Time for the Birds?

[Paper_Hawk]

As i am just looking into the possibility of starting falconry. I am interested in the types of jobs people are doing that allow them the time to spent with their birds everyday and still earn enough to keep them properly? I am currently unhappily working as a staff researcher at a university, this allows a lot of flexabiltiy in hours (certain number of hours and the work needs to be done, but can work from home on occasions). At the moment this time barrier seems to be the only thing stopping me taking my interest further.

Do people really change jobs just so they can spend more time with the birds as i am thinking? has anyone on here done this?

Any help or suggestions would be most welcome,

Rob..

[Saker-Clive]

After being off sick for just over 2 years, when I recently went back to work, I stated that I can only work evenings/nights, because of my commitment to the birds.
I now work, from 20.00 - 01.00hrs.:supz: I get tired during the day but at least I am able to fly my birds as much as poss.

[AngelJakki]

After being off sick for just over 2 years, when I recently went back to work, I stated that I can only work evenings/nights, because of my commitment to the birds.
I now work, from 20.00 - 01.00hrs.:supz: I get tired during the day but at least I am able to fly my birds as much as poss.
Now thats commitment.

[Dave G]

i work to suit have done for the last 10 years ,i dont mind working abit more in the summer months as i dont hunt my hawk,but still like to clean feed and keep in contact as much as poss also look after my hawks hunting partner the ferrets ???,as for the winter months when my birds hunting i like to get out most days give and take abit as the missis and kids have to have some fun too ???, si a 9 to 5 job is out the question as dark when you go to work and dark when you get in from work leaves no time for your bird or birds ?? so realy a job with flexy hours is a good thing to have some folk do nites which leaves them the day to spar others work 4 on 4 off

[Saker-Clive]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saker-Sucker
After being off sick for just over 2 years, when I recently went back to work, I stated that I can only work evenings/nights, because of my commitment to the birds.
I now work, from 20.00 - 01.00hrs.:supz: I get tired during the day but at least I am able to fly my birds as much as poss.

Now thats commitment.


to a degree but all that time off work and doing what I wanted when wanted made going back to work even harder; so as a start, I opted for these hours. During the summer months, when the birds are moulting out nicely, I will probably do more hours.:(

[EddieT]

As i am just looking into the possibility of starting falconry. I am interested in the types of jobs people are doing that allow them the time to spent with their birds everyday and still earn enough to keep them properly? I am currently unhappily working as a staff researcher at a university, this allows a lot of flexabiltiy in hours (certain number of hours and the work needs to be done, but can work from home on occasions). At the moment this time barrier seems to be the only thing stopping me taking my interest further.

Do people really change jobs just so they can spend more time with the birds as i am thinking? has anyone on here done this?

Any help or suggestions would be most welcome,

Rob..

Rob,

You are certainly thinking along the right lines. If you can manage some flexibility in your work schedule then you might be on the right track. The other consideration is the other demands on your free time.

eg: If you have a wife that wants to use all your holiday up over the summer sunning herself on a beach you are not going to get to take all your holiday over the winter months to fly your bird. Or, If you manage to get out of work early you can't get down the farm if you also need to put that motorbike back together/play footie/practice your golf swing/take your daughter to brownies.

I have managed working difficult hours and keeping a bird fit and flown regularly by taking lots of half days off work, using up all my holiday during the winter and using every trick I know to get home before dark. With modern technology I can also now genuinely claim the lie "this afternoon I'm going to be working from home". It helps of course if you have an understanding boss, I told mine that this was the deal in my first interview so she knows the score. She has since even let me take a morning off as 'sick' knowing that I was taking falcon to the vets! Before the clocks change I also get out of bed nice and early to get down the farm fly the bird, come home, change and off to work, but as the season progresses this is not an option.

If you want to make time badly enough and if falconry is your driving passion then you often can find the time, its just that my wife wishes I spent as much time and money on her as I do on the falcon! :)

Be realistic about what you can or can't do before you take on a bird. Get lots of experience, spend time with other falconers, go on a course and you will begin to get the idea of how much time you will need and how falconry can start to take over your life. After this you will be in a better position to know if falconry is for you and whether you will be able to look after and do justice to these amazing and demanding creatures.

Good luck,

Eddie

[Skeld]

This is a good question PaperHawk, it shows that you are very committed! I am very lucky that I am now in a position where I don't need to have a job as such, I run a small flock of sheep the rest of my time is devoted to my hawks. I'm not suggesting that you can't have a job and be involved in falconry just be prepared to spend most of your spare time.

[Jiff]

when my wife found herself out of work, i changed my job so as to bring more money into the house, my new job paid well but i found myself working all the time, the season past us in a blink of an eye and me and my bird found our selves spending most of our time watching telly with the occasional day out or the odd night chasing lures on the floodlit school field, was i miserable ? YES, was the bird? i don't know! she has a large mews for some degree of exercise and seems to enjoy watching the soaps munching on the odd titbit,but sod that! i changed back to my old job where i work 2 days and 2 back shifts which technicaly gives me 5 free daylight days, am i strugling financialy YES, am i miserable NO. "ONE LIFE LIVE IT":lol:

[Kennelre]

Good question, and one that I always wanted to know the answer to. I was unable to commit to a bird earlier in life because I knew that I wouldn't be able to find the daylight hours in winter to do right by her.... a sadness really because I don't know if I can ever make up that lost time and I will certainly never be in the position to fulfill my secret dreams of Eagles. For the first couple of years I nearly wiped myself out trying to do right by bird, dogs, ferrets, job....even with floodlights everywhere to allow daily flying it always seemed to rain like hell on the days that I had free to hunt. Also, the most supportive partners do start to get a bit cranky when they never see you. In September I bit the bullett and stopped working....it was a bloody bad habit anyway!!!!!! If you plan things right it can be possible to do that, but it involves being older which, of course is the downside. I am now quite magnificently poor but free, free, free. Everybodys happy, everybodys fit....and I even bake the occasional cake in idle moments. Can you imagine having an idle moment? :lol:

[Jazz1]

I only now work 18hours a week over 3days due to family commitments to my kids so this leaves me 4 days free and if i am late shift when working i have up to 1 o'clock free.
Great for the hunting season birds out 4/5 days a week and time to catch up with the jobs in the moult that have been put of while hunting the birds.
As Jiff said you only get 1 life so why not enjoy it there's more to life than work and money.

[Ben C]

Teacher:

Work from 7.30 am finish 2.40...plus all the holidays and weekends. Hawk is flown everyday during the season from as little as an hour (darkest winter) up to 5 if we are feeling fit and motivated.

[NGuruve]

il be flying alot almost everyday but id say atleast 3 times a week

[Pitbull]

Self employed joinery manufacturer

I actually got the HH to stop me working so much, a bit of stress releif and its working just great.

look outside the workshop and say what a great day to fly the bird. And go..Hehehehehehe Though i still fly in all weathers if he wants too :lol: :oops:

[HawkEyeUK]

I worked 3 years on night shift and flew through the day, best way is work for yourself !

[Coedhirion]

Flew other peoples until I did have time, then simply gave up work!!...who needs money out on a hill with a good bird, ferrets, dogs and a friend !!
I do do a bit of work but self employed I can suit myself as to how much and when :roll: :lol:

[Pegasus]

I'm lucky I have flexible hours, I can work from home some of the time, this works well.:yawinkle:

[Jastreb]

Teacher:

Work from 7.30 am finish 2.40...plus all the holidays and weekends. Hawk is flown everyday during the season from as little as an hour (darkest winter) up to 5 if we are feeling fit and motivated.
I am ready to work there :)
I work on Faculty as scientific assitant and I work from 7.30 am to 15.30 pm but most of the days I have something to do out of my official building earlyer ;)
I hope I will have something better ;)
Cheers Jastreb