Coping

[Yarak1]

It amazes me how many people won't or don't know how to cope their own bird........over the last 3 weeks we have had no less than 5 birds brought in to be coped.........

Do other places that run courses not teach this basic husbandry?

Or is it that the people teaching don't know how to cope a bird themselves?

John

[Yarak1]

Crikey it's quiet on here today...........

[Sprout]

I've had this before on here, got a big telling off from everyone for having a go at someone who flew falcons and posted a pic of his bird on here whose beak was almost cracked in 2 and over sized - he didn;t even know what coping was, never mind how to do it. I pointed out it was a basic aspect of husbandry and everyone had a go at me saying it wasn't!! I still think it is basic knowledge and an easy skill but if you're not sure how to do it, ask someone with experience and learn off them rather than bodge it out of pride for not asking. But like crop tubing, it should be something every one is at least taught how to do.

[AndyYounger]

John you'd be surprised how many people out there dont know how to make there own equipment either. you see loads of sets of jesses etc on ebay.
i had a guy contact me last year with a MHH. he told me the anklet had come off and didnt know how to fix it and could i help him. when i got to his place the eyelett had come apart and the anklett had slipped over the birds foot.(this was on his lawn) he hadnt changed the equipment in 2 yrs and didnt know how. i dont think the other one would have lasted more than a day. one careless way to loose a fat bird. needless to say i gave him a crash course in how to make ankletts jesses etc. very sad.

[AndyYounger]

I've had this before on here, got a big telling off from everyone for having a go at someone who flew falcons and posted a pic of his bird on here whose beak was almost cracked in 2 and over sized - he didn;t even know what coping was, never mind how to do it. I pointed out it was a basic aspect of husbandry and everyone had a go at me saying it wasn't!! I still think it is basic knowledge and an easy skill but if you're not sure how to do it, ask someone with experience and learn off them rather than bodge it out of pride for not asking. But like crop tubing, it should be something every one is at least taught how to do.

It is part of the basic husbandry. anyone and everyone should have been taught about things like coping, imping etc. its just the basics. its like not knowing weight conroll. very basic and essential.

[AngelJakki]

I suppose we are one of the lucky newbies then. We have a mentor that has shown how to cast our bird and has shown us how to cope the beak and the tooth. I suppose in time it will be like cutting dogs and cat claws like second nature. Just worry that you're going to hurt the birds but now we know how will be easy enough and am taken a picture so that we know how it should look when right. As for the anklets and jesses learnt how to do that before we got the bird and even made me own gloves.

[AndyYounger]

making gloves, well done i dont have the inclination or time. i do make most of my own equipment. i buy in things like hoods(from griff), lures from anyone and loop leashes and swivels from yarak birds of prey. i always like to have the best on my birds and will settle for no less.

[AngelJakki]

i couldn't find a glove that I liked except for one that a friend had from gremany had of elk. So I made one out of elk (done 10 now) very flexable, protective and warm in winter. They work out expensive but we have them leather side out adn are easy to clean.
12648
Mine is the longer of the 2 which allows me hold 2 harrises without them going up my sleeve bottom one
Sorry its abit of thread just saying we are trying to learn the old way where you learn how to make the equipment for your bird even though in this age you don't need to.

[Yarak1]

Hi Angeljakki, well done..........gloves look good.................

[Yarak1]

I've had this before on here, got a big telling off from everyone for having a go at someone who flew falcons and posted a pic of his bird on here whose beak was almost cracked in 2 and over sized - he didn;t even know what coping was, never mind how to do it. I pointed out it was a basic aspect of husbandry and everyone had a go at me saying it wasn't!! I still think it is basic knowledge and an easy skill but if you're not sure how to do it, ask someone with experience and learn off them rather than bodge it out of pride for not asking. But like crop tubing, it should be something every one is at least taught how to do.

Hi Sprout, you are right mate, coping is BASIC HUSBANDRY..........
Problem is that people who learn from joe bloggs down the road and not a good falconer are only taught his bad habits............

Everybody should be able to cope their own bird.....if they can't then they shouldn't have one.............

Problem with falconry today is that some people get the bird first and then try to get the experience later............

Bit like buying the horse then building the stable!!

[Kennelre]

AngelJakki, I am so very impressed that you make your own gloves!! I was taught to make my own equipment, not gloves...but I must confess that I don't always do it. I've got a bit of a problem in trusting my own workmanship when my bird is on the other end of it:oops: Coping etc I taught myself to do with books and telephone advice. Crop tubing I had to put in action when someone brought a kestrel round that had been hit by a car, taught myself how to do that also and the kestrel was right as ninepence at the end of it all, which made me very happy. I'm also quite useful with egg bound chickens in case anyones in need of that skill:rolleyes:

[StormRider]

im sorry to labour my old story again but is this not a clear reason why we shouldnt have some form of regulated apprenticeship scheme in place. I can truly say that in the past month I have met approximately 4 people with birds new and old who have asked me to make anklets, jesses and the like for them. 3 of them are owl keepers and the other has a harris hawk. Unbelievable man. I have sat all of them down and showed them what to do and sent them on their way. This really does have to stop.
STU