Stubborn (stupid) Harris

[Kanati]

i have two harris hawks in an aviary that is half open topped. The only time the daft birds decide to sleep inside is if its windy. I dont worry too much about them, as they are fed up at the moment, but last night it was pretty cold, and they decided to stay outside to sleep. because it was a cold night, I thought I would feed them earlier this morning, as it would warm them up a bit and make them feel better (I know...how soft am I!?!?) When I went into the pen I saw that frost has formed on a couple of their feathers on their back. I braught them inside and checked them over and they are fine (dont anyone worry)...and soon warmed up in the house after a couple of minutes.

Because its getting colder now, and the birds a stupid, Its time to cover the outside roof.

Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone have any idea why they would want to sit in the cold rather then the warm/sheltered area they have?

[Tilly]

hey there. glad your birdies r ok. the harris hawks i no are like that. they sit out in the rain all the time! even when we make them go under! harrises are generally like that. maybe because they are more intelligent they have less common sense!!!

x x x x Tilly x x x x

[Jazz1]

Hi M8 myself and Abeboy had the same problem last week with all the rain that we had.
But we have now put more roofing on the mews and closed of the side's and so far so good it seems fine now.
Glad your hawks are ok

[Kanati]

Hi M8 myself and Abeboy had the same problem last week with all the rain that we had.
But we have now put more roofing on the mews and closed of the side's and so far so good it seems fine now.
Glad your hawks are ok

They are fat at the moment...so I think that is why they are ok... If they had been at hunting weight it might ahve been different...but saying that...if they were at hunting weight I would have either made them stay in, or given them extra food that evening, but its worrying that they can be that silly. :confused: I will put a roof over them today, so I can sleep tonight:-|

[Kornie]

Trinity loved the rain, she used to sit there until she looked like a drowned rat, I would have to breing her in and literally wring her dry.

[Jarreth]

Why do you not like your Harris's sitting out in the rain?

[Kornie]

I personaly got worried becasue I knew how cold it was out at the time, I sometimes got the impression she would just sit there and literaly turn into an ice cube before thinking about seeking cover... same with snow, she used to just get snowed on.

[Jarreth]

Maybe they are that daft, I don't know. I am happy to admit I don't stop mine from sitting out in the rain and to be honest I have never had a bird suffer any kind of problems but I suppose its really soft where I am! bit like me really
lol

[Kanati]

Maybe they are that daft, I don't know. I am happy to admit I don't stop mine from sitting out in the rain and to be honest I have never had a bird suffer any kind of problems but I suppose its really soft where I am! bit like me really
lol


Its not the rain thats the problem...its the sub zero temperatures...they sat out all night and the next morning they were like two ice sculptures sat on the pearch... some of their feathers were actually frosted!

If they sit out in the rain I dont give a monkeys...but sitting out all night when its freezing...is stupid, especially when they can get under cover AND if they wanted they can get in to an insulated box!

The aviary is covered now..so at least the frost wont settle on them..they will jsut be a bit cold. IF it gets really cold I will ahve to go down after dark and put then inside...but that doesnt always work

[Wurkin]

They are desert birds, maybe they just do not know that there is a way to escape the cold weather. Instinct and evolution is hard to overcome. That being said, if they are from the desert (as a species, not the individual) rain would most likely feel darn good. Also, cold night temperatures would most likely be followed by nice warm temperatures.

You have to consider and remember that these are desert birds, even though they have never even seen a desert, their species and development have been breed that way for a lot longer than they have been bred in england and many other areas where they are now flown.

[Debbie]

I think people have maybe hit the nail on the hed abit night time in the deserts are as clear and often also very cold as well.

But regardless of where a creature comes from they get acclimatised.

Kanati you said the best thing at the end of your last post = IF it gets really cold I will ahve to go down after dark and put then inside...

I am in Bournemouth Dorset and it's freezing cold here so forget about the IF it gets cold - blimey I can't wear any more layers of clothing i'm already resembling the michelin man lol

Debbs xx

[Maxwell]

My two (breeding pair) are exactly the same, and sounds that I have a similar set-up. Last night, got them in, they flew into the 'shed' section - before I'd gone 5 paces they were out again. Unbelievable!.

Some things to remember - the cold itself isn't too bad. Desert birds do face sub zero temperatures most nights… so long as they're weight is up… and they have a high roost, should be ok.

However the unusual combination of frost with wind (hypothermia) and/ or wet (WTO) though is dangerous.

I have mentioned on another post, …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 any wetness increases this chance 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.

They behave like this every year – doesn’t stop me worrying …

[Albie]

I'm sure Harris Hawks are not stupid!!
But where I live in Devon we dont really get a hard frost or a lot of snow in mid winter but of course if I lived in a part of the country where I did get it then I would have taken steps to ensure my birds were well protected long before they might sit out all night in frosty weather.
Albie..

[Pogue Mahone]

ive been known to use an hair drier before, soon gets the blood flowing again:grin:

[Pogue Mahone]

hello debbie do you know highcliffe on sea,i visit my uncle down there

[Ben C]

EEEErrrrrr, why don't you just move them in doors before they get frost on them????? Good management me thinks????

IMHO: **** this whole "They are a desert species therefore should be OK because it get's cold in the desert........( I saw it on the telly once dont'ja'know)". Just move em indoors.......quid pro quo...............etc etc




:supz: :goodman: :heart:

[Blaze]

:prayer: :prayer: :prayer: :prayer:

[Kanati]

EEEErrrrrr, why don't you just move them in doors before they get frost on them????? Good management me thinks????




If only it were that simple. the only time I can put them in and they stay in is when there is Less then approx half a moon visable! If its frosty then its normally clear, which means from approx day 5 or 6 of a new moon its bright enough for them to see the out side pearches. and it stays bright enough until about day 25. which means if there was continued frost and therfor clear nights...20 nights out of 30/31 the birds can see clearly enough to fly back out to the outside pearchesafter I put them in...

Got any more ideas?

[Zam]

I have a system which seems to work well. My Harris would sit out in the rain all night - given half a chance. I know she would sit out in hard frosts and snow as well!

She has a 25' x 12' aviary. Back half the roof is covered over and pea-gravel on the floor. Front half open and grassed. To keep her dry/warm in bad weather, her front perch - 10' long - is fixed into mounting cups. If it is raining getting near to dusk, I make her fly to the back perches and remove the front one. She will not just sit on the ground at the front!! Likewise, if a frost is likely, I take the perch away - she has no choice but to sit on the back perches under cover.

Seems to work well for me - and her!!:razz:

[BHawk]

in the wild these birds dont have falconers to move their perches away or to take them indoors so the are capable of standing our weather, if they get too cold they'll move just cos we dont see their reasonin dont doubt them these birds are underestimated far to often, as long as they have shelter easily accessible they're fine. just give them a slight bit more food to make up for the cold weather and they can cope better than we can. ben

[Ben C]

Just pick them up and move them into their indoor weathering?? Or pop them into a box for the night???. Or pop them on a bow perch in the spare bedroom???. Or pop them into the garage for the night?? Or just have a door on the indoor section??? :supz: :supz: :supz:


Rob (bhawk???) in the wild they are up VERY high, they are fat and the daylight temp is massive, they live in groups and are behaving like natural animals: a comparison between how we look after them and the natural counterpart is a moot point Bhawk. :heart:

[Albie]

in the wild these birds dont have falconers to move their perches away or to take them indoors so the are capable of standing our weather, if they get too cold they'll move just cos we dont see their reasonin dont doubt them these birds are underestimated far to often, as long as they have shelter easily accessible they're fine. just give them a slight bit more food to make up for the cold weather and they can cope better than we can. ben
In the wild they dont live so long either.
In captivity they have us Falconers to look after them and that must be goodAlbie..

[Debbie]

hello debbie do you know highcliffe on sea,i visit my uncle down there

Yeah know it very well. My aunts live in Barton On Sea just two mins around the corner.

Small world lol

If I had a bird I would say next time you were down then you and the family could pop over for a coffee.

Debbs x

[Allan]

Hey Debbie......23 years ago when I was young free and single....I lived in a bedsit in Winton near Bournemouth........I worked as a Lorry driver in Parkstone.....Lovely part of the world...Good memories...

[Debbie]

It is amazing how many people have connections with Bournemouth - but it is a great place to live ad have nerv found anywhere which has come even close to the whole picture.

Anyway enough of hi jacking this thread and going off topic - I know shame on me and me an ex IFF Moderator as well.

Debbs xx