Manning and Training of a MHH

[Bird man of ossett 2k8]

Hi, I got my male Harris on Sunday the 11 of January and he is settling down very fast. I am going to have a go at feeding him on the fist today as he didn’t feed on it yesterday. I have felt his keel and it feels fairly sharp. I no he has calmed down because when he sits on the glove and his perch his foot is up within 5 minutes and he seams really relaxed. I was just wondering why he is squawking when I return him to his perch? Is he telling me to back off because it is his territory? Thanks :)

[FalconFred]

Hi, I got my male Harris on Sunday the 11 of January and he is settling down very fast. I am going to have a go at feeding him on the fist today as he didn’t feed on it yesterday. I have felt his keel and it feels fairly sharp. I no he has calmed down because when he sits on the glove and his perch his foot is up within 5 minutes and he seams really relaxed. I was just wondering why he is squawking when I return him to his perch? Is he telling me to back off because it is his territory? Thanks :)

I can't give you an honest answer about the squaking when you return him to his perch only that I have seen it before with Harris Hawks when they are being trained. If you got your bird on the 11th of Jan and today is the 16th why does his kneel feel sharp? you say he is relaxed on the glove has he not eaten yet? You should let your mentor check him out to be sure mate as without supplying ex-chamber weight and present weights a proper answer will be harder to give. I am just concerned about his kneel feeling sharp at this stage..
Perhaps supply these weighta(post them) and see.

Wish you all the best,
Gerard:yawinkle:

[Milton Phil]

Hi, I got my male Harris on Sunday the 11 of January and he is settling down very fast. I am going to have a go at feeding him on the fist today as he didn’t feed on it yesterday. I have felt his keel and it feels fairly sharp. I no he has calmed down because when he sits on the glove and his perch his foot is up within 5 minutes and he seams really relaxed. I was just wondering why he is squawking when I return him to his perch? Is he telling me to back off because it is his territory? Thanks :)

Hi Ryan
You said the other day that he'd had 2 chicks and then the next day 4 chicks and then a quail, his keel should not feel sharp especially as he weighed 2lb on the 11th Jan. when you picked him up. You need to start trying to get him to eat on your fist so that training can now start. As for him squawking when you pick him up and put him back on the bow, it maybe just a confidence thing with you standing in front of him. I'm sure it will wear off, try not to stand and bend over him, bend your knees and come down to his level when fastening him on and taking him off .........if you know what I mean.
Bring him over if you're coming over to the meeting on Wednesday and I'll have a look at him.
Regards
Phil & Vikki

[Dave G]

he will never get it going if hes feeding 4 chicks and a quail ?? think you could do with a good mentor m8 ? sounds like a few are around you to help so take them up on the offer good luck DAVE

[Kennelre]

Hi, I got my male Harris on Sunday the 11 of January and he is settling down very fast. I am going to have a go at feeding him on the fist today as he didn’t feed on it yesterday. I have felt his keel and it feels fairly sharp. I no he has calmed down because when he sits on the glove and his perch his foot is up within 5 minutes and he seams really relaxed. I was just wondering why he is squawking when I return him to his perch? Is he telling me to back off because it is his territory? Thanks :)

It would be useful, I think for you to ask a mod to combine this thread with your other thread......'Alfie' (link)

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=58051

On your first thread you've posted weights.
I know you're a young'un yourself and I'm uncertain about a mentor...is it your dad?:confused:
You need good, consistent advice so I think it's important that you give lots of detail about what you're doing....or not.


...Rene.

[MeriPeri]

[/COLOR]

Not being funny but are his feet ok? I picked up a rehomed Peregrine a few months back screeched like mad on the fist and on closer inspection and really bad bumblefoot. :?:

MeriPeri

[Milton Phil]

Not being funny but are his feet ok? I picked up a rehomed Peregrine a few months back screeched like mad on the fist and on closer inspection and really bad bumblefoot. :?:

MeriPeri

I put the furniture on this bird, and I can assure you that this birds feet are in perfect condition, no sign of anything like bumblefoot.

[MeriPeri]

I put the furniture on this bird, and I can assure you that this birds feet are in perfect condition, no sign of anything like bumblefoot.

Just an idea :wink:

MeriPeri

[Bird man of ossett 2k8]

Earlier this morning I had another feel of his keel and it is not sharp at all. I think I may have just miss felt it. I am pleased to say that he fed on the fist time this morning and I will try jumping him the leash length tomorrow. I am considering bringing him down on Wednesday if its ok Phil, but if there is any dogs there I don’t know he will react as he as never seen a dog before. Thanks, Ryan

[PenelopeP]

Have to stipulate once again. All of this basic stuff should have been known before you got a bird. And to get a bird at this time of the year isnt ideal either.

And regards the dogs, ideally you want to get him exposed to all this stuff as much as possible now so he can start to understand that they can be a good thing, as if you wish to use the dog in the future and haven't laid down the foundations with the bird and dogs then you are going to have issues.

[Jiff]

hi ya mate, i don't get on much lately, not enough hours in a day:lol: so i may be late on this one, i'm a bit confused as to the progresion, in general there's two rules of thumb niether of them set in stone however one way with a new bird is to get it home and free loft it for a week or so to settle it, the other which i prefer is to get the bird home and teather it in a secure weathering and start the process from there, however in general regardless of which you use, when you first start to take the bird up onto the fist fear prevents it from eating,weighing the bird daily should still take place you then have a referance point of the birds condition, comparing the daily weight with that weight straight from the breeder, this is the first step of tameing the bird, after a short while it comes to accept you and eventualy will have the courage to dip it's head and take a mouthfull on the glove, i also make a note of this weight being the first responce weight, then the training process starts in the normal fasion, steping up, jumping to the leash etc etc, you don't seem to have any sort of system in place where by the birds progress can be measured, forget the keel, to the untrained hand it is absolutely meaningless, everything has to make sence to the bird and being fed willy nilly and then being expected to progress makes no sence to anyone let alone the bird, try and implement a regeme, weigh the bird man the bird train the bird, same time every day will hopefully (24hours) have you weiging an empty bird giving a more accurate gauge as to progress, once the bird is steady, by all means man it on the fist, show it anything and everything, but incorporate some sort of training also, both can be done at the same time if you have the time, man the bird and finnish the sesion with some flights on the creance, or the leash if you aint got that far yet, make a note of the birds reaction, you can then start to compare reaction time with weight, this will hopefully then start to give you the basics of weight management, which you can then build on, also make a note of weight gained or lost after a meal, the food type and quantity is also logged, this will then build into a referance for later on, you will soon have at youre finger tips a weight management referance for youre perticular bird, you can then feed the right food and the right amount to achieve the correct weight and ultimately create the right responce.:yawinkle: best wishes mate