Warning to All Bop Owners!

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hi Folks, not trying anyone to suck eggs here but with this cold snap now & with it being quite damp as well , please do not forget to take precautions against wing tip oedema, ie if you have your hawk tethered near ground level you may want to overnight in a box/ shelf perch, or if free flighted remove any perches below about 2' ( 60 cm) high. Species prone are Harris Hawk, Lanner or Peregrine especially, but perhaps the Vets on here can expand/ correct anytrhing I have said that is inacurate. Please take the time to do this as if you hawk is affected by wing tip oedema and it goes untreated this WILL spell the end of your hawks flying career. Sorry to be a scare monger , but hope this Helps.

[Barbary Boy]

screamin jay ?dos anyone out there know the law on keeping birds in boxes?as i thought you were only allowed to do this for transporting them and that it was illegal to keep them boxed overnight unless ill?

[Falconry Equipment International]

Hi BB I think it depends on size of box, but perhaps again it is one the Vets can help with? HTH

[Barbary Boy]

yes my understanding was the box has to be large enough for the bird to fully spread its wings and be able to turn around? bloody big boxes required in some cases aye.

[Coedhirion]

screamin jay ?dos anyone out there know the law on keeping birds in boxes?as i thought you were only allowed to do this for transporting them and that it was illegal to keep them boxed overnight unless ill?
I don't know the official law on this, but send the bird to the vet over night and they are often boxed. Displays use them when they are away.

I would rather put a bird in a box over night than have its wings drop off!!!!!
Because for any one who dosn't know what wing tip oedema causes, then here it is in lay terms... The bird gets frost bite, the wing gets large blisters, the blood supply shuts down to the wings. Result is that a large part of the wing dies and drops off.

So I go with Screamin Jay ...watch out !!!

[Barbary Boy]

coedhirion. i totally agree with you i just worry it might be another point for the antis to get thier veggy teeth into m8

[Falconry Equipment International]

The original point of this post was to warn folk to just be careful and think carefully about their bop husbandy at this time of year.... surely that CAN NOT be fuel for the antis , that we are seen to be being responsible and caring for our BOP properly?

[HarrisHawk.1.]

Hi Folks, not trying anyone to suck eggs here but with this cold snap now & with it being quite damp as well , please do not forget to take precautions against wing tip oedema, ie if you have your hawk tethered near ground level you may want to overnight in a box/ shelf perch, or if free flighted remove any perches below about 2' ( 60 cm) high. Species prone are Harris Hawk, Lanner or Peregrine especially, but perhaps the Vets on here can expand/ correct anytrhing I have said that is inacurate. Please take the time to do this as if you hawk is affected by wing tip oedema and it goes untreated this WILL spell the end of your hawks flying career. Sorry to be a scare monger , but hope this Helps.

Would the hawk/falcon be ok above 2'' (60cm)
let me know asap
thanks

[Sean]

hi guys, my bird always drops to the floor when i bring him into the avairy. because the food shute was near the floor. when i leave he is still on the floor, but i set the light(pretty dull light too) to 6 minutes. is it natural for the bird to get up if it gets cold? or will he not be able to see the perch? he seems to see the perch ok when he sees me in the dark, hes up screaming at me on it lol

[Claire]

I box my kes overnight now its cold, built the box for a large female harris I looked after for a while once, it's big enough for her to have a party in let alone stretch her wings and turn around lol.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Would the hawk/falcon be ok above 2'' (60cm)
let me know asap
thanks
should be ok so long as you have most perches , including the highest in the free flight under cover, but in severe weather... -5 or below I would still bring the hawk inside.... this is just my view point HTH

[Cyclone]

hey all,
i just wondered if frostbite affects sakers because i no it gets cold in the desert but still.... anyway i have brought my saker in neways just to be on the safe side lol

cyclone

[Barbary Boy]

you got a lot of desert in derby then cyclone?

[Maxwell]

Spot on SJ... might be worth noting too that even the slightest change in the way we do things at this time of year can have a massive impact on our birds welfare.

During heavy frosts I physically remove the baths at lunchtime - unless you're prepared to blow dry your charge (which I believe can add to it's own issues) - it's not worth the risk... WTO is a nightmare, and wetness increases the chances massively.

We all play the percentage game at some point so weigh up the options - is the bird going to dehydrate - at this time of year; with 4 hours of daylight left - probably not. Is it going to suffer roosting up damp in severe weather - I'd say.

If you want to err to the side of caution, pour a couple of table spoons of water on the chick/ quail/ rat prior to 'serving' as the freezing process does tend to 'dry' food out.

[DeathFromAbove]

harris' are alot more hardy than we give them credit for. wing tip oedema is predominently a first year bird problem and once intermewed lessened greatly....any bird over 2lb should be fine, as long as the're not wet when left to perch for the night and is perching over 5,1/2ft up, it's when you get to smaller birds like sparrowhawks on hunting weight i'd start to worry and bring them in. look outside... lots of wild birds are out in equally and worsee conditions and survive just fine. obviously if the weather gets very severe bring tham in for peace of mind but at the moment there's no need to panic.

[Falconry Equipment International]

harris' are alot more hardy than we give them credit for. wing tip oedema is predominently a first year bird problem and once intermewed lessened greatly....any bird over 2lb should be fine, as long as the're not wet when left to perch for the night and is perching over 5,1/2ft up, it's when you get to smaller birds like sparrowhawks on hunting weight i'd start to worry and bring them in. look outside... lots of wild birds are out in equally and worsee conditions and survive just fine. obviously if the weather gets very severe bring tham in for peace of mind but at the moment there's no need to panic.
Hi DBA,
I do hope you don't consider my response as argfumentative & it is certainly not meant to be so. I am just drawing on the relatively short amount of experieance I Have had with bop spanning just over 40 years( we are all still learning after all)
whilst i would agree with you that WDO is more prevellent in a first year bird, I have seen cases of hawks several years old being affected( although I have to say I have never had a case of WDO in any of my hawks) .
Dont forget HH are indegeonous to the Gulf od mexico & whilst they have acclimatised well over here, surely whilst tehre is any risk what so ever it would be prudent to take evasive steps ???? your comments re "as long as the're not wet when left to perch for the night and is perching over 5,1/2ft up" presumably vindicate my original posting or are you saying something different? re you comments "it's when you get to smaller birds like sparrowhawks on hunting weight i'd start to worry and bring them in." Why? I have flown everything from muskets, jacks ( & females of the species) to female Goldie & never had a problem with indigeonous species being outside even down to –15ºC!.
I hope this makes sense , the posting was meant as a guide/ reminder & not to panioc folk & I apologise to everyone if I have done that

[Falconry Equipment International]

Spot on SJ... might be worth noting too that even the slightest change in the way we do things at this time of year can have a massive impact on our birds welfare.

During heavy frosts I physically remove the baths at lunchtime - unless you're prepared to blow dry your charge (which I believe can add to it's own issues) - it's not worth the risk... WTO is a nightmare, and wetness increases the chances massively.

We all play the percentage game at some point so weigh up the options - is the bird going to dehydrate - at this time of year; with 4 hours of daylight left - probably not. Is it going to suffer roosting up damp in severe weather - I'd say.

If you want to err to the side of caution, pour a couple of table spoons of water on the chick/ quail/ rat prior to 'serving' as the freezing process does tend to 'dry' food out.
Too true maxwell, not sure on the spoon full of water tho? ( sounds a bit like Ma`ry poppins to me .... oh no that ws sugar :lol:)

[DeathFromAbove]

Hi DBA,
I do hope you don't consider my response as argfumentative & it is certainly not meant to be so. I am just drawing on the relatively short amount of experieance I Have had with bop spanning just over 40 years( we are all still learning after all)
whilst i would agree with you that WDO is more prevellent in a first year bird, I have seen cases of hawks several years old being affected( although I have to say I have never had a case of WDO in any of my hawks) .
Dont forget HH are indegeonous to the Gulf od mexico & whilst they have acclimatised well over here, surely whilst tehre is any risk what so ever it would be prudent to take evasive steps ???? your comments re "as long as the're not wet when left to perch for the night and is perching over 5,1/2ft up" presumably vindicate my original posting or are you saying something different? re you comments "it's when you get to smaller birds like sparrowhawks on hunting weight i'd start to worry and bring them in." Why? I have flown everything from muskets, jacks ( & females of the species) to female Goldie & never had a problem with indigeonous species being outside even down to –15ºC!.
I hope this makes sense , the posting was meant as a guide/ reminder & not to panioc folk & I apologise to everyone if I have done that

Hi SJ,

Aye very true, we only stop learning when we die...no worries at all mate, wasn't trying to be vindictive, was only putting across my opinion, i realise you have alot of experience with BOP and yes older hawks can be affected by WTO too altho in some cases neglect or carelessness may have been the cause (i.e.. free lofted when wet) whilst HH are indegenous to the gulf of mexico the desert night out there can rival our winters in some cases, it get well below freezing out there. and i also agree that evasive measures are indeed prudent and shows a caring owner and i must admit, in my first year i brough my FHH in if it went below -3 every time regardless of her weight. but as it gets colder their hunting/flying weight (as you know) should increase to cope with the cold, and in fact a cold night actually helps to keep a hawk on weight for flying.
With regards to the sparrowhawk comment, my point was merely to illustrate that the smaller the bird kept on a 'Hunting Weight' would be more vulnerable to cold as you know a difference of 1 - 1/2oz can be life or death to the smaller hawks in some cases. my main case being that a bird such as a FHH above 2lb in weight free lofted and dry should be fine out in all but the worst conditions, here it got to -8 last night and My FHH is fine on a weight of 2lb 1,1/2oz.

I'm sorry if my posting came across in the wrong way and i'm not trying to be vindictive or patronising in any way mate

all the best.

[Annie]

Question

I have different height perches in the aviary, including outside high and covered and also incorporating a nice warm brick built outhouse with perch, but i also have her bow perch on the ground for if I need to tether her. Now she's (HH) only just started to be free lofted and it's taken her awhile to get the hang of it. But would you advise we remove the bow perch. I kinda thought she would have the common sense to perch accordingly and seek out the warmth of the outhouse. Also with reference to the food chute, would it be more advantageous to have a food ledge rather than the gravelled floor for it to land on. Opinions welcomed.

[DeathFromAbove]

Question

I have different height perches in the aviary, including outside high and covered and also incorporating a nice warm brick built outhouse with perch, but i also have her bow perch on the ground for if I need to tether her. Now she's (HH) only just started to be free lofted and it's taken her awhile to get the hang of it. But would you advise we remove the bow perch. I kinda thought she would have the common sense to perch accordingly and seek out the warmth of the outhouse. Also with reference to the food chute, would it be more advantageous to have a food ledge rather than the gravelled floor for it to land on. Opinions welcomed.

Hiya annie,

I wouldn't worry too much hun, her natural instinct should tell her to get as high as possible to roost of an evening, especially in cold weather, but if it makes you feel better take the bow away, as you said there's plenty of other perches in there it'd encourage her to use them.

How high is her highest perch annie?

As for the food chute, I have a perched drawer thru to my weighing room now that I just push thru and she sits on the edge and eats off that. Altho in your situation I would personally put a big serving tray down under one so the food didn't land on the gravel and it's easy to wipe clean, but they're resilient birds and it shouldn't matter too much if it does as long as the aviary is cleaned regularly.

just my opinion, hope it helps.

p.s. if that is you in the avatar then hunterpaul's right... you are a babe hun....and a falconer babe too....even better lol :wink:

[BFC 007]

p.s. if that is you in the avatar then hunterpaul's right... you are a babe hun....and a falconer babe too....even better lol :wink:


how the **** can you guys see what annie looks like from her avatar?
for all we know she's called annie in the week & andrew at weekends lol

[Addi]

how the **** can you guys see what annie looks like from her avatar?
for all we know she's called annie in the week & andrew at weekends lol

pmsl .. that what i thought !!!

[DeathFromAbove]

cos we have eagle eyes mate :shock: lol

[Cyclone]

you got a lot of desert in derby then cyclone?
no, wat i meant was that i no it gets cold in the desert but u dont get any frost over there ? but over here its cold an ya get a frost, its the frost im worried about
cyclone

[Coedhirion]

It is cold and dry in the dessert and cold and damp here. In the wild birds can sit where they like and Harris can some times sit in groups for warmth. It is the bird tethered or in a shed with a wind chill of minus god only knows what blasting in on it that is at risk