Poultry

[Coney Catcher]

have fhh and hunted strictly rabbit [my choise]and very much
enjoyed it
the new season on its way am very tempted to try feather but
have this fear all my farms have poultry running free dread the
thought,like to enter on gulls at farmers request when ploughing.
cant make my mind up and not sure how to enter the bird she as never shown any real interest
coney catcher

[Joey]

just pay for the odd chicken or two lol
get her some easy slips out the car or hide around a bush




joey

[SnakeHuts]

mate had natural born killer in the form of a peresaker, formidable rook/crowhawk.

But partial to chicken, had 3 early season last year.

have the pics to prove it.

lolol

[Intek Hosting]

I had the exact opposite situation, my fhh pretty much entered herself on feather, never needed any help from me. Took a lot longer to get her to take rabbit.

To get the bird to chase something new I usually just find a recently killed speciment and let her have a feed. After that she pretty much sees them as food and will do the rest for you.

You are right that once entered on birds the hawk will go for poultry, I try and keep away from the chicken coops but just incase she goes for one a mile away (it happens) I keep a few notes folded up in my vest, along with the first aid kit, to pay for damages :-)

She's only killed one chicken and although it turned out to be the farmers's wife's pet chicken (out of about 50 intended for the table this was the one pet bird!!) they were just grateful that I'd come and admitted to killing "Percy" the brown chicken and they didnt have to think a fox got him :rolleyes:

I would just be honest with the farmer and explain that if you enter the bird on gulls during farming, she may later take a chicken, better that than end up losing the permission because the bird took a chicken or tried to take on a live christmas goose (I kid you not!!)

[Joey]

throw them up snake huts funny to and did you pay for them lol
my mentor mhh caught a few but **** happens and they shouldnt be in the woods just outside his farm lol

joey

[OutFlying]

If you Harris starts taking chickens on your permission, be prepared for it seeking them out and flying fields to get to them, as they know where they will be.

Bad habit to correct once established.

Regarding the gulls, how close are you able to get - you'll need to be very close to take one with a HH.

Jim.

[SnakeHuts]

here is the evidence, a nice sussex cockerel, was so old it would have been tough as old boots....lol

[Joey]

pmsl haha its bag man lol looks like u put a bag on your head instead of colouring it in lol



joey

[SnakeHuts]

yeah its a bag ...lol and the birds name Robin hence

BAGMAN and ROBIN

[AmateurAustringer]

I dunno you log on to a Falconry Forum and see pictures of strange blokes with their faces scrubbed out and cock in hand... :roll:

[Joey]

pmsl
:lol: :lol:



joey

[SnakeHuts]

Steve, wasnt a stiff cock it was fresh kill but a little plucked ....yeah i said plucked

[Coney Catcher]

will be very close 60-80feet when tractor passes only
thing is usualy in there hundreds the gulls so numbers i suppose
might deter her

[MattSpar]

It's perfectly possible to have a hawk that ignores poultry but will still fly pheasants without hesitation. Before you enter her, and throughout her training, make sure poultry are always in evidence. I have them loose in my garden and although my harrises and gosses have all taken pheasants, and I've been known to fly in farmyards, only twice in fifty years have I had one take poultry, and both times were entirely my fault.

Many people work their short and broadwings over ferrets quite safely, but most of these hawks will still grab a stoat or a weasel without a second thought.

[AmateurAustringer]

It's perfectly possible to have a hawk that ignores poultry but will still fly pheasants without hesitation. Before you enter her, and throughout her training, make sure poultry are always in evidence. I have them loose in my garden and although my harrises and gosses have all taken pheasants, and I've been known to fly in farmyards, only twice in fifty years have I had one take poultry, and both times were entirely my fault.

Many people work their short and broadwings over ferrets quite safely, but most of these hawks will still grab a stoat or a weasel without a second thought.

Not doubting you Matt but that last paragraph I think isnt down to habituation but the fact that Hawks will recognise the ferret as a member of the working team.

My HH will not tolerate a dog within close range of her mews or while she is tethered on the law, but in the field, her eyes are never off them and whenever loose she is above them. She knows in the field they serve a purpose to provide her with quarry and I believe its the same with Ferrets.

[Venividevenatio]

If you Harris starts taking chickens on your permission, be prepared for it seeking them out and flying fields to get to them, as they know where they will be.

Bad habit to correct once established.

Regarding the gulls, how close are you able to get - you'll need to be very close to take one with a HH.

Jim.
Totaly agree here. A hawk that learns about domestic fowl becomes a pain in the proverbial. If you do have the misfortune to kill domestic fowl, if possible do not allow it to feed on the kill, as that will re-enforce the 'easy meal' idea to the hawk. Also, initialy best to introduce feathered quarry to your hawk where the risk of taking domestic fowl is not present.

[MattSpar]

Not doubting you Matt but that last paragraph I think isnt down to habituation but the fact that Hawks will recognise the ferret as a member of the working team.

Whether they do or not (and in the case of solitary raptors, gosses and the like, I don't believe they do), the procedure is the same, and the result, if the procedure is correctly carried out, is also the same.

All I can say to anyone is next time you train a large shortwing, or a broadwing, try it. It works.