Moulting

[Harris]

I was wondering if anyone has any usefully tips on early moulting, and whether its at all possible to start moulting a bird this time of year. I have fitted some daylight tubes in Bellas aviary, which provide warmth and extended daylight hours, I'm also giving her a much richer and varied diet and she's she's now up around 5oz over her flying weight and I will increase her rations until she starts to leave food. I'm also giving her a pinch a day of Raptor essentials. Are there any other potions out there that can help? I don't expect her to moult fully, but it would be nice if I could get her flying again by the spring, that way I can hopefully get her entered on some juvenile quarry before she fully moults out over the summer. Is this feasible? or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Simon

While I'm at it, just an update on Bella. I put a radio in her aviary, and it has definately stopped her feather plucking! she is definately her usual self. I let her out today whilst I working in the garden, I'm not worried about her disappearing because she can't fly! she followed my all over the place and was running behind me when ever I walked off, and she seemed to show a real interest in what ever it was I was doing. She looks like a scabby chiken at the moment but other than that she's fine!

[GoodFooter]

It would be a good idea to gradually increase the fake 'daylight' hours over a month to give 8hrs night (16hrs light). It is often the 'change' in the daylight/night which triggers responce. If you use a time switch and add an extra 15mins per day for a month and abit.
There was an article in the falconers mag ...a fair while ago. high protein,suppilmented diet,with additional light,white sided avairy
Did it work ???? apparently so.... was a longwing of sorts though.
best of luck

Rob

[Harris]

It would be a good idea to gradually increase the fake 'daylight' hours over a month to give 8hrs night (16hrs light). It is often the 'change' in the daylight/night which triggers responce. If you use a time switch and add an extra 15mins per day for a month and abit.
There was an article in the falconers mag ...a fair while ago. high protein,suppilmented diet,with additional light,white sided avairy
Did it work ???? apparently so.... was a longwing of sorts though.
best of luck

Rob


Cheers Rob! I will try that mate, has to be worth a try.

Thanks.

[OutFlying]

I believe Pete Smiths new book contains a section on moulting under lights. Why not contact him ?

Jim.

[Hound]

i need birds which i can fly all year round at the moment i have one harris hawk and a gyr/saker moulting. how i do it is with out extra lights, just hold them back from moulting as much as you can ie keep them at hunting weight alot longer for the first year and then put them down to moult later. The gyr/saker i would have thought will come out in about 5 to 7 weeks. Then the following year i find they moult later so it is alot more easy.
Also i do tend to fly some of my harris hawks through the moult with out any trouble