Harris hawk breeding problem

[Dude]

I own a 3yr old female hh and a 4-5 yr old male hh. I was put them together in january. They have a 2,2 meter width, 3,5 long and 2,3meters high. It is closed and placed at a quiet place. I give them fresh pigeon and once weekly sum mice. They built nests, but they destructed them, so they make the nest than destruct it and this happened several times.They have a car tyre as a nesting place about 1,4 meters high.They have sex, but no eggs.

what is the prob peeps?

Dan.

[Matty]

female may still be too immature
you should have better luck over the next couple of seasons

[Dude]

yes, maybe thats the prob coz I think the male was built the nest.

[Barbary Boy]

throw away the tyre. give them a large roomy ledge not to high?

[Matty]

although they can breed sooner
4 to 5 years is normally about right
i know that pigeon is cheaper ( free? )
but quail, i think might be safer just my opinion
give as much choice as poss where food is concerned
good luck

[Dude]

pigeon is free and I just can buy quail from breeders who bred them for pets so they are bloody expensive :( but I think pigeon is fine

[Finnish]

My male Harris is only three. The female is four. Bin the tyre no need. Harris Hawks are kwon for making and breaking nest. It p***y you off a bit dose'nt it. They will breed when there good and ready.:D

[peragrine123]

i think your birds are to young ,,,, no pigeon,,i only feed pigeon after it has been frozen

[Stoaty]

They are the right age and should breed. I would advise, as others have, to get rid of the tyre. In my opinion and after seeing mine on the nest there is no way a tyre is big enough and it can't be comfortable for the female to sit on/in. Just give them a ledge with a 2 inch lip. It occurs that they are remaking it as they don't like it. Also when mine first went down they were a bit later so either way it may take a bit longer for them to sort themselves out.

[Lyn Birds]

i'd say the same ditch the tyre because they only harbour disease they are of breeding age i had a simular problem the male building but i watched the female she would never go on the nest shelf which was under cover never mind what the weather was so i put another nest the opposite side of the aviery which was in the open she was on eggs within 3 weeks i had to rush and put a tempory cover up she has nested there ever since all the best lyn

[Dude]

thanks for the advices! I'll make another nest site for 'em!

Dan.

[Dude]

today and yesterday they mated. The day after tomorrow I can change their nest is it too late or I can hope for this yr?

[Jimmy]

You've got plenty of time. Change the nest if you want to.

[Finnish]

I would try and stay out if you can and try not to disturb them to much. Wait for her to ley the first egg then go in once she has started the cycle and build the nest..

[Misty]

does she have plenty of twigs to build her nest with. mine start building, breaking it and re-building for around 3 months before she finally lays (outside the nest she has built:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Dude]

maybe I should wait for the first egg, but no nest building there..... they mated last yr and build nest, but the female destroyed it and than they are mated all summer and no eggs..... I could be that the female is just arriving into the age for laying eggs? (she is a 2004 bird the male is about 5-6-7yrs old donno for sure...)

[Dan Paradis]

...patience patience...

[Dude]

okayokay, but never bred BOPs and I donno what to do if just patience thats the best :rolleyes: I dont have to make a new nest :D

[Tyack]

Make sure they have plenty of nest material, building the nest and carrying twigs ect. is part of the courtship.

[HawkMom]

You are taking chances with pigeon. Two diseases. Frounce and avian hepatitis. The frounce most of the time you can cure if you catch it early. But the hepatitis (herpes) is not curable and causes a painful, miserable death. I had a lovely male prairie in the mid-80's I fed pigeon to. Not knowing the danger, he contracted avian herpes and died. He was in pain for 2 days. Horrible way to die.

[Dude]

You are taking chances with pigeon. Two diseases. Frounce and avian hepatitis. The frounce most of the time you can cure if you catch it early. But the hepatitis (herpes) is not curable and causes a painful, miserable death. I had a lovely male prairie in the mid-80's I fed pigeon to. Not knowing the danger, he contracted avian herpes and died. He was in pain for 2 days. Horrible way to die.


they carry even more diseases, but pigeon is the only reachable food for the birds here... I started to breed quails a few weeks ago, but its a few more month to get enough quails to feed the birds with them. Yes pigeons carriing diseases, but if u look at the wild BOPs, especially the falcons the main quarry is pigeon. If a bird in good condition than the chance of getting seriously sick from a pigeon (or from else quality food) is minimal! Anyway thanks for ur advice and caring!

Dan.

[Altai]

I have used a large open fronted nest box to breed harrises. Nest boxs have the advantage of making the birds feel more secure.

[Misty]

they carry even more diseases, but pigeon is the only reachable food for the birds here... I started to breed quails a few weeks ago, but its a few more month to get enough quails to feed the birds with them. Yes pigeons carriing diseases, but if u look at the wild BOPs, especially the falcons the main quarry is pigeon. If a bird in good condition than the chance of getting seriously sick from a pigeon (or from else quality food) is minimal! Anyway thanks for ur advice and caring!

Dan.

i understand your problem but don't forget, with wild birds we don't know how many die from eating pigeon as they die and we don't see it.

[SBFalconry]

I own a 3yr old female hh and a 4-5 yr old male hh. I was put them together in january. They have a 2,2 meter width, 3,5 long and 2,3meters high. It is closed and placed at a quiet place. I give them fresh pigeon and once weekly sum mice. They built nests, but they destructed them, so they make the nest than destruct it and this happened several times.They have a car tyre as a nesting place about 1,4 meters high.They have sex, but no eggs.

what is the prob peeps?

Dan.

Dont worry Harris's are a law to themselves,they may lay anytime between now and August,my old pair would lay a 2nd clutch as soon as the 1st had left the nest,and the 1st clutch would play a part in rearing the 2nd clutch. Oh loose the tyre and pigions is a definate no no, good look with the breeding Stu

[Miguel Gomez]

They are the right age and should breed. I would advise, as others have, to get rid of the tyre. In my opinion and after seeing mine on the nest there is no way a tyre is big enough and it can't be comfortable for the female to sit on/in. Just give them a ledge with a 2 inch lip. It occurs that they are remaking it as they don't like it. Also when mine first went down they were a bit later so either way it may take a bit longer for them to sort themselves out.

Motorbike tyres are best, not to deep.

Have tyres on wide, long nest ledges and both pairs nest in tyres, so there is obviously a preference for tyres...

[Finnish]

Any eggs yet Dan...?

[Dude]

nothing, but they are still mating every day... I see only one mating per day, but the family told me they mate several times a day... no nest building at all, I am just waiting with patience and lets see what we got :)

[Dude]

Motorbike tyres are best, not to deep.

Have tyres on wide, long nest ledges and both pairs nest in tyres, so there is obviously a preference for tyres...

I tried automobile tyres, but made an arificial nest in it from gravel and gypsum. It was about deep as a goshawks nest...

[Dude]

We got our first egg!

[Matthew Patching]

We got our first egg!

Cool!8-)

[Misty]

keep us informed :yawinkle: