Breeding sparrowhawks

[Wilfred]

I have some questions about breeding spars. Fact is I do have 2 females now the one being parent reared the other one maybe creche reared or parent reared. I still have to ask to be sure about that. I would like to breed with one of them by getting some male spar. Would like to know whether it can be done female parent reared and placing some male with her some year or 2 years after. And what would be best a parent reared also (i guess so?) or imprint or whether it does not matter imprint or PR male.

Further more I would like to know about best breeding methods. If possible measures of aviaries and even better pictures. I guess there are enough people here who breed spars and could contribute with excellent detailed photo's of their breeding pens?

Best would be succesfull breeders making some own thread here with their methods of breeding, pictures of their pens and so on.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I would like to breed with one of them by getting some male spar.

Thats a good start any way .....:rolleyes:


I am creche rearing a male a female together and dumpimg em in breeding pen when fledged ...
But also would like to hear others opinions ....

[Wilfred]

Still waiting for advice on whether it is OK to get the spar male later on. Whether it is important to have either one of the both parent reared or not or whether imprint with parent reared or two imprints is also OK. Dimensions and pictures of spar aviaries to breed. Tips. Maybe sources where something is told about breeding spars. Some i know but guess there should be written more.

[Falcon911]

I don't think it matters if they are imprinted, creche or parent reared with Spars. I had a wild disabled female and an imprinted male and they bred no problem.

Cheers
Andy

[Jeremiah Johnson]

what sort of nesting arrangment did you use "box ... ledge.... tree ... peagravel ... go on tell all

[Falcon911]

A corner ledge consisting of a piece of wood going across to form a triangle with a chicken wire bowl shaped bottom (not sure I'd use it again though for fear of egg breakage) stuffed with Lleylandi (?) and sticks.
Cheers
Andy

[Sparrow Hawker]

For my breeding pen I went on the basis and designed it very similar to the one Jemima Parry Jones shows in her book on breeding. Basically the pen has a corridor at the back with a double door system. I also built two hatches into it a food one and a nest hatch so if needs be I can have access to the nest causing minimal disturbance.

Bath wise rather than go in and disturb the birds to replenish the water in the breeding season, I decided to use some water pipe which is tacked on the inside of the pen with the end of the pipe in the corridor so all I need to do is poor water into the pipe for the bath to fill up.

My pens about 14ft long by 8ft wide and it’s about 8ft high. I specifically made it that size as I didn’t want to make it too big which would have enabled the spars to build up speed which could increase the risk of them getting injured.

I managed to pick up some very good chicken mesh for a good price and I proceeded to tack this is the inside of the floor of the pen which helps stop any vermin etc from digging up underneath it. I also went round the outside with some mixed up cement to block any gaps up that were showing. I think it took over 1 ½ tonnes of pea gravel if I remember correctly to put down on the floor over the mesh.

Half the roof is covered the other half I used some very fine garden mesh, which is tacked, on the inside and then I used some bigger mesh on top of this just for a precaution. I like the soft mesh as it allows the birds to hit it and bounce off of it without causing then any injuries.

All The Best,

SH

[Jeremiah Johnson]

HMmmmmmmmmmmm ok so a standard nest frame on a nesting ledge should do the trick with ;eylandi weaved do make the base and bowl shape

that sound ok ..... what diameter is the nest you made falcon 9111110 ?

[Roel_Birds]

Last year I creche-reared a male and a female that were unrelated and put them in a rather small enclosed breeding pen when they fledged. The pen is 3 meters long, 2 meters wide and 2,5 meters high, half of the top is covered and in one corner I put up a basket with a 30cm diameter. A lot of small sticks were put on the ground for them to build a nest if they wanted and about 3 weeks ago both birds started building the nest. Only some 15 twiggs were laid in the basket and today she has laid her 4th egg. I hope they will be fertile but some breeder told me that male spars aren't fertile in juvenile plumage. Can anyone confirm that or not?

Roeland

[Falcon911]

HMmmmmmmmmmmm ok so a standard nest frame on a nesting ledge should do the trick with ;eylandi weaved do make the base and bowl shape

that sound ok ..... what diameter is the nest you made falcon 9111110 ?

I am guessing because it was a very long time ago but I think the piece of wood that went across the corner was about 33 inches long.
Cheers
Andy