Weight Control

[BlueHawk]

Hi All

Know I'm up for all sorts of abuse here, but picked up the new falcon and don't have his weight right yet (or his attitude/motivation). He went well the first week, feeding on the fist and coming to the lure no problems. Out to full length of creance also. I let his weight dip a little low and since he's gone back up his response has been poor. His caught up weight was 1 12 3/4 so I'd reckon he should be going about 1 9?

An ounce both sides of this bears no difference in results this week so far, do I crash his weight back up and start again?

Not sure if the hot weather has also been a factor. He's on a mixed quail/ DOC diet.

Thanks in advance for your help (and abuse!!)

Big G.

[Saker-Clive]

What bird is he, Sakeret, Perri, hybrid? How long have you had him, what is his age etc.

[BlueHawk]

What bird is he, Sakeret, Perri, hybrid? How long have you had him, what is his age etc.


Hi SS

Pere/saker 16wks old, I've had him for three wks (first falcon if you hadn't guessed :D )

[Saker-Clive]

The weather will definately have a factor in his responce; being hot, he will not need as much food and he will hold his weight more. If he is not responding, hood him, put him back on his block and leave him for a few hours but don't give in and feed him. Try again and see what happens. Feel his keel, and if he doesn't feed for a day, it won't cause him any problems UNLESS he is low but only you can determine that, or get someone else to have a look.

[Bash]

SS gives good advise but I wouldn't leave him hooded for long periods of time in this heat. I don't want to sound condesending and I'm sorry if I've got this wrong but you sound a little inexperienced? If that is the case I would recommend that you feed him up again and start again with his weight. Keep a record of what he eats, his response and as SS has said the feel of his keel. This way you will learn what works and what doesn't and will keep your hawk in good health.

You'll get no abuse from members here when asking questions so keep them coming. Good luck

[Gaz]

and I'm sorry if I've got this wrong but you sound a little inexperienced? If that is the case
Move this to Longwings (thats what your bird is)and ask/wait for a proper longwinger to help you out.."ASK AND THEY WILL COME" :finga: ..nobody will chew you out for asking..unless its me cause you should know if your birds a longwing at the very least :!: :mrgreen:

[Bash]

Move this to Longwings (thats what your bird is)and ask/wait for a proper longwinger to help you out.."ASK AND THEY WILL COME"

He did and I am and so is SS. :finga:

[BlueHawk]

Firstly, sorry for posting on Shortwings, I was reading a thread and decided to launch a question without going there first. I do know I have a longwing :roll:

Thanks for all the assistance guys, part of what has thrown me has been the falcons' ability to eat so much just to maintain his weight. I have and do keep meticulous record of his weight , attitude etc etc. Frighteningly easy just to give him a little extra in quail or pigeon and he balloons up. Sorry, have to compare him to the Harris!

Think I will just put him up and start again and hope to go again.

Any hints on something to stop him biting his anklets, I'm going to have to change them again after only 2 wks?

[OutFlying]

Don't feed pigeon or quail while attempting weight reduction and initial training, use something like skinned chicks. Provides a good sized crop and gives the falcon a sense of a good feed without putting weight ON.

[Gaz]

He did and I am and so is SS.
Oh, really :?: ..sorry,didnt realize :!: :finga:

[Hawkmaster]

MOVED FROM SHORTWINGS TO THE CORRECT PLACE

[Bash]

I think that's the best thing for you to do Bluehawk for now. If you have problems again after starting again then come back and we'll see if we can help.

The pecking of the jesses will stop in a week or two. If your having to change them every two weeks then I would try and get some better leather. It should last you longer than that. Ebay has some good stuff and don't forget to treat the leather with co-co line as that will help and puts some birds off.

He did and I am and so is SS.
Oh, really :?: ..sorry,didnt realize :!: :finga:

Oh! I'm sorry. i didn't realize that you didn't realize Gaz. :P :lol: :finga:

[RabbitHawker]

This warm weather really doesn't help, I get all my birds flying/jumping 1st thing in the morning in this weather as it's cooler, but I know some people seem to struggle with this. I agree about the food, I'd use DOC or rabbit, a good feed, but not too many calories, only use the rest when the bird is exercising well. If you've got a problem, stop and go back a few stages and try again, hop to the fist, then hop to the lure, then fly to the lure, turn, then fly free. Make sure you are good with radio tracking before you lose the bird, I'd always fly a falcon with 2 transmitters.
Chris

[Tim Laycock]

over how many days did this drop-rise occur?

[BlueHawk]

over how many days did this drop-rise occur?

About 7 days BB

Looking at my notes, it did coincide with the hot weather and falling weight, I've been flying him late evening and held him at 1 8 and he's picked up again.

Regards G.

[Tim Laycock]

About 7 days BB
nothing out of the ordinary then :D

held him at 1 8 and he's picked up again
Good stuff!

[Sprout]

Ebay has some good stuff
There is also some real ****, shoddy goods on there too so take care!

[MattSpar]

I would advise the feeding of one type of food only at this stage, especially for a novice. Different types of food have different nutritive values which can vary considerably, totally confusing the inexperienced.Forget skinned chicks. They're messy to feed, and the novice will encourage bad habits in his bird when presenting the next chick after one has been consumed, a process needing practice, and a degree of skill in sleight of hand if it is to be done properly, without encouraging snatching. Feed shin of beef, cut along, not accross the grain (your butcher will do this if you explain why). It's much more easily handled by someone lacking experience. One can quickly learn to judge how much to feed if this one type of food is used during the early stages. Don't worry about giving castings either. Neither the lack of castings, nor the exclusive use of beef will do your bird any harm. NOTE - This applies only during the early stages of training. Once you have learned the basic technique of managing a birds weight, a more varied diet can be introduced. All this takes time & practice. It's called "Experience".