Cleaning the tail feathers

[HawkMan]

Whats the best way to clean your birds tail feathers at the end, ive notice them scraggy ,the rest of his plumage is good just the ends of the tail feathers .
Any suggestions would be of great help
johnny

[ChicM]

Hi Johnny - I have the same problem and there are some tips on a thread I put up earlier at http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1741&highlight=

The hot water one worked a treat for my bird although it's still not perfect.

[Jay]

Yup Hot water is the key. Not boiling but just hot eneough so that you cant keep a finger in to long. Put the tail in it for a few min and the problem should be fixed. I am not actualy sure on how long it should be held in there, but I do if for 2 min and it works.

[HawkMan]

thanks lads
johnny

[Jiff]

hey johnny my mate,i have the same problem and i dare say we all have,thing is mate i tried allways to keep her looking good but the fact is the birds use theire tail alot more while on the ground and hunting than i ever immagined,the white band of sky's tail is almost none existant,i sort of gave up on the looking good bit as long as she's phisicaly ok.

[Leeds Newby]

mines about the same jiff / not much white left apart from that he's in great shape if i know how to resize my pics id post some of him
any ideas anyone ?

[Afshimo]

Try using paint shop pro for resizing

[Leeds Newby]

ok cheers hannah

[Chris S]

hot water is good but dont use it to often or it makes the feathers brittel try a tail gaurd next year save a loot of problems

[Jay]

Tail Guard can be good depending on where the bird is breaking the feathers. If it is from just leaning back slightly on a kill or knocking it around in the giant hood a tail guard is a great solution.

If the bird is doing it in the mews or if it is from sitting way to far back on the tail, then a tail guard will do more damage than good. In that case it is basicaly where do you want the tail broken? The tips or 3/4 the way up? If it is a situation like the second solutions need to be found to correct the problem as this will lead to damage eather way.

[HawkMan]

Whats a tail guard ,ive never heard of one before .
Im new to the sport .
Johnny

[Jay]

It is a hard plastic casing that is put over the tail to protect it from minor damage that can occour in transport and on the kill. I have only seen them used on Gos Hawks, but I dont see why they couldn't be used elesewhere.

[Bubo]

does anyone have a piccy? i have also heard of them but just cant imagine what they look like.
bubo

[KevGem1]

I have tail guards i used 1 on a gos that i had and i still use 1on on my fhh when she is on a kill. the ones i use are from falconry originals. i find them very useful for birds that tend to sit back on their tails when on a kill.hope this is of some help KEV.

[Finnish]

I always use a tail guard on my gos and his tail still looks mint.

[Hawkmaster]

Mine too, thanks to the Tail-guard, just dirty.

[Gaz]

Tail guard

[Gaz]

Closed...the leather slit slips over bell.

[HawkMan]

So does the tail guard fit on top of the tasil feathers or under ?
Thanks
Johnny

[Jay]

the tail feathers go inside the guard. It is a sleave.

[Miguel]

Can you use a tailguard on a free lofted bird? 2 of our kites are breaking tail feathers, we changed almost everything in their mews, but they still break them... Are the tailguards any good?

[Hawkmaster]

Yes this can be done!

[Miguel]

Thanks Hawkmaster!!! ;)
Can I still keep the birds free lofted or what? Is it possible to leave it on the bird all day long (except when training)

[Kevin Massey]

hi,

i liked the idea from the word go....i had the type that enveloped the tail then it clipped into the telemetry tail mount.

my problem was jed just ripped and ripped at it.......@ 1 point i thought he would do more damage than i was doing good....

how long normaly does it take for them to chill about it normaly?....i would definatly be trying again though.

kev

[Miguel]

And if the bird has no tail clips (for bells or telemetry)? How can I secure the tail guard on him?

[Finnish]

You would find it hard to secure the guard with out the tail bells to hold it on,if you no what i mean?

[Kevin Massey]

staples???

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Finnish]

Gripfil

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Kevin Massey]

bluetack..........

:lol:

[Miguel]

Well I think I can fit a tailmount clip on their tails and attach the guard there...
I'll give it a try! Those 2 kites break their feathers so easely...

[Kevin Massey]

getting back on track........

would have to take one of them options i spose is aint hard to fit a tail bell of a small brass tailmount.

kev

[Miguel]

Yes, I've fitted some Marshall tailmount clips before on our steppe eagle and in one of the kestrels, so I guess I can do it for the kites... Thanks a lot!!!