Late Stage Hooding.

[Derry Shaw]

Well after flying a Lanner falcon in the summer to the lure, I realised just how convenient it can be to have your bird hooded. So I decided at the beginning of the season that when I pulled out the two Harris's that I would attempt to get them to take to the hood. Both birds have been flown for a number of season's as a cast but never been hooded. I have to admit that I was a member of the why hood a Harris gang before flying the Lanner but especially when flying a cast the pro's far out weigh the con's. My plan was not to force the situation for fear of freaking them out and making them resentful and totally hood shy, instead I intended to take things very slowly and through a process of association get them to become totally relaxed with the procedure (wishful thinking). I pulled the male bird out first and whilst manning and getting his weight right I just sat with him time and time again attempting to stroke him with the hood hoping he would switch of from it and become more relaxed before attempting the next step. Being naturally much more fidgety and anxious than the female he would become nervous and start thinking of bating as soon as the hood got closer to him. Over a period of a couple of weeks I can honestly say that I achieved absolutely nothing doing this:oops:. Plan B was to start feeding him small bits of food from the hood and this changed the way he felt about it instantly, I soon had him pushing his head all the way into the hood to take pieces of meat of the arm of the chair through the beak opening. After a day or two of this I started to pull the braces on him and sit him on the fist for longer periods, when I was removing the hood I was offering him larger rewards. The food association was a very positive thing in the short term because his nervousness was totally eradicated. However it very quickly became a negative because he was anticipating food in the hood and the reward afterwards this made him restless whilst hooded. When I pulled the female bird out her more relaxed temperament proved invaluable because it was absolutely amazing how she took to the hood. She did not show an anxieties when presented with the hood and I was able to hood her instantly with no food association or drawn out manning periods. Apart from there temperaments there was one thing that proved different between the two birds and that is the hood I was using for the male proved to be a bit on the tight side were as the one for the female was a bit big and I believe this played a part in the difference between them. The bigger hood being more comfortable therefore less reason to complain. Now I can successfully hood both birds, not perfectly as they will both try to throw the hood (but they never bate or fall of the back of the fist) and it can take me a couple of times to get it right. I make a point of hooding them everyday for short periods whether required or not just to keep things going. I'm still not at all happy with the fitment of the hoods I'm using but that's another thread in itself. So it is possible to carry out late stage hooding successfully, would be good to hear from anybody else who has had similar experiences,:-D

Happy hawking Derry.

[BrianS]

Hi Derry,

Lile you, I've decided to hood train my '07 male Harris this season. I started 3 nights ago and is going well, but I said right from the start that I wouldn't have any food association with the hood at all. I think that has probably slowed the process a wee bit, but he is starting to get more comfortable now with me just stroking his breast with it. He has had a few pecks at it, but he was far more relaxed about the whole thing tonight, so tomorrow night I'll try slipping it on.

With a bit of patience, late hood training is definitely possible.

Brian

[Sean D]

Hi Derry,

Lile you, I've decided to hood train my '07 male Harris this season. I started 3 nights ago and is going well, but I said right from the start that I wouldn't have any food association with the hood at all. I think that has probably slowed the process a wee bit, but he is starting to get more comfortable now with me just stroking his breast with it. He has had a few pecks at it, but he was far more relaxed about the whole thing tonight, so tomorrow night I'll try slipping it on.

With a bit of patience, late hood training is definitely possible.

Brian

Why bother late stage hooding a hh, can cause more problems than its worth

[BrianS]

Hi Sean,

One of the reasons is that I want to fit a Marshall TrackPak mount for his telemetry, and him being hooded would make it a whole lot easier.

What problems exactly are you referring to?

Cheers...Brian

[Derry Shaw]

Hi Derry,

Lile you, I've decided to hood train my '07 male Harris this season. I started 3 nights ago and is going well, but I said right from the start that I wouldn't have any food association with the hood at all. I think that has probably slowed the process a wee bit, but he is starting to get more comfortable now with me just stroking his breast with it. He has had a few pecks at it, but he was far more relaxed about the whole thing tonight, so tomorrow night I'll try slipping it on.

With a bit of patience, late hood training is definitely possible.

Brian

Hi Brian, I would agree in hind sight that no food association is the way to go. Having said that though my male bird is particuarly twitchy at the best of times and I really was'nt getting anywhere with just trying to stroke his breast with the hood hence plan B. As stated food association is fine short term but the quicker you can do without it the better. Anyway best of luck with you bird let us know how you get on.;)

[Derry Shaw]

Why bother late stage hooding a hh, can cause more problems than its worth

Hi Sean, I spoke to a number of people before attempting the hooding of my birds and they said the same as you. The only problems I can think of are resentment and hood shy but if done correctly this can be avoided. The effort is worth while because the benefits of a bird taking the hood speak for themselves. All the best Derry.

[Spring]

I tried to do it bit never had no luck that was with a gos she went loopy so i didnt bother to try it more than 2 different times.
But as Derry has proved it is possible to do it at a later stage i have seen him do it
I think it all depends on the bird if they seem ok with it fine but if they go loopy best leave it
But my Lanner when she was a new bird was as good as gold.

[Sean D]

Hi Sean, I spoke to a number of people before attempting the hooding of my birds and they said the same as you. The only problems I can think of are resentment and hood shy but if done correctly this can be avoided. The effort is worth while because the benefits of a bird taking the hood speak for themselves. All the best Derry.

You are absolutely correct in what you say, I went against advice and tried late stage hooding with a mhh, I gave it about six weeks of gently, gently approach, involving no food whatsoever, just as I was getting some success he would revert back to day one, as if he had never seen a hood before,
This was damaging the trust between us so I gave up, good luck, hope it works for you

[Derry Shaw]

You are absolutely correct in what you say, I went against advice and tried late stage hooding with a mhh, I gave it about six weeks of gently, gently approach, involving no food whatsoever, just as I was getting some success he would revert back to day one, as if he had never seen a hood before,
This was damaging the trust between us so I gave up, good luck, hope it works for you

I really dont think I would of been successful hooding my male bird without the use of food. They just seem to stubborn to come round to the softly softly approach and do become resentful. atb Derry.