help to start falconry

[Clown666]

iv wonted 2 do falconry for about 2 years wont do u need to be able 2 do it and exams, were too get the bird, laws, and cages everything

[Falcon]

Depends where you live whether you live in the uk or states or somewhere else. My first suggestion would be to try and do some voluntary work at a park/falconry centre and go on a course. Loads of places do falconry courses now, and i'm sure some of the other members can recommend a few.

[BrianM]

:roll:

[Will]

Er...stay in school, worry about birds later.

[Falcon]

No seriously read loads of books, try and get some voluntary work and go on a course. It all helps and you'll get there in the end.

[Shaun Byrne]

:roll:

[Moritz]

Will why should he not be able to go to school and do falconry?

Clown666 tell us more about you so we can tell you the details.

Moritz

[Will]

Little steps, Moritz, little steps.

[ColdZero]

i am going to assume hes american lol, because he mentioned exams. So what you need to do is read some good books like Falcon said and find a sponsor. I don't know how it works over there but you may need to join a club to find a sponsor :shock:
In america you need to trap your first bird, either a RT or kestrel.

Theres no point going into details as your spnsor will tell you all you need to know.

[Clown666]

im english from, south east kent (canterbury area) can u recommend any good voluntary work places and do u hav 2 do an exam in the uk??

[Moritz]

There is no exam in the UK.

Moritz

[Clown666]

were can i get my first bird?

[Moritz]

First do a course or volenteer at a center, they will be able to tell you a good breeder in your area. You will have to do a lot thinking befor you get your first bird. Where will you be able to fly it? Where are you going to keep it?
Do you have a garden where you could build an aviary?

Moritz

[The Late Lord Lucan]

im english from, south east kent (canterbury area)

The nearest place to you is at Farming world in Faversham. There is or certainly was a falconry centre there.
If it is not there anymore then it has moved to Leeds Castle at Maidstone.
Go and see them first of all, ask to see Leigh Holmes.
That would be a good starting point for you.
You may even get some voluntry work to do.


LLL.

[IAmTheWeasel]

Ahhh young Grasshoppa.....Take it easy and don't be so anxious to get a bird. It will not be what you expect. They are alot of work to maintain in healthy condition and require being flown as much as possible either on game(preferably) or to the lure. Do you have a good supply of fresh whole carcass game to feed your bird such as quail, Day old chicks, squirrel, rats, etc.... You will need to build a facility in you yard to house the bird as they can make quite a mess and your folks more than likely will not like it too much. Do you live close enough to an area that you can hunt the bird? Can you drive or will you need rides?(not sure about legal driving age in UK) Do you understand that this bird is not just a fancy pet? That it can and more than likely will make you bleed at some point without the slightest remorse for you well being?
These are just a few facts about handleing raptors. I do not condone the keeping of raptors as pets and if that is your intention, then put some thought into a parrot instead.
If you fully intend to fly and hunt a raptor, then I suggest that you do as the others on here suggest by going to a quality school, buy all the books you can and most important...find someone in your area that can help youstep by step through training and hunting a raptor.
Cheers,
Weasel

[Clown666]

im english from, south east kent (canterbury area)

The nearest place to you is at Farming world in Faversham. There is or certainly was a falconry centre there.
If it is not there anymore then it has moved to Leeds Castle at Maidstone.
Go and see them first of all, ask to see Leigh Holmes.
That would be a good starting point for you.
You may even get some voluntry work to do.


LLL.
yes its ther at farming world and about just wonting 1 as a pet i live next 2 a big open field wich is never used and full of rats ducks phesants (spelt wrong)and rabbits so i will be hunting with the bird

[MickeyDredd]

[/quote]
yes its ther at farming world and about just wonting 1 as a pet i live next 2 a big open field wich is never used and full of rats ducks phesants (spelt wrong)and rabbits so i will be hunting with the bird[/quote]

Do you have permission to hunt these species in that field?

[Moritz]

You will need the land owners permission to hunt on the fields and you will need far more than just one field at least a couple of hundred of acers to fly the bird. A nother thing is will you have the money to keep the bird? Vets and food bills are quite high. Do you have a big freezer for the food?

Moritz

[Clown666]

its my uncles farm and ther pests so i can kill as many of them as i wish lol

[Clown666]

yes i have a frezzer coz i keep snakes so i all ready hav a big frezzer

[Ben C]

Clown666 (that is a good name, The devils own clown :) :) :) :) ), Do not get a hawk for at least 2 years! You may have a big freezer but the field you want to hunt on isn't really big enough. A hawk is not a pet even though they are fun to own. Listen too Lucky and get yourself down to that local falconry centre mate.

Good Luck, and keep us posted. :) :) :)

[Clown666]

i no ther not just pets ok can people stop saying that the farm is about 2 thouasnd acers too so i dont thinks its 2 small yea i will go down 2 my local falconry center thers 2 theres wingham bird park or the hawking center at farming world iv been 2 both and asked about voltry(spelt wrong) work too

[Ben C]

Good man :) :) :)

[Moritz]

Good luck mate!

[Clown666]

anyother advice people can give ie a first easy to look after bird when i no all the info and things avirey sizes anything just tell me plez thnx

[Moritz]

Harris Hawk is the best for start and the quary you have got avaidable. Aviary size as big as possible.

Moritz

[Clown666]

thanks people can u post pics of ur birds and ther averys please coz i hav 2 builed 1 my self or buy one but im more likly 2 buld one myslef so as may pics of averys as u can please, wich bird requres the lest space not that i would wont 1 in a small space

[Ben C]

look at the album section at the top of your screen. :) :)

[Clown666]

oh ok thanks didnt look lol but thers no big pics of averys in the album do any of people hav any pics of ur averys from the outiside so i can see just how big ur averys are

[IAmTheWeasel]

A.D.D. anyone? :roll:

[The Late Lord Lucan]

theres wingham bird park or the hawking center at farming world

I am not aware of there being any falconry at Wingham Bird Park, but I will stand corrected if that is the case.

Your profile shows that you are sixteen years old, so I will credit you with a bit of intelligence, if you can't make the effort to get back to Farming World and speak to LEIGH HOLMES, then give up on your idea of keeping birds of prey and perhaps move to collecting matchboxes.
Whilst I respect that you may be overly keen, you really must get together with someone that knows what they are doing. Whilst Leigh may not be at the top of the list as far as 'experts' are concerned, he has a good basic understanding and has been running his business for a few years now, and you will not find anywhere closer to help you out.
For the right person, HE WILL offer some 'work experience'.

If he has already told you to go away, then all I can say is "best you find somewhere else", but may be there is a message in there somewhere.

Regards,
LLL,

[Clown666]

ther anit a falconry at wingham bird park but ther is birds of pray they wich i probaly could work with, were abouts in farming world is LEIGH HOLMES (in the hawking center) i gess its a person lol but i think they will just think im takin the **** coz of my age how would i speak too him/her do u hav 2 make an apotment or just ask for him /her

[OutFlying]

Clown666,
I don't know if your posts are serious or a wind up. One because I can hardly read them and two falconry isn't something just to drop into. Your last question should be where can I get a hawk from, your first question should be what do I need to learn and how can I learn it. If your really serious about falconry and knowing you have access to the internet, FIRST find a local falconry club and make enquires about attending a meeting. At the meeting ask/explain what your aims are and see if someone is willing to help. Many clubs are now running apprenticeship schemes. If your dedicated and keen enough make the effort - if your keeness extends to a keyboard without the legwork THEN FORGET IT.

OF.

[ColdZero]

this is all i am contributing

[SkyRider]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Well done mate!

[Moritz]

Hi Clown,
the age does not matter cold zero and me started when we were both younger then you, go and do what the others told you, that is the only way.

Moritz

[IAmTheWeasel]

CZ, That is some funny Sh**!!!!!hehehehehehe!

[The Late Lord Lucan]

were abouts in farming world is LEIGH HOLMES (in the hawking center) i gess its a person lol but i think they will just think im takin the **** coz of my age how would i speak too him/her do u hav 2 make an apotment or just ask for him /her

Go to Farming world walk in through the main entrance ask someone to show you where the 'Falconry part' is walk to the falconry section inside Farming world ASK TO SPEAK TO LEIGH HOLMES yes HE is a person No I doubt you would need an appointment but you might have to wait to speak to him if he is busy just ask to speak to him/her I am starting to wonder wether you are taking the pizz too Don't waste your time with Wingham bird park you aint gonna learn nothing from somewhere that keeps raptors in a cage and just lobbs a bit of food in and cleans out.

[Tim Laycock]

OutFlying wroteIf your dedicated and keen enough make the effort - if your keeness extends to a keyboard without the legwork THEN FORGET IT.

:prayer: 8)

ColdZero wrotethis is all i am contributing

pmsl CZ, You crack me up M8 :lol:

[Clown666]

ther is a hawking center at farming world and leeds castle. im going too start a 12 week student falconry course at leeds castle has any done this course before? can you do the courses at the hawking center at farming world? i was just wundering because farming world is closer to me then leeds castle (sorry about spelling my computers firewall blocks the spell check when i tri and open it)

[The Late Lord Lucan]

im going too start a 12 week student falconry course at leeds castle has any done this course before? can you do the courses at the hawking center at farming world?

How would we know If you can do them at Farming world? Although it looks like a no on that one, it says on his website they are done at Leeds Castle

http://www.thehawkingcentre.co.uk/buy-falconry-hawking-courses.html

JUST ASK LEIGH HOLMES...........He runs them both.........Like I said, if he's not at Farming world, He's at Leeds Castle.
He is a human being you know, he won't bite your head off for asking.....

Here, I'll help make it a bit easier for you....

Tel: 01227 752363......remember........LEIGH HOLMES

[Jonny]

Hey guys,
Don't be so hard on this guy. He is for real since i have been talking on msn to him and he is very keen he just doesn't know how to go about the whole thing, since as u will all know when u started there was so much information it was all quite overwhelming. I am the same age as him and have had a falcon for the last 2 years which has been extremely successful. So don't judge people by age because thats not what falconry is about, falconry is about passion and if you have it strongly enough you can start at any age. (Within reason of course!)
Anyway, instead of telling him to grow up, just try to help him with all the knowledge i know you guys have.
Thanks,
Jonny.

[Clown666]

hi people can u give me as much advice on training and careing,everything for a harris hawk or any hawk or falcon of any kind just as much advice as you people can give me thanks
sam

[Ben C]

Well once you have been in contact with Leigh Holmes and sorted yourself out with some work. Paid for a course and passed the cerificate, read about 20 different books, watched a load of hawking videos, been to a few club meets (if you want), found a Vet who is a hawk specialised, bought all the equipment and stored away a freezer full of hawk food. Paid for a ring from the IBR and found out if your vet does micro-chipping. You could follow these bits of advice, but REMEMBER this is only my opinion and everyone is different. :) :) :)

1) Make sure it is a Creche reared Harris, they a friendlier, steadier, easier to man and form a much stronger bond in a shorter space of time than a parent reared Harris. Travel the length of england to get one if you have to. (Not sure about imprints never tried it)

2) Ignore everyones advice on this forum and pay close attention to what your mentor says above everyone else. (including me).

3) Make sure you know how to use a hood and why. Then hood your hawk at the earliest moment.

4) Never tie your creance (training line) to the swivel but only the jesses.

5) Practice a drill for administering first aid to your hawk 10 miles from home and without a battery on your phone.

6) Forget about monumental flights in the first season and try to get at least 20 rabbits under your belt.

7) Do not think of your hawk as a pet or an animal that takes second place. You will have to miss work, friends, girls, tele, the X Box, homework, washing up........you will HAVE TO MISS EVERYTHING TO MAKE YOUR HAWKS LIFE HAPPY.

8) Spoil your hawk and double the size of the mews you THOUGHT was good enough.

9) Look upon owning your hawk for the rest of your life, do not even think about passing it on EVER!!! This will lead you to cut corners and not care enough for it.

10) HAVE FUN.

[OutFlying]

11) MAKE A LIST :shock:

[Ben C]

:)

[OutFlying]

Jonny and clown666, while this list can provide help it is not a place to learn from scratch - falconry. Advise has already been given, whether clown666 chooses to follow up on previous advice (especially advice given by Lucky Lord Lucan) is up to him. BUT as I said earlier if you can't do the legwork then forget about falconry its not for you. Too many people expect to have their hand held and be shown everything without putting the required effort in - falconry isn't supposed to be easy.

OF.

[Ben C]

Agreed 100%

[Falcon]

Can only back what OF and BenC have said.

[Hawkmaster]

WELCOME Clown of the Devil!

Paul

[Falconry Equipment International]

this is all i am contributing Hi CZ How do you manage to capture this like it is?

[Jonny]

I agree with OF completely too. Clown666, i seuggest you read a good falconry book (I suggest "falconry" by Emma Ford) and get back to us with any questions that are not answered in it, because most of them will be.
Show that you can make the effort and so will we.
Good luck,
Jonny.

[Clown666]

i am i brought that book today

[The New Kid]

Hmm, it all seems alot friendlier around here since i last visited
</sarcasm>

I'll be happy to give you a hand with whatever i can mate, mostly equipment-wise, as i dont know too much about the actual sport, definately not enough to even consider getting a bird... You got an MSN address i can get hold of you on?

Ciao

Gerg

[Clown666]

the new kid my msn addy is rambo_885@msn.com dont no about u but i will be on msn about 9.00 2night

[Falconry Equipment International]

Jonny and clown666, while this list can provide help it is not a place to learn from scratch - falconry. Advise has already been given, whether clown666 chooses to follow up on previous advice (especially advice given by Lucky Lord Lucan) is up to him. BUT as I said earlier if you can't do the legwork then forget about falconry its not for you. Too many people expect to have their hand held and be shown everything without putting the required effort in - falconry isn't supposed to be easy.

OF.
here here OF
It is amazing how many folk expect me to teach them the basics , then provide my best gamehawk, and then even if I ddi that be on the phone/ email/ text :vom: don't do that :shock: :roll: & even if I did this for them , they would then complain that they had not learnt anything!
Future pupils beware !! I shall be going a similar route to those that taught me , do my very best to stop you taking up the sport but IF .. the pupil is doggedly persistant and shows real aptitude then I may relent :rolleyes: :yawinkle: :yawinkle: :yawinkle: SJ