Screaming harris

[Grovsey]

my harris has been flying free since xmas ,she has had acouple off kills,2 days ago I let her feed up on a kill she was 2-8 with a full crop and was screaming all day,today she was 2-5 and been calling all day :twisted: why is she sreaming at top weight I can understand is she is low.
the first day when she was 2-8 I left her in seclution all day but that never worked,today she was placed out on the lawn and what never worked,I don't want to put her into moult yet as I want her to have more kills 1st.would hooding her work or not .............
I now when she goes into moult she will quiet down but thats not my aim.she is calling when she can't see or hear anyone.
hope you can all help

[Shaun Byrne]

You've got 2 choices as far as I can see mate.

1. Get her out hunting everyday and killing regularly with very little manning and no feeding at home or off the glove.

2. Put her down to moult now.

One of the above may work, if not you will just have to accept it or get rid.

[Finnish]

I would be tempted to try no 2 mate. :)

[Hawkmaster]

Me too!

[Goran]

Is she calling for a male?Think.My birds are up for breeding.

[ChicM]

The other posters have a lot more experience than me Grovesy but my male P/R HH is also becoming a screamer and I have found that he calls more for attention than food. If I go pick him up or pay him a little attention he stops in quick order. So in my case, weight and hunger is not the defining issue.

[Gaz]

Got any parrots in the area or glass/mirrors (reflections)she can see :?: can she see anyone through patio doors/windows :?:

[Coedhirion]

My P.R Harris just calls morning till weighd an late afternoon, think its just contact. He is worse when he cant see me working around the place just hear. so with him seclusion would make him scream all day. 2 bunny may not be enough to make his season worth while I'd get him out lots an lots of kills, then if your lucky he'l shut up next year. They get bored real easy.. thats just my opinion an it seems to have worked with mine

[Fox]

I would try tirings ! This may help stop the boredom.

[Bubo]

get another hawk to keep her company :wink: or an eagle owl to keep her on her toes :P
bubo

[Varmint]

:arrow:

[Grovsey]

hi varmit
when you say bordem breakers what do you meen,what type off toys,
just got home and the wife says she has been sreaming all day and she is not happy arggggggggggggg.she weight 2-3/4
got her out off the muse and she was screaming like furry on the fist argggggggggggggggg

[Shaun Byrne]

What sort of Mews have you got her in G, is she free lofted or teathered?

[BrianM]

what constatutes screaming,, i just ask this as surely we are just putting our values onto our birds, are we asking too much of our birds that they should be silent alll day, i have two HH a peregrine and a kestral, all are silent 99.9% of the time and i consider myself very lucky that they are, but we should expect some noise from them as this is part and parcel of bird keeping

[Grovsey]

yes but not all day brian thats my isuue

[Shaun Byrne]

Agree Brian, but I think G is talking about a screamer, thats 99.9% of the time not silent lol.
Sounds like a bad one at that!

G, try any toys, tennis balls, hide bones, squeeky toys anything is worth a try.

[BrianM]

i wasnt havin a pop grovsey. i was just saying etc.. i havent had a bird that screamed all day probably down to luck more than anything else.. i feel that when birds scream its to get a reaction ( food attention etc) so if they dont get the reaction will the screaming stop?? just a thought, i have heard of people putting covers over parrot cages when birds get to noisy could you not do somthing along the same lines?? doors on mews maybe?? i am prepared to be shot down on this one LOL

[Grovsey]

here is a thought people,
whne I got home2 day she was just over 2lb and I gave here 2 chicks that I hiden in a palnt nr here,she then weighed just over 2-2 and still sreaming so I went out to get here and taker her for a walk for a change off location,when I felt her breast bone she still felt starp from top to bottom,so I put her on a pirch in the garden and attatched the creance to see how she would respond to this weight,I saw calling her about 15ft in a STRAIGT LINE INTO THE WIND AND SHE WAS RESPONDING super,could it be that I have been holding her way to low or is it just food association

[North East Harris Hawker]

is the bird quet when you get her in the field? if so then it is most probbably boredom, try and interact a little more with her, she may make some noise though during the moult, put some toys in her avairy, ie tennis balls, see if she picks them up and drops them to chase, you could also give her plenty of tirings if she is out on the perch all day, a pheasant wing will keep her occupied for ages :wink: and quiet!

[Grovsey]

yes east harris she is quite in the field and she is free lofted also

[Varmint]

:arrow:

[ChicM]

You in that less-smart-than-a Harris list Varmint? :D Add me at the end mate...

Brian has a point: mine screams (as you know) for attention and yes, when I give him attention, he stops. But he also stops (eventually) if he doesn't get it. He screams too when he's in the box and there isn't a chink of light that gets in there. But I think Grovesy has a more serious issue if his bird is screaming ALL the time.

Even you will admit that constant screaming may well be just habit she's gotten into rather than temporary boredom surely. I'm thinking Rattler here...! :D

I can't suggest what to try as I am too inexperienced obviously, but I hae ma doots that a squeezy toy will fix this one.

You might learn to love it Grovesy...or at least put up with it. I know I have and at the outset the LAST thing I wanted was a noisy bird (had enough of them in my time :wink: )

[Shaun Byrne]

Dont want to seem negative Grovesy but I have never seen a Harris that screams as much as that get cured (if thats the word) She sounds like your stereo typical screamer.

Sorry mate but sometimes its out of our hands.

[Varmint]

:arrow:

[ChicM]

Dead easy mate - I'm going to send him up to you when I'm in Texas next month! :D

And it's nice to see the old fiesty Varmint back! I was getting worried about you there 'bro...getting too consential and easy-going on that other thread. Was about to order your pipe and slippers... :D

[Shaun Byrne]

There's an idea Chick! Lets send all the noisy harris's up to Varmint to get fixed!! lmao!!

[ChicM]

I smell a business opportunity Varmint...

[BrianM]

Brian M

BrianM
Bang, Bang, Bang! :lol:

Sorry mate but secluding her will only make things 10 times worse, her current physical condition will of course will have had an influence, but this problem stems from boredom, i've seen in a thousand times. :wink:

Rem , she's smarter than half of the forum members! :lol:

oh well "bang" goes that theory lol :roll: it was just a thought..

[Grovsey]

hi all
I am going down the bordem route just got a rabbit leg out and stripped it for tomorow this will keep her busy ,I can see where you are coming from as when they are working on somthing like a bone ect the are so busy they shut up,then a visit to the butchers and get some bones..........
should i try and refrain from feeding on the fist for a while so she disasociates me from food????????

[Varmint]

:arrow:

[Debbie]

Sorry mate but secluding her will only make things 10 times worse, her current physical condition will of course will have had an influence, but this problem stems from boredom, i've seen in a thousand times. :wink:

Rem , she's smarter than half of the forum members! :lol:

Varmint I agree that she needs socialising as both birds mentioned are clearly bored. Lots of toys, ways in hiding the food inside something so they have to work out how to get at it.

Brian gave a good bit of advise which would work for some screamers and people I know do use this method and it works for them - but it depends on the reason for screaming.

My advice which I have learnt from others(Raptor Keepers) and with my parroting background is to increase your handling and socialising of your bird. Use lots of toys to stimulate their very active and clever minds(and yes some are cleverer than us :lol: ) and generally keep to a strict routine of when and where they are fed when not in the field hunting.
But thats my opinion and thats all it is. Each to their own.

Also someone commented about what you call screaming. This I too felt was a fabulous point. I was at a centre up north a while back one of the keepers said those two are terrible screamers they do that all day (Harris Hawks) just never quit - but to me its a noise that I found endearing and yes I have been with a noise similar to that for a length of time and it never bothered me.

But give me screaming kids in Tesco and I am ready to throttle them in seconds - again each to their own. And Andy one word about my singing as an example and your in trouble :wink:

Debbs

[Grovsey]

regarding toys has anyone ever use the type off toy that you use for dogs where you put food inside and there is a small hole where they can get at the food for a treat ?????
this is just a thought as my thinking is it would take them a while to get it out
you opinians please

[HawkNorth]

i think this is worth a try some similar to whats allready said dont feed on the glove also any food given at home can be given in the dark your not there when light is switched on variations birds on pirch in yard again its dark foods placed your out of sight when light comes on i found works with falcons i would have prefered starting earlier with harris can be done in daylight also useing lure

[Coedhirion]

4 what its worth, unless it was imprinted, then I recon its boredom. They do like to see plenty going on. If you could get her out hunting and killing more she may well stop, my little screamer got mad if he didnt get more than 2 bunny in a week. Also got any yappy, barking dogs around. If my dogs start my bird starts too, luckily he has almost quit I get 5 mins in morning unless weighed straight away and 5 at night. That's not bad so keep your ear plugs in and chin up, it may stop soon.

[Red Sheridan]

Hey Liz,

How many months is it you've been flying now?

Regards,
Red

[Coedhirion]

wat me or my bird... he's a first year started end August, stopped 16th Jan when he bashed his leg an lost transmitter. killed 53 bunny + 4 others I think thats pretty good, an its true, got half of em in the freezer, rest gone down his an the ferrets throat or out to feed the Kites

[Coedhirion]

Me... i cant fly lost me wings before birth an doubt they will regrow till i'm dead :lol: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :twisted:

[Debbie]

Me... i cant fly lost me wings before birth an doubt they will regrow till i'm dead :lol: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :twisted:


Naaaaaah - have a can of red bull it gives you wings :lol: :wink:

Debbs xx

[Red Sheridan]

You've done really well Liz if you have a tally of 53 buns + 4 others in a first year bird. Not sure if we want to know what others means though!!
I know of many beginners who have taken 10 head and think that's brilliant but then it's not a head-count sport.
Well done.

Regards,
Red

[ChicM]

And I am one of them Red...6 bunnies, 4 pheasant and 5...others. Proud as punch I am too. :D

[Shaun Byrne]

Well I've had loads of "others" this season!.........I think?? lol!!

[Coedhirion]

miscount...6 others, forgot the FROG.. pheasant squirrel chicken..woops an an unknown cos i couldnt find him. an unsportsman like bunny. after accident bird was 2oz over with graze on leg, so bolted a bunny from a single hole with bird on creance. he stopped it within 5 ft with all style he had shown at propper flyin weight. So he finished his season with big bunny supper. but i class this as as an other, but my bird comes 1st

[Colohen]

Two woodcock , 1 snipe , 1 snowgoose and many others all feathered . 8 month old gos

[Red Sheridan]

ChicM

No you're not...............that's 15!

My comments were not intended to knock anybody who had taken a small head count in their first season and I apologise if it seemed that way. If you are taking quarry in any numbers then that's good so far as I'm concerned when the alternative could be a bored and maybe aviary-bound bird.

You're proud as punch? So you should be.

Regards,
Red

[ChicM]

Hey Red - no worries mate. None taken.

I have absolutely no interest in head count. My wee Harris flies his wings off (almost) every time and if he misses it's my fault rather than his.

I'm an L plate falconer and proud to be learning from my bird every time.

And yeah - proud as punch is what I am. He comes 1st - despite my inadequacies!

Chic.

[Jiff]

if ya bird misses give credit to the game,most of you'r best flights will come from game missed......mine have anyway! most of skys killls we're done in the first 20 yds some i'll remember as she missed picked herself up and carried on the chase,one point to mention on the innitial topic sky has never from day one had even a half crop at home or from the glove if she whanted a crop full it caim from the field,sky is totaly silent in the field 99% silent at home,occasionaly giving tounge when her weight was droped,but all and all very quiet.

[Red Sheridan]

All power to your typing fingers. Spot on Jiff.

I still keep a quarry record from season to season but this is more for my own record of performance and improvement in my bird. Having said that of course, it's quite possible that one season my bird may fly 150 outings and the next 130 so the record really doesn't count for much other than interest.

I think most falconers would agree that many of the best flights they have seen would have been without result, but hell, who cares as long as we love what we do?

Time for bed said Zebedee

Red