harris

[MTR46]

Just been to collect my first B.O.P my 16 week old male harris he is awesome. when i arived at the breeders house he went into the secluded avairy for my harris first encouter with human contact after about 10 seconds he had cought him and we took him indoors to get the anclets and leg bells on. no bother and not a sound from him all went well and then uncovered him and tried to get him on the fist. he baited twice and then sat on my fist after about half an hour i walked him down the garden past the dogs to see his paerents on the bows. a couple of social crows he behaved fantastic not phased at all. but just sat there very nervous so we packed him into his travel box and i set off on the 20 mile journey home. arived about 6pm this evening and took him out of the box he baited a couple of times and then settled. iv just popped him into the mews tethered to a short leash but he is not interested in the bow he is sat in the bath at the moment in the corner. lets see what tomorrow brings his fat weight was 1lb9oz

[Hawkmaster]

Enjoy mate and remember to put up some pictures.

[MTR46]

THANX HAWKMASTER day 2 started with some more manning for an hour or so and after a couple of baits he settled down. put him on the lawn on the bow next to the bath but did not show much interestin either perching or the bath left him a coule of hours and decided to pick him back up he baited but then jumped back on to the fist. let him settle down and i popped him on the scales 1lb6 and a half tried him with a chick leg but not intrested but he just sat quitley on the fist for an hour . so iv just put him back in the mews on the bow to chill till tomorrow. please let me know if im doing anything wrong.

[Shaun Byrne]

Are you sure about those weights mate. 3oz in about 24hrs?

What weight did the parents fly at? Sounds like he will be a small one to me.

[MTR46]

the fat weight was on the breeders mechanical scales mine was on the electronic. the paerents are flying at 2lb4oz and 1lb8oz

[PeregrinesUK]

Are you sure about those weights mate. 3oz in about 24hrs?

The fat weight of the hawk was most likely not an empty weight could of had a little food still in him from before either way id take the weight redution slow no need to rush sounds like hes settling in well take your time and good look with him

[Shaun Byrne]

I know its boring but get them checked mate.

Thats quite a lot to lose in 1 day but if the breeder weighed him with food still in the crop and you weighed him empty, that could explain it.

What are you going to fly him at (quarry?)

[MTR46]

he did not sit well on the breeders scale so it was a bit of a vaig reading but have checked mine today . when he is going out he catch is his. but we have a very healthy rabbit and crow population.

[Shaun Byrne]

Wont be long before he's nailing them!

Good luck with him, like P UK says, take your time and enjoy.

[MTR46]

oh yes well i hope. cheers fellas no doubt il be back for some advice.

[Varmint]

Almost certian that the bird prob had some food in the crop at first weighing, so i wouldnt worry about that particulat weight drop, just take your intial weight as that of the following day.

You said it just sat in it's bath?

Word of warning to any newbie's reading this, avoid offering a bath to a newly tethered hawk in training, firstly as they can sometimes get very silly when bating and it isnt impossible for a young bird to Drown in a couple of inches of water? also the reduced space and increased chance of bating may mean that your new bird will break feathers on such an obstruction in the weathering?

Just some useless advise! Good luck mate!

[MTR46]

not at all useless varmint something i had not really considered the bath is on the lawn and the only thing in the mews is a bow perch. cheers

[MTR46]

Hi all just an update day 3 nothing happend really just about 3 hours of manning. put him on the scales yesterday night he weighed 1lb5 and a half oz he wouldnt take anything off the fist tried him with a de yolked chick no responce at all. so we just sat for a while tried him again no. so i put him down for the night. DAY 4 i went into the mews and found he had cast a pellet so i discarded it and put him out on the lawn to settle went inside for my coffee and then back out to try and get him to feed. my next door neighbour is having some work done and loads of noise and banging so i went and sat in the garage with him. all ok tried him with some beef. bingo at last he fed on the fist fantastic took him out on the lawn sat him on the bow tried again he took that . so extended my distance a little . hesitantley he put one foot on my hand and took that same again by now his crop was full so i put him back on the scales 1lb7 and a half oz. so iv put him back on the lawn and i will try him again later. any comments or advice welcome. cheers MATT. :D

[Ben C]

Looking good so far.......might not be back down to 1lb 5oz tomorrow with all that food in him :) :)

[MTR46]

he as just stepped up for a chick and eat the lot and was looking for more but iv just left him wanting so when i put him away tonight i will way him and see what tomorrow brings now he is feeding on the fist i can start to make him work for his grub. not expecting much tomorrow .but iam happier now i now he has had a good feed. as beforany comments welcome. cheers :D

[Ben C]

Good you ended on a positive note......if he is above 1lb 5oz you'll risk having a failed lesson, so wait until he back at that level before starting again. I know its hard sitting and looking at it, but you must :) :)

[MTR46]

hes just weighed at 1lb 8 and a half so i think il be having tomorrow off but iam glad he has fed tho il try him tomorrow.but if he dunt want to work for me he will get nothing until i put him down for the night.

[Ben C]

Don't try him.....sit on those hands mate :) :) Leave him to think about his lesson, get a bit hungary and remember what happened when he was 1lb 5 oz........:) :)

[MTR46]

oh righty then thatl ding dang do for me. cheers ben c :cry:

[Ben C]

Just relax into it Paddy....jus relax! :)

[MTR46]

:lol:

[Mr_Colin]

Sounds very similar to how I started. Once Willow first fed I gave her a full crop as well. The next day we had jump ups going. My mentor told me "during this stage when you extend the distance if your bird hesitates for too long, then go a little closer then stop, you can then take her for a walk. The next day start at the same distance you finished at, never go closer and you will be at creance length before you know it"

This worked for me so I hope it helps. Good luck and lts see the pics.

Mr_C

[Mr_Colin]

Got to disagree Ben, dont just do nothin, if he is too heavy to try jump ups then still do some manning. A bird steady on the hand at this stage is a wonderful thing. I sat and read books when I was manning and did an hour at least either side of the day. If I was getting a little jump or flight I would still finish off with a manning session. It worked for me but not saying it's the gospel

[MTR46]

thanks for the responce im going to weigh him this morning and do an hours manning i might go for a walk with him and see if he will respond later this afternoon. i dont think there is a right or a wrong way to do it. its just what works for you and ya bird. if he wont respond try something else. but my theory is until you have a few sessions with him i dont know what weight he will repond. so if he wont work today il bring him down slowly till he does. as before any comments welcome.

[Osiris]

sounds like your doin wat should be done :D
I'm trying to get my FHH to feed off fist today. she was slightly interested in it yesterday but never went anywhere but she should today... hopefully! :D
Let us know how u get on today yeh?

[Ben C]

Col I didn't say do nothing, I said don't do a lesson using food and anyway how can he do jump ups when the hawk is only just stepping up? :) :)

[Mr_Colin]

Sorry Ben misinterpreted your post, when you said sit on those hands I read it as do nothing. My bad :lol: :wink: :lol:

Willow did two step ups then I had a jump straight afterwards and that was from one feeding session but she is a ganut(probably spelt wrong)

[MTR46]

Back now just been out and weighed him. he has just come off the scales at 1lb6 and 7.8 ths thats just shy of 2oz in 14 hrs?. he feels to have an empty crop.

[Mr_Colin]

what are the plans for today MTR46

[Tim Laycock]

MTR46.
Who did you get him off m8?

[MTR46]

my plans are to some more manning he is sat on my fist as iam typing. then iam guna go for a walk later and this afternoon im guna see if he will jump for his grub. I got him from jamie marsden from barnsley he is a member of south yorks F CLUB.

[Ben C]

Good man............livin the dream, livin the dream :) :)

[MTR46]

IAM FREE SPIRIT AND I DONT PAY COUNCIL TAX. P.S. storm has just cast so iam guna stick him on the scales again.

[MTR46]

Just an update storm has jused jumped half leash length for a chick leg she did it 3 times but still a bit too heavy i think he was a little slow at 1lb6 and a half. so he is back on the lawn il try him tomorrow cant wait.

[Dave G]

mmm is it a she he as one minute its a she then the next a he :lol:

[MTR46]

shes a he sorry :lol:

[Ben C]

Coming good now mate, well done :) :)

[MTR46]

storm on the lawn

[Tree Sitter]

Nice looking bird you have there mate :wink:

Max

[MTR46]

Thanx max he is coming on a treat

[Adam Barrett]

nince looking bird-very dark!
good luck with her

[Ben C]

Pity the poor rabbits....................................hehe

[MTR46]

storm 2

[Tim Laycock]

Nice.
Very dark bird, Looks well :D

[MTR46]

Hi all just an update been in the garden with storm this aft and his pre flight check was him weighing in at 1lb6 and 1|4 oz so took him out . and put him on the back of a garden chair on the creance. fingers crossed. at first he was more intrested about looking around but once he realised there was food on offer he came. dtarted at about 2ft one jump for some beef. put him back on the chair and exctended distance up to about 15 meters he came about 10 times for 1 and a 1|2 OZ in total. he flew reasnably quickley every time. and on one ocasion after walking him back to the chair i got half way back and he over took me and landed on the shed roof. he sat looking around for a minute and then came down for a titbit. after his rassion he weighed 1lb7 1|2 oz his crop was pretty full so looking forward to tomorrow . by sunday i hope to have on the creance in the field. as always any comments or advice welcome.

[Afshimo]

He's doing brill! :)

[MTR46]

i thought so 2 cheers :D

[Renton]

He'll be going free very soon by the sound of it.

[Takajo]

and on one ocasion after walking him back to the chair i got half way back and he over took me and landed on the shed roof.
They do that alot, eh. He's just ...makin..sure :wink: When Harrises do a fly by like that, they're unsure of the situation. And/or they're not hungry anymore...

[MTR46]

Im hoping he will be free soon too and then i can start to get him fit. I think he was slightley heavy when i took him out. I think he responds better at 1lb6oz or may be slightley lower still im starting to get an idea now what weight he is responsive.

[Takajo]

Exactly. You're gettin a feel for it. Use the force luke. Weight, mood, wind, affinity for his master. All these things come into play. Take them all in at once when you've got him on the creance. I'm not jokin. When yer startin out, you think of his weight. Seperately you think of his mood. A few minutes later you think about how the wind may affect things. When you FEEL these things all at once, you will have learned young padawan...

[MTR46]

yes master

[Takajo]

Oyasumi (good night and good hawking)

[MTR46]

sionara or is it sushinara? my freind

[Takajo]

It's sayonara. Si onara would mean "fart of death". Most unpleasant

[MTR46]

si onara that will be me in the morning after iv finished off the rest of the beer in the fridge. :lol:

[Takajo]

in which case "kusai" would mean "damn, that smells!"
Goin ta bed all. 3 a.m. in Japan nowzzzZZZ

[MTR46]

you crack me up :lol:

[MTR46]

HI just an update storm has been coming on really well on the creance despite a few trips up trees getting tied up in branches and ganged upon by bloody magpies. i have not yet been able to fly him at full length of the creance because he wont let me get far enough before he comes back to the glove. this is day 13 from picking him up he is flying well at 1lb 6 oz so i will get him fit at that for now. but tomorrow all being well he is going free wish me look i dont want to sit under a tree all night.

[Ninja-Jon]

Hope all goes well MTR46 when you fly Storm free mate.

[Takajo]

BTW, don't get him too near a branchy tree with a creance on. It's actually not even good to imagine what could happen if caught up in the branches. You don't want a lure for the crows, if you know what I mean. :(

[MTR46]

Hi all just got back from an outing with storm. he did it his first free flight it went like clockwork. he came out of the trees on to open fields and chased me as i ran away with his grub what a fantastic feeling knowing that just 14 days ago i picked up a wild bird from a secluded avairy. he is fantastic and silent touch wood. a credit to the breeder i cant wait for tomorrow for our next flight. :D

[Ninja-Jon]

Well done m8 pleased for you :lol: You made it sound so easy maybe next year you can help me with my MHH.

[Takajo]

d :D b

[MTR46]

Not a problem ninja jon i followed the traditional methods of training it is easy. there is nothing very complicated about it. It just takes alot of patience but now im smiling ear to ear. cant wait to take him out today and fly him somewhere nice. but slowly does it now he is free its dummy bunny time

[Ninja-Jon]

Glad to hear it MTR46 hope you do well with Storm M8 please keep us informed.

[Dave G]

hi mtr46 now the fun starts i hope your fit as the harris is going to want to hunt if you dont put prey out hes sure gona find some him self and at the moment still lots of coverage on the trees and grass still long so be carefull not to lose sight of him good look and enjoy the hunting side of hawking :wink:

[MTR46]

HI ALL just been out with storm for the 3rd time free. it was a bit windy to say the least and he got cought in it and he went like a rocket in the wind about 800 yards and landed in a tree out of sight. my wife said the look of terror on my face was a good laugh as i set off after him like a grey hound. i called him he tried to come but the wind was too strong i called again and he made it to the fist thank god and i went into the woods out of all the wind he just followed on tree to tree fantastic. we were out for an hour and then back to the car and off home till tomorrow.

[Takajo]

Looks like he's loyal for life now, MTR-meister :partyman: Congrats!

[Gary.B]

Sounds great mate, you're a couple of weeks ahead of me, my chap stepped up for the first time yesterday :D . I did plan to make a hat out of his first rabbit, then I realised he'd nail me on the head everytime we went out :?

[MTR46]

cheers takajo i hope so. good look gary with yours he will be going strong in no time. i think the hat is a bad idea have you ever seen the singer jemeraquie he looks a right chump in his big rabbit hat thingy mi bob.

[Ninja-Jon]

Hi MTR46 how are you going with Storm. Hope everything is OK only i am missing the updates your making with him.

[MTR46]

hi ninja jon ive been a bit lazy with the updates i have been quite literally flying him every night. we have been having a ball with some excellent flights not had him with the dummy bunny yet but we will get there he follows on so well ive been walking miles. cheers matt

[Ninja-Jon]

Nice one mate glad to hear everything is going well for you and Storm. You mentioned he is following on is that free flying to say one tree to another? Also you mention Dummy Bunny when you have had him on that a few times your then ready to have a go at quarry. Sounds if you have a very steady bird is that all down to the way you have manned him.

[MTR46]

he is flying free all the time now tree to tree i have not had him on the dummy bunny yet but have flown him every day since i have had him just got back .he is very steady and silent he will fly to anyone he is a bit too placid for a raptor. is it down to the manning i wouldnt no but have spent as much time as possible with him. you can either make a hawk in the first two months or spoil one. so i have tried my best.

[Dave G]

sounds like hes quite happy to fly leisure at the weight you have him at the moment drop his weight a little more show him the dummy bunny and if hes at a keen hunting weight trust me he should nail it, as i fly mine at leisure weight if a bit high in weight gets his weight off quicker and keeps him fit but when hes a bit lighter he will nail most things that move

[Ninja-Jon]

Hi MTR how you doing, not heard anything for a while i know there's been a few problems with the forum but what have you been up to with Storm?

[Ninja-Jon]

Hi MTR looking forward to reading your posts when you find the time to posts them. No doubt you and your BOP are doing really well now aren't you? I am presuming you are from how well things was going with you and Storm In your Manning days, Don't rush to post mate you enjoy as no doubt you are :wink: Pleased for you nice one...

[MTR46]

Hi there havent been on for a while.me and storm are doing fine we are just leisure flying as yet been out nearly everyday since iv had him.but the short days are coming quickley. so weekend flying only soon ******. he is flying at 1lb6oz and any lower i cant get rid of him in the field. he is a bit looney at times landing on my shoulder like a parrot. but he is a very steady bird all though he has started calling for me a bit its not a problem and he is not too noisy. i think he must have some falcon in him cos he cant half stoop ace to see. on the land i fly on iv got 3 wild kestrels that come and circle making there noise but it does not bother him.when iv got him after the bunnies il let you know. cheers folks

[Ninja-Jon]

Nice one MTR so your pleased with the progress he is making then? Are you just flying Storm on Bunnies or are you going to have a go at feather as well with him. As i have read the MHH with being a little lighter in weight is more faster and agile than the FHH due to the size difference so therefore stands a better chance of nailing feather i also appreciate the fitness of the BOP plays a major part in this also. Would like more experienced falconers to comment on this as well or is it a myth regards MHH verse's FHH RE: Quarry they take....

[MTR46]

HI THERE not sure about the myth im not much of an expert but its not unusual to catch feathers with harris hawks full stop . but in theory the male sounds more upto the job. but im sure others will disagree.

[Ninja-Jon]

Reason i ask MTR is the threads i have read, majority of them that have caught feather with a Harris always seem to be a male Harrris. Was thinking is the male quicker than the female on the wing due to the weight difference?Would like a more experienced falconer to comment on this please.

[Dave G]

yes ninja the male harris is quicker than the female , but the female can out fly the male in distance so both have its own addvatages

[Ninja-Jon]

Whats Storm and yourself been upto then? Have you have nailed any Bunnies yet or had any feather with him. How is he comeing on now presume he is doing well hey MTR, look forward to your update m8...

[MTR46]

No Not Much Ninja Jon The Weather Has Been **** So He Has Not Been Flown Since Sunday. No Bunnies Or Feather Yet Iv Been A Bit Slow Getting Him Entered Hopefully Soon Im Going Away In A Week For 10 Days So Il Start With Him When I Get Back. Il Let You Know Thanks For Your Interest.

[Ninja-Jon]

Ok dude have a good time on your Holiday.Look forward to reading your posts when you get back..................

[Ninja-Jon]

Hi there MTR, how are you doing with Storm M8?