Bird for a child

[Trappa]

My daughter has been harrassing me for a while now about getting a bird of her own. I think this could be good for her and ive got everything needed and general experience, so i was thinking about a kestrel or an owl which i could help her with, then i thought to myself how about a very small harris! i bet that would be loads of fun to fly for me and her! Anyone got a bird for their daughter? and if so what was it, (shes only eight) and/or advice on this subject would be happily received.

[Jackson]

how old is she?

owls are great to learn general picking up and handling and flying?
otherwise why not a male hh?
kestrel?? well i wouldnt but then again some of the guys on here started of with one. but i just wouldnt. but hh or owls e.g. tawny, barn (??), african spotted would be good!!

[BlackShaheen1]

i had a barn owl when i was a kid ithought it was masive .

[Claire]

i think for a kes it depends on the age of the child and what you want to do with it, my daughter helps with the kes but cant fly it to the lure. if its an older child a male harris might be ok but my 7 yr old drops her arm when a bird as big as a male harris flys to her, other options include a barn owl, they are lovely to fly for a child, but all this is assuming everything reguarding weight control is supervised and not down to the child :)

edit just saw the age is 8, I dont think an 8 yr old would be able to manage a harris, does she like owls, I think a barn owl would be ideal

[Trappa]

Yes she loves owls. i was just thinking a small male harris would be useful to me too. To be honest ive had no experience at all with owls, is there a decent book for beginning with an owl? or is it the same as hawks

[Claire]

owls for flying need to be imprinted so she would get to have it from a tiny chick :) I've flown a male harris to my 7 yr old daughter and had to support her hand as she would drop her arm as the bird landed, might be an idea to have someone elses small harris fly to her and see how she goes, I'm just going on experience with my daughter

[Hells99]

As a book, try 'Understanding Owls' by JPJ. Good for the basics. Helen

[Claire]

there is also a book by jpj about owls written for children called the really useful owl guide, that would be very easy for your daughter to understand :) my 7 yr old read it by herself

[Talon]

get a budgie or canary.personaly i dont think birds of prey are suitable as a pet especaily for a child.thats just my opinion.?

[Whistler6752]

Hi, I think she is a tad too young my self, but if you do go ahead with it, get something you fancy yourself because if she is anything like my girl you will end up with it!:roll: regards Mike.

[Claire]

its only a pet if it isn't flown isn't it, I think its good to encourage the next generation as long as she is fully supervised with the bird I see no problems, my daughter has two rats which belong to her, that doesn't mean I dont check they have food and water and help her clean them out, any animal owned by a child is ultimatly the parents responsibility

[Whistler6752]

its only a pet if it isn't flown isn't it, I think its good to encourage the next generation as long as she is fully supervised with the bird I see no problems, my daughter has two rats which belong to her, that doesn't mean I dont check they have food and water and help her clean them out, any animal owned by a child is ultimatly the parents responsibility
I agree Claire, the mhh I bought my daughter was always going to be my responsibility but after her wanting one for years it was shocking how soon she lost all and I mean all interest in it! Good job I have time to fly two.:-)

regards Mike.

[Parabuteo.de]

get a budgie or canary.personaly i dont think birds of prey are suitable as a pet especaily for a child.thats just my opinion.?

Thats what I wanted to say! Why not a typical domesticated animal?
Like rabbit, ferret, canary, budgie and so on.

BOPs are not made for suffering from childrens touch!

Claas

[Shannor]

Suffering from children's touch? You're being a bit harsh, there. As long as a child is supervised, why can't they fly a BOP?

[Matty]

Suffering from children's touch? You're being a bit harsh, there. As long as a child is supervised, why can't they fly a BOP?

a child can, if supervised !
but generally a child will lose interest very quickly
get a mhh if it suits you, not your child. that is my advice anyway
good luck mate

[Barbary Boy]

As a book, try 'Understanding Owls' by JPJ. Good for the basics. Helen
CLASSIC!

[NGuruve]

i may get stick for this but if you are helping her then i see no reason not to get her a male harris i hate it when people say they are too young well there are limits but an 8 year old i think would be a perfect age good for you two get the harris:supz:

[Talon]

its ok to get youngster involved.but when ppl say im thinking of getting a bird for my child.it seems like well ive got one the misses as and ill get the kid one as if its some sort of fashion thing.for all the family to have.
nothing wrong with an adult having a bird and the kids watching and learning.
but when ppl ask whats suitable bird for a child its ****es me of.
i have kids.one of my sons always asks evey year when ive got young chicks can he have one.well no as it will be a passing fad and a couple of weeks later im stuck looking after it.i tell him if you interested get in and clean some sh*te out of one of the avairys then take bird food out of the freezer at night.just you watch him moan.
so as i said nothing wrong with an adult getting a bird for them selfs and the kids showing interst and helping out.
ppl always say O get them a kestrel its small....well would you give a kid a merlin i think not.theres no difference in a kessey and a merlin.
exscept the massive price differance im not on about it capability in falconry.
but the point im trying to make is there both little falcons and need just as much care as each other.
but no one would ever recomend a merlin for a child.
as for a mhh.in the right hands there a first class falcners bird.not somthing for a child to have as a pet.thats my little rant over with.not trying to up set any one but thats how i see it.

[Parabuteo.de]

its ok to get youngster involved.but when ppl say im thinking of getting a bird for my child.it seems like well ive got one the misses as and ill get the kid one as if its some sort of fashion thing.for all the family to have.
nothing wrong with an adult having a bird and the kids watching and learning.
but when ppl ask whats suitable bird for a child its ****es me of.
i have kids.one of my sons always asks evey year when ive got young chicks can he have one.well no as it will be a passing fad and a couple of weeks later im stuck looking after it.i tell him if you interested get in and clean some sh*te out of one of the avairys then take bird food out of the freezer at night.just you watch him moan.
so as i said nothing wrong with an adult getting a bird for them selfs and the kids showing interst and helping out.
ppl always say O get them a kestrel its small....well would you give a kid a merlin i think not.theres no difference in a kessey and a merlin.
exscept the massive price differance im not on about it capability in falconry.
but the point im trying to make is there both little falcons and need just as much care as each other.
but no one would ever recomend a merlin for a child.
as for a mhh.in the right hands there a first class falcners bird.not somthing for a child to have as a pet.thats my little rant over with.not trying to up set any one but thats how i see it.

Dont have to add anything, youre right mate!

Claas :)

[Claire]

well I will admit I got a kestrel partly because my daughter could be involved but also because I totally fell for the particular bird. my daughter is now practising lure swinging so that she can get involved again since the kes isn't flown to the glove anymore, I got a species my daughter could help with but at the end of the day its my bird and I often fly while my daughter is at school, but yes others might be right if you dont have any interest in flying an owl dont get an owl, because chances are you will end up with it at some point. even if thats not untill your daughter goes of to uni lol

[Venividevenatio]

Perhaps a 'child' is old enough to have a BoP when the 'child' can accept the pain inflicted by talons and beaks, without screaming, trying to run away, shake/pull the inflicter off. That a set of talons in the face is always a potential hazard, with very permanent effects, and that the claret running out of the 'childs' falconry glove is their blood!

The 'child' will also be old enough when its parents know they will have no regrets should it all go pear shaped?

I am sure some can, but just a thought?

[Trappa]

Theres been some interesting posts on here. The pet thing has been exageratted a little. She knows probably more than most of the newbies on this site about BOP so thats not an issue, but i am thinking that like most kids she will easily bore,therefore it would be wise to get something that i could fly, so im thinking a small male harris. She does know the strength of a BOP as she has grown up with mine and knows about them.

[Matty]

Theres been some interesting posts on here. The pet thing has been exageratted a little. She knows probably more than most of the newbies on this site about BOP so thats not an issue, but i am thinking that like most kids she will easily bore,therefore it would be wise to get something that i could fly, so im thinking a small male harris. She does know the strength of a BOP as she has grown up with mine and knows about them.

nice one mate, atleast you'll have a bird that you will enjoy flying yourself if your daughter desides its not the sport for her
good luck:D

[buzzbee]

My daughter has been harrassing me for a while now about getting a bird of her own. I think this could be good for her and ive got everything needed and general experience, so i was thinking about a kestrel or an owl which i could help her with, then i thought to myself how about a very small harris! i bet that would be loads of fun to fly for me and her! Anyone got a bird for their daughter? and if so what was it, (shes only eight) and/or advice on this subject would be happily received.

I think a Barn would be best suited for her. You can both get enjoyment out of an owl ( get it on a mousy lure for her) . I wouldnt suggest a hh as this would scare the life out of me at 8 as i didnt see one until 15!

[Strix]

Get a male for starters. Females are to hard for kid to handle :lol: Barnies, Tawnies, Harris, & Kestrals are small, and easy to handle, Try getting one of those. :P Oh yeah, Who's gonna be cutting up theh dead mice? :rolleyes: