Moult

[Palmer]

Umm this may have been mentiond already but do you think i should wait for my bird to drop it's first feather before putting it up to moult or to just put it up whenever?

[Juzzer]

that is up to you it is ur call,but usually i would put my bird up at the end of this month but with lots of young rabbits around i have already put him up.

[Darren]

i will be putting my bird up at the end of the month due to young rabbits here already.

[Palmer]

Yea i think i will do near anoth the same as you guys.
I might get as much flying out of my bird this week as im on half-term and then put him up, as i have seen 2 baby rabbits already

[North East Harris Hawker]

if i fly late into the season i normally go for higher ground where there are less trees for you to lose the bird in, once you start catching young rabbits regularly tho, its time to hang the glove up unfortunately

[DorsetAde]

Excuse my ignorance, but am I missing something and the increase in baby rabbits ?

[Palmer]

Rabbits seem to be breeding alot earlier this year and there already a few about. Some as old as 6 weeks old i have seen.

Does that answer your question?:confused: Hope so

[Shaun Byrne]

Umm this may have been mentiond already but do you think i should wait for my bird to drop it's first feather before putting it up to moult or to just put it up whenever?

If you hold your bird at flying weight it is unlikely that he will moult at all so it might be a lomg wait for him to start pushing feathers out.

Pick a day, feed him up and give him (and yourself) a well earned rest.:supz:

[Palmer]

Yea i think im going to put him away on the 4th of march. Have the last day a really good, long hunting day. Then give him what he deserves.

[MattSpar]

I think you'll find, in the case of the harris', that it will usually still moult, though the period may well be extended somewhat.

[Shaun Byrne]

I think you'll find, in the case of the harris', that it will usually still moult, though the period may well be extended somewhat.

I can hold mine all summer for display work if I need to Matt but know what you are saying. The HH will fly at a lower condition than most other birds and so will still moult, if a little slow.

[Bengal Hawk]

:rolleyes: now i am very confused!! Will the Harris moult if held at flying weight or won't they moult........I was told when it's time it'll happen......please can someone confirm the real truth.......
thank you:rolleyes:
abs

[Hobby]

I have kept a Harris' flying [not hunting] during the moult without any problems,remembering the Harris can still be responsive above her hunting weight,The moult may have been extended but not to a significant degree.

[MattSpar]

:rolleyes: now i am very confused!! Will the Harris moult if held at flying weight or won't they moult........I was told when it's time it'll happen......please can someone confirm the real truth.......
thank you:rolleyes:
abs

Yes, it will still moult, but why fly then anyway? Game's not in season, rabbits are breeding, and no farmer will thank you for trampling down his growing crops.

[Hobby]

My main reason for flying[exercising] through the moult has been because I think the bird benefits,I enjoy it and the bond is maintained.
But obviously nothing wrong with not flying them.

[GregMik]

:rolleyes: now i am very confused!! Will the Harris moult if held at flying weight or won't they moult........I was told when it's time it'll happen......please can someone confirm the real truth.......
thank you:rolleyes:
abs

Abs,

You want a pic of my harris? He has 4 feathers dropping right now...He has been flown since I got him in August and has just about replaced his train now.

Greg

[Dave G]

looks like each to their own method as long as the birds not stressed and does a good moult thats all that counts

[GregMik]

Romeo,
This is a Harris. I don't think it would work with my Gos tho. I think it is more an individual bird thing. Like you said....If the bird is not stressed it will molt fine.

Greg

[Iamtheweasel]

If young rabbits are the reason for putting the bird up, then I would never fly as rabbits reproduce year round........Ever hear of the saying "F***ing like rabbits...." this didn't come about because the do it at one point in the year....

[Bengal Hawk]

Abs,

You want a pic of my harris? He has 4 feathers dropping right now...He has been flown since I got him in August and has just about replaced his train now.

Greg

Hi Greg,
please forward some pics of your hawk. As this is my first year i am not sure what to expect...so some idea of what's coming is a bonus.
cheers mate
abs

[Coedhirion]

A moult chamber that looks like some one emptied 4 pillows of feathers!!!
People like to moult their birds on good food with a higher protein diet in a stress free environment. Stress will make fret marks in the feathers (sort of white mark across) The feather is likely to bend or break at these points. In a hunting bird that will fly hard, you are looking for it to come out feather perfect with those new feathers as 'tough' as you can get them. HH have pretty tough feathers any how, tho a first year bird tends to get more damage to its tail than an older bird.

[GregMik]

Here he is chasing a crow last September. Sorry it took so long i forgot about it.

Greg