Prevent screaming

[Sean]

Was just wondering what is the best methods to prevent a harris from screaming? Its the last thing id want when i get mine

[Dave Whitt]

Sean what are you getting and at what age ?

[HawkNorth]

hi sean getting the right balance

[Sean]

Jacko, it will be a male harris around 18 weeks
hi hawknorth, what do you mean by the right balance?

[Dave Whitt]

At that age you should`nt have a problem, providing the brreder has had the birds in a seclusion aviery

[Sean]

it will be :) but is there still ways to prevtn it just incase?
ive heard storys on the forum about PR birds becoming screamers after moths :S

[Dave Whitt]

I shouldnt worry about it too much if the bird is being PR in a seclusion aviery you shouldnt have any problem the only other advice get it killing quick, dont spend 3 years manning it get it flying, get it free start hunting.

[Sean]

ok cheers, the eggs are in an incubator at the moment, becouse two of the eggs wher einfertile i think, would this be a problem?

[Sparrow Hawker]

Hi Sean,

These are the steps I tend to follow to reduce the chances of screaming:

Purchase a fully parent reared bird of at least 16 weeks of age, Ideally been reared in an enclosed aviary, brilliant if young have been separated from there parents for a couple of weeks before being sold.

I tend to allow a week or so for the bird to settle in before the actual feeding on the fist starts. Personally I don't do any training in or near living quarters. When training reduce the weight quickly and then increase the weight quickly as soon as you achieve a response. Mix training up with lure pursuits etc.

Try to get the bird hunting as soon as possible, so the bird will become independant and not see the falconer as the sole food provider.

Use a food chute avoids direct feeding at home which could result in negative behaviour. Avoid the bird becoming bored, if you can, site them in the garden so they have something interesting to look at.

All The Best,

HH

[Sean]

hey simon, why do you leave it for a week, i was thinkign about manning at top weight, but was thinking that the bird might start to fear the glove inside of see it as a good thing with food on it

[North East Harris Hawker]

I shouldnt worry about it too much if the bird is being PR in a seclusion aviery you shouldnt have any problem the only other advice get it killing quick, dont spend 3 years manning it get it flying, get it free start hunting.
spot on advice, the birds are actually good to go at 16 weeks but 18 wont hurt, give the bird 3 days with no food to settle into its new home then get on with the training , once its coming to the fist introduce a dragged rabbit (forget about dummy bunnies) get a real one!
the quicker you get the bird entered the better.
harrises get frustrated as they are very inteligent they can become noisy when bored

[Sean]

ok cheers :)
and what do yous think about fist jumping beside the mews , would i affect it?

[ColdZero]

i was just owndering about using a food chute. Since harris' are so clever, don't they associate seeing or hearing the falconer walk into the shed etc with food? Is it a possibilty if the only time they see you going into the shed is for food.

[Sparrow Hawker]

Hi Sean,

I have never manned the bird at top weight before does sound an interesting method.

First thing I did when I got my harris was to get a weight from him then I teathered him to his bow on the lawn, in the evening I placed a section of carpet in the aviary so the carpet would protect and cushion his feathers if any bating occured. I then fed him on full rations for a week.

This allowed him to become accustom to the restraints of the leash and jesses etc it also allowed him time to adjust to the new environment. I also believe it gives him a bit of time to get used to him being on his own, previously he was in a breeding chamber with parents and siblings. Whether or not it helped him to start to become independant is matter of opinion, but I liked the theory behind it :lol:

What I did find was when I had him out and on the fist he would instantly jump back up onto it, none of this hanging upside down like a dead chicken. This I believe was due to him becoming used to the restraints on the leash etc.

In my opinon I see little point in stressing the bird straight away, getting the bird to feed on the fist as soon as it arrives home. Chances are the bird won't feed on the fist day anyway. The birds already had a stressful time with travelling and fitting the equipment, everythings new to the bird.

That said plenty of people swear by getting the bird to feed on the fist straight away and it works for them :D It's a matter of opinion really.

All The Best,

HH

[ColdZero]

well i manned my hawk from the first morning and she ate on the fist quite readily and was asleep on the fist by the end of the day...and i am a complete beginner. Just shows a lot of it is just the hawk not the method used imo

[Finnish]

. Just shows a lot of it is just the hawk not the method used imo


Every bop is different. :wink:

[Varmint]

And thank the lord they are eh?

Sean, there is no hard and fast rules to avoid noise, "Screaming" as you call it is something teh HH world is paranoid about?

If a bird feels confident enough to vocalise in your comopany then it is really a big compliment and shows that a bond of trust and understanding is building between you both, take it as that rather than looking at it as some sort of cardinal sin?

Get you lovely young eyass at 18 weeks , mann it at top weight, enter it on quarry quickly and fly it at top weight, then one day weather it out next to an adult bird, with an empty crop and it will still vocalise?

If you had a dog, would you expect it never to make any noise at any point or time in it's life?

If you live in a built up area with neighbours, my advice is get plenty of Bottles of wine handy.

Keep the neighbours ****ed until your bird goes down for it's first moult, and noise will subside after that :lol:

[Sean]

*gulp* runs to get the wine lol
thanks guys

[Kornie]

Is it a possibilty if the only time they see you going into the shed is for food.

No doubt about it, my harris watches a series of events in the kitchen from her aviary and knows when shes about to be fed, I can't seem to hide the fact or disguise it, she just knows.

Is it possible for a bird to pick up screaming from other birds, passing on a habit i suppose? Or for the presence(sp) of another bird to bring upon screaming?

[Ben C]

Also Sean,
Something that Varmint said should be picked up on. There are a multitude of types of screaming and noise the harris makes. I am trying me best to decipher them all. :) :) :)
He mutters, craws in fright, screams to hunt, screams lower to be fed, beeps quietly. It is nice to think that this aspect of a hawks behaviour can be used to form a closer partnership eventualy :) :)

Another point about neighbours: Learn to cook a decent rabbit pie for the wine, and make sure their kids come and 'play' with him often. Also find out if they have any rabbits or guinea pigs :) :) :) :)

[Dave G]

well as i say never two birds are the same what works for one may not work for the other,dont stress the bird he will be happy to feed off the fist and jump to the fist when feels comfy,if rushed just think you are going backwards instead of forwards

[North East Harris Hawker]

mine was entered quickly (if i can remember back that far) yet she still has the odd half hour of squawking. one the bird starts its usually followed by my mrs "squawking" about the noise,
i always preffered stereo to mono though FFS :roll:

[Ben C]

Sometimes when we have had a good day in the field, and it is getting near roosting time I have had a beeping and clucking session that has lasted up to an hour in the dusk. Backwards and forwards between hawk and handlers, until it is too dark for more. More often than not Lucy does this, I BLOODY HOPE HE IS NOT TRYING TO PULL HER.....:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[North East Harris Hawker]

well, it is that time of year :lol:

[Varmint]

Its great to built a close bond with your hawk and gain greater understanding of their needs and wants thru expression, noise whatever?

One word of warning though Benc? If you carry on calling to your female, she will eventually build such a strong bond that she will pair with you and at that point she will start to get very jelouse around other folks, some birds become spiteful and some just plain dangerouse!

Enjoy your time together, but consider and repocussions in the future thru your actions today :wink:

[Gaz]

Keep the neighbours ****ed
Cor, :shock: ..wish i lived next door :finga: :drinkers:

[Ben C]

Eeeeeerrrrrr Varmint.............this SHE you talk about is in fact a HE.........DON'T TELL ME, HE IS GONNA BE A JACK MORVORGODATO..:) :) :)

I suppose this pair bonding could go the other way, would a boy pair bond for lucy. When we first got him he did a lot of head bobbing and we were warned by our mentor that this is what was happening.

Has anyone got any stories that they could provide about pair bonding?? I know Golden Eagles do it, but again I don't know what this really means?

[HawkNorth]

heres one sean do as i did first year got a male harris hand me down quiet well mannered caught rabbits magpies one crow one pheasant mice and frogs and the odd chicken when she got a chance

[Sean]

im after a young one tho mate, dunno what id be takign on otherwise

[Ben C]

With all due respect hawkNorth :) :) :)

DON't DO SEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a load of **** and shinola.

[HawkNorth]

by all means sean will be interested in how you get on

[Kornie]

There are a multitude of types of screaming and noise the harris makes.

How many harris' do you know that make a clucking noise....and yes it is embarrasing.

I must admit I wouldnt mind my harris watching over me...

[Falconry Equipment International]

Was just wondering what is the best methods to prevent a harris from screaming? Its the last thing id want when i get mine
Sean why are you try to prevent a harris from me??? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Sorry m8 feeling daft today! Screamin Jay

[HawkNorth]

Jemina Jones book for beginners is as good as any would be worth a read

alot of commonsense in it

[Sean]

yea im ordering it of amazon, along with nick foxes book, so what do you fly HN?

[Ben C]

Also Sean try Emma Fords 'Falconry Art and Practice' and if your after Rabbits, read Jackie Drakefords 'Rabbit Control', it might give you an insight into your quarry. (You probably know enough anyway, but it is still a good read). :) :) :)

[Sean]

i got emma fords books thanks ben :) also got alot of rabbiting books, but some are real old lol

[Ben C]

Another little classic which I haven't seen mentioned is 'Field Dressing and Butchering' by a US guy called Monte Burch......this guy is a proffessional outdoors man......the REAL DEAL. His tips and receipes are out of this world and really adds to the full scope of what it is like to catch your own food. He relates it to loads of trappers from the past. ISBN 1-58574-230-9.

:) :) :) :)

[Goldie]

AKA Grizzly Adams :lol: