy. the male was moulted out last year in free flight and remained calm and was handled. he was never held on the fist but would come to the fist and leave as he saw fit.
if the birds are thrashing about then its time to withdraw.
however, plenty of time spent with them should keep them calm enough through the moult, making them a lot easier to get going next season.