2010 Breeding Season

[Marra]

Where has the year gone? it seems just a short time since wrapping up of the 09 season and here we are again, still very early but the breeding season is defiantly here.

All the chambers are cleaned and painted, falcons are all coped, clipped and settled back in their pens.
I am just setting up the incubators now, cleaning, calibrating and setting, so far all are running well and almost ready to take eggs.

Most of the gyr pairs have scrapes and have been increasingly active for the last 2 weeks, some imprints are also showing signs of coming in to condition but mostly the gyrs again.

A few quick shots I took this morning, the oldest of our imprint gyrkins is most advanced and would copulate on the hat for sure if we tried him, but it is too early to encourage him.

Chris

[Batwing]

you only think it is going quick chris its just because your getting older and time is supposed to go quicker when your YOUR AGE for me time still gos in very slow.

[UglyBear]

look well chris ,, its gunna be another busy one for you all !! well not for dodgy lol :yawinkle:

[DenHawk]

Some stunning birds you have there. fingers crossed with have a good breeding season. den

[Marra]

you only think it is going quick chris its just because your getting older and time is supposed to go quicker when your YOUR AGE for me time still gos in very slow.

Stevie you cheecky young rascal, time goes slow for you because thats the speed your mind works :lol:

Chris

[Batwing]

Stevie you cheecky young rascal, time goes slow for you because thats the speed your mind works :lol:

Chrislol nice come back

[Marra]

As we have reached the 1st or March its time to start visiting the semen donors with the hat, the tiercels were doing a lot of body posturing but no copulation today.

Chris

[Batwing]

very nice chris i see mr fiji is looking forward to your new hat

[Rico1]

very nice Chris!:rolleyes:
Paolo

[PeregrinesUK]

im trying to stay away from mine running past the goshawks even still i put quail in tonight and bam he hit the front trying to copulate far too early. will try the pere this week he looks like yours body poping calling me all the time. Mike

[Wooly]

The birds a stunning as always, I hope you both have a very successful season Chris and Bryn. ATVB Terry.

[Greg]

Chris,
Both the 7/8ths that I had off you are giving great sport and some of the slips that the darker bird is taking have to be seen to be believed. Crows on passage up to half a mile away! Giving me loads of practice with the telemetry. I'm just looking foreward to seeing him in adult plumage but not just yet as I'm still having too much fun!

[Marra]

im trying to stay away from mine running past the goshawks even still i put quail in tonight and bam he hit the front trying to copulate far too early. will try the pere this week he looks like yours body poping calling me all the time. Mike

Hey up Mike, wow! the goss in very early, how the heck will he be still giving semen in late April?
What semen are you planning putting in to your falcon this year?
Don't say peregrine :roll:

Chris

[Marra]

The birds a stunning as always, I hope you both have a very successful season Chris and Bryn. ATVB Terry.

Thanks Terry, the long road is just ahead.

Chris

[Marra]

Chris,
Both the 7/8ths that I had off you are giving great sport and some of the slips that the darker bird is taking have to be seen to be believed. Crows on passage up to half a mile away! Giving me loads of practice with the telemetry. I'm just looking foreward to seeing him in adult plumage but not just yet as I'm still having too much fun!

Great stuff Greg, imagine what they could be like in 3 or 4 seasons.
I really will have to make the effort to come see them next season, sounds like you are having some good sport.

Chris

[PeregrinesUK]

Hey up Mike, wow! the goss in very early, how the heck will he be still giving semen in late April?
What semen are you planning putting in to your falcon this year?
Don't say peregrine :roll:

Chris

Tell me about it mate, i havent even seen him in day lightfor about 2 weeks and 2 days ago he was as wild as hell hitting bars fearful when little bit of sun and bag right in dont know what to do for the best with him now other than stay right away..

[PeregrinesUK]

went in with the tiercel peregrine at lunch time first time since he went in about 2 weeks ago and he was on the hat within seconds a large shot of semen left so I now have semen as looking at my old falcon she aint that far away..

Mike

[Marra]

went in with the tiercel peregrine at lunch time first time since he went in about 2 weeks ago and he was on the hat within seconds a large shot of semen left so I now have semen as looking at my old falcon she aint that far away..

Mike

On the road now boy, they sound to be ahead of where they should be yet.
Only Bryns tiercel is dry copulating at the moment, the others are still days off.
We had the 1st shot of gyr semen this morning, from the S.Summers Gyrkin, good stuff as well, at least we should have semen if a falcon lays by suprise.

Chris

[Brian Sullivan]

Beautiful Falcons as standard for your guys operation. I hope you have a great season with your Falcon breeding...

Best regards, Brian

[Brian Sullivan]

Chris,
Both the 7/8ths that I had off you are giving great sport and some of the slips that the darker bird is taking have to be seen to be believed. Crows on passage up to half a mile away! Giving me loads of practice with the telemetry. I'm just looking foreward to seeing him in adult plumage but not just yet as I'm still having too much fun!

Hi Greg,

Any chance of filming with a Video camera??? I, we would all love to see the flights!

Brian

[Marra]

Beautiful Falcons as standard for your guys operation. I hope you have a great season with your Falcon breeding...

Best regards, Brian

Hi Brian, the same to you with your endeavors, lets hope for a good one.

Chris

[LanczSpringer]

As normal this thread is going to be showing some mouth watering hawks!

Every credit Chris, if I can talk the Mrs round to letting me have one this year you shall be getting a call. I just hope the Fijian one is going to be playing the game this year ;)

All the best,

Anthony

[Greg]

Hi Greg,

Any chance of filming with a Video camera??? I, we would all love to see the flights!

Brian

Brian,
I have a friend coming over in just over a week to see the birds fly. I know he has a good little camera so I will ask him to bring it over with him. I can't promise anything but I will try. The only video I have at the moment was filmed on my still camera and is not great. The flight was probably the shortest he ever had and the crow took off 100yds away and he just flew up off the fist and took it first time. The clip is very short! My still camera stands no chance now!
Greg


http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv81/Gregb1-2009/th_2009_1022CA20090002.jpg (http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv81/Gregb1-2009/?action=view&current=2009_1022CA20090002.flv)

[Gav.Hawks]

super pics chris,wish you and the team all the best for 2010.and look forward to seeing some pics as you get going.gav

[Marra]

Cheers Anthony, Gav, Greg, We are at the waiting for things to happen stage now, some donors are giving the odd semen sample while others are way off yet, a week and some gyr and saker imprints should be taking semen.
The gyr pairs are well in to things with copulation, food passing and nest scraping going on, I expect the 1st egg within the next week which would be early.

Chris

[DazMan]

hi chris, hope you have a good season mate hopefully catch up soon all the best mate.......darren

[Gary F]

nice one chris, start of another cracking thread mate, time does quick,was this time last year i came up,with mel to pick up his falcon,
heres to another good year mate:supz:

[VerticalStoop]

Hi Chris & Bryn,

All the very best to you both for a stonking season.

Can I ask, what makes you decide to place shavings into certain females. I understand it's a hygeine thing. But who do you determin which female gets them and which don't. Also, how do you go about putting them in. Do you just change them over night?

Again ATB for the season.

Baz

[Marra]

Hi Chris & Bryn,

All the very best to you both for a stonking season.

Can I ask, what makes you decide to place shavings into certain females. I understand it's a hygeine thing. But who do you determin which female gets them and which don't. Also, how do you go about putting them in. Do you just change them over night?

Again ATB for the season.

Baz


Hi Baz, the only reason I have used shavings in the nest ledges of some falcons is for hygiene as you say, I used them at home in Halifax for my own falcons as they were mostly in fully covered pens.
It’s so easy to just remove any soiled shavings and replace them, once the falcon was ready to rear chicks I just removed the shavings and replaced them with gravel.
I have not had a problem with this and the falcons have never show any concern with the sudden change of nest material, so here in Doncaster we use shavings with the falcons that are used to having them and gravel for all the others.
Gravel is used with all the natural pairs of course.

Chris

[Fenlands Rescue]

Makes my attempt at a few Pere/sakers look pathetic. Still I got my first egg two nights ago. Mind you I cannot wait to follow this thread and see your chicks as they are all stunning.

[FalconFred]

Makes my attempt at a few Pere/sakers look pathetic. Still I got my first egg two nights ago. Mind you I cannot wait to follow this thread and see your chicks as they are all stunning.

From what I can remember, your Pere/Sakers were fantastic looking birds, nothing to be scoffed at George. In fact I'd be more than happy if I could do similiar..

atb,

Ger

[Fenlands Rescue]

Ger,
Unfortunately, Chris has the semen doner I used last year now so cannot use him this year, but the male I am using this year will still help produce good chicks.
Shame as Onyx and my female produced some stunning chicks.

[Marra]

Ger,
Unfortunately, Chris has the semen doner I used last year now so cannot use him this year, but the male I am using this year will still help produce good chicks.
Shame as Onyx and my female produced some stunning chicks.

Hi George, if the Chris you talk of is me, your wrong! I do not know who got the tiercel from Terry but it was not me.

Chris

[VerticalStoop]

Cheers Chris mate,

Always helpful

ATB Baz

Hi Baz, the only reason I have used shavings in the nest ledges of some falcons is for hygiene as you say, I used them at home in Halifax for my own falcons as they were mostly in fully covered pens.
It’s so easy to just remove any soiled shavings and replace them, once the falcon was ready to rear chicks I just removed the shavings and replaced them with gravel.
I have not had a problem with this and the falcons have never show any concern with the sudden change of nest material, so here in Doncaster we use shavings with the falcons that are used to having them and gravel for all the others.
Gravel is used with all the natural pairs of course.

Chris

[Pirate Of Penzance]

Mr Kane I think is the new owner of the tiercel:)

[Fenlands Rescue]

Hi George, if the Chris you talk of is me, your wrong! I do not know who got the tiercel from Terry but it was not me.

Chris

Sorry chris I was mis-informed. I appologise.
George

[Fenlands Rescue]

mr kane i think is the new owner of the tercel:)

Thanks.

[Altai]

Hi Baz, the only reason I have used shavings in the nest ledges of some falcons is for hygiene as you say, I used them at home in Halifax for my own falcons as they were mostly in fully covered pens.
It’s so easy to just remove any soiled shavings and replace them, once the falcon was ready to rear chicks I just removed the shavings and replaced them with gravel.
I have not had a problem with this and the falcons have never show any concern with the sudden change of nest material, so here in Doncaster we use shavings with the falcons that are used to having them and gravel for all the others.
Gravel is used with all the natural pairs of course.

Chris

Hi Chris, how do you get over the problem of the falcon scraping right down to the boards and then squoshing the eggs? Do you pull them as they are laid? Dave.

[Marra]

Hi Chris, how do you get over the problem of the falcon scraping right down to the boards and then squoshing the eggs? Do you pull them as they are laid? Dave.

Hi Dave, when I use wood shavings I put a lair of carpet in the bottom of the ledge 1st, and then if you really pack the shavings on top you can get a good thickness that the falcon does not normally scrape through.
With gravel we put about 6 inches in so they never scrape right through, we do have some of the imprints incubating eggs but not many.

Chris

[Pearl]

i know someone who used to use wood shavings and Irish peat moss mix

looking forward to the thread as it progresses Chris :supz:

[KevGem1]

hope you have a bumper season again i always enjoy my visits up there,the falcons are top notch and the facilities are top notch and the kettle is always on the go the very best of luck to you Chris and Brin hope to visit again soon.hopefully terry's female pere will come on line soon and we will no doubt have a run up to see you atb KEV.

[David.Gook]

Some very stunning looking birds there mate, just like to wish you all the best with the 2010 breeding season.

[Marra]

Thanks for the nice comments guys, I am glad you enjoy looking at our falcons.
Thigs have started to kick off now, 2 pairs of gyrs and 1 pair of peregrines are on their 1st eggs and one imprint saker is on her 3rd.
We are inseminating 1 gyr and 1 3/4, both will lay in a few days.
A few quick shots I just took, some nice peregrines.

Chris

[KevGem1]

picture number 3, I think i seen this bird when i was up there last ,there is something about her she is one big menacing looking girl and certainly wouldn't like to be on the end of one of her stoops.by the way Brin do you only where them dresses at weekend mate :lol::lol: all the best lads and good luck with the breeding see you soon KEV.

[Brian Sullivan]

Chris,

I would imagine you are ordered out with babies from those beauties:heart:

Brian

[Laszky]

i can't wait, my deposits down on a 3/4 gyr/saker male.

neil

[As The Falcon Her Bells]

Hey Chris.
How is it going? We are slowly getting busy now, my first peregrines have started to lay, and I have 2 more male gyrs kicked in this year, but they are only beginners, one is giving good amounts at least once a day and normally twice the other is giving so small so its stupid but twice a day without fail.

[Marra]

Hey Chris.
How is it going? We are slowly getting busy now, my first peregrines have started to lay, and I have 2 more male gyrs kicked in this year, but they are only beginners, one is giving good amounts at least once a day and normally twice the other is giving so small so its stupid but twice a day without fail.

Hi Sara, yes things are getting very busy now, the white gyrkin is giving great shots every day and the big grey has also kicked in donating.
The gyrkin I bred while I was at Garlands gives huge amounts, he 3/4 fills an eppendorfe tube with neat semen, busting with motile Spermatozoa.
The black female from Alaskan bloodlines laid her 1st egg last night, we really need the B.Berry gykin to kick in better to fill her eggs.
Imprint silver gyr has just laid her 4th egg and the 1st 2 are fertile so far, she has had just white semen in her since egg one.
Coco is about to lay her 1st egg of the season, Tuesday or wed I think, been filling her with Anatum/fiji again.
We are inseminating a few imprint peregrines but none have laid yet, the next week will explode in activity I think.
Oh and just taken 4 eggs from the Pen 8 pair of peregrines that Mark loved, all fertile :D

Chris

[As The Falcon Her Bells]

Oh and just taken 4 eggs from the Pen 8 pair of peregrines that Mark loved, all fertile :D

Chris

Whoop!! Mark will be green!! Good on you guys, always nice to hear you are doing well, I'm waiting for egg 3 from my big Norwegian female today... she is standing well but only had 2 eggs from her so far that been running for 2 days so its to early to say anything yet....

[Pirate Of Penzance]

keep the white gyrs going i am saving hard ,good luck :)

[Fenlands Rescue]

My effort is pretty insignificant but I have 3 fertile pere/saker eggs in the incubator.
Unfortunately the female I intended to put my first clutch under has decided not to lay yet so I may have some chicks available for imprinting.
I would consider a swop for a mature standing female of certain species or a swop to imprint a chick myself of most species.
George

[Falcon911]

How is your season going? Any pics for us all?!

Thanks
Andy

[Laszky]

picked up 3/4 gyr/saker male from chris at Armthorpe Falcons yesterday. He's tipping the scales at 2lb 4oz . thanks to Chris and Byrn for this stunning bird http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/laszky/digger007.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/laszky/digger016.jpg

[Fenlands Rescue]

How is your season going? Any pics for us all?!

Thanks
Andy

Andy you will have to look on another forum. They are stunning.

[PeregrinesUK]

Andy you will have to look on another forum. They are stunning.

which forum ?

[Bateleur J]

Yes which forum???? This forum is getting more obsolete by the second!

[Ross Ricks]

lol funny lees site has been edited out hehe bloody class that was:lol:
its ukfalconryforum.com chris is doing he breeding thread on there:yawinkle:

[Bateleur J]

True Ross you wouldn't think the 'most popular' site would feel threatened by the presence of another forum

[HallBeck]

lol funny lees site has been edited out hehe bloody class that was
its ukfalconryforum.com chris is doing he breeding thread on there:yawinkle:

I am sure you must be mistaken - the owner of this site stated the other day that Chris was too busy to post on a forum at the moment!! :lol:

[StoopMan]

Any photos for this year birds Chris??

cheers

Rico

[Falcon911]

Any photos for this year birds Chris??

cheers

Rico

They have posted lots of pics of 2010 birds on the Armthorpe website. Unfortunately no captions telling you what they are though.

Cheers
Andy