A question i was asked; want to know you ideas on the matter

[ScotsFalconer]

i was asked a question by a mate of mine today : Why is it important for hawks to have access to water even in freezing conditions? what are the risks? i have come up with a few ideas does any1 else have any

[Wightwings]

i like this question and i expect you will get a wide variation in answer......there are so many factors to this.soem birds like to bathe daily no matter what the weather some take extra drinking water from it ( defendant an food source )..some birds dont bother going any where near the bath......

I used to have HH that would stand in the bath all day long :roll: ...never bathe..never drink.just stand....

other birds insist on bathing BEFORE they fly..i know of birds that would make for the nearest stream as soon as let free.....day over....a bath in the morn always stopped this....

just my little bit of input.look forward to some more

[Pitbull]

my little hh likes being misted by a fine mist of water from a squity bottle which helps get all that sheep **** off his feet, but he does like too drink it from his feathers before a good shake. he doesnt have a bath as i am still waiting for one coming from falconry fabs,

[Out Hunting]

I have had a FHH now for a little while, she will not entertain a bath she just sits there looking at it stinking away. Actually also my Saker is the same will not get in the bath at all. i have to spray them both with the hose to clean them down dirty ******5. Any ideas hot to make them bath:confused:

[Out Hunting]

Oups....thats...How to make them bath.LOL

[Pitbull]

I have had a FHH now for a little while, she will not entertain a bath she just sits there looking at it stinking away. Actually also my Saker is the same will not get in the bath at all. i have to spray them both with the hose to clean them down dirty ******5. Any ideas hot to make them bath:confused:


put some nice smelling bubble bath in it the ladies love it. oh and candles,..:lol: :rolleyes:



sorry my silly bit to lighting up the forum for tonight

[ScotsFalconer]

thanks for your replies so far. any ideas on whether to give them baths during the winter months or not. I usually do but what do others think.

[Wightwings]

pmsl.no mate some just wont.....i had a Saker the same.loved the hose pipe and would revel in it..bath.forget it.........ps were in Southampton area are you.i work form there well Totton actually:supz:

[Afshimo]

Jabbu loved a good bath but Shiro took abit of pursuedin. I tried the parrot idea with branched around, make it look safer (i just think it looked more attractive!) and he's more fond of the bath. Not much in winter but I use the mister on the hose for a good spray!

[Pitbull]

as long as they dry off before closing them away for the night yeah

[Wightwings]

thanks for your replies so far. any ideas on whether to give them baths during the winter months or not. I usually do but what do others think.

always......if they want to bathe they will...snow.hail..wind rain.....they seem to know what is what.

after all what would they do in the wild.......??

[Tr1gger]

My male harris only gets a bath when its not freezing cold in the morning. He usually enjoys a bath if he gets it after hes had his breakfast lol

[Harrisii]

i believe a bird should be offered a bath all time when pegged out. some have said espescially in the winter.
i believe this is good for them helps them preen and to waterproof those feathers which is esential in the winter months.
some birds wont bath no matter what and these should be sprinkled with a hose and allowed to preen.
all birds should be dry before being put away for the night. never left wet.
bops dont drink a lot of water as they obtain most of their moisture etc from their food but its best if its there for them to drink should they need it.

[Out Hunting]

Whitewings

I am in Chandlers Ford near Eastleigh, we'll have to meet up for a beer!!:drinkers:

I offer my birds a bath every time they are pegged out, rain, hail, sun or snow. (even though they never bathe)

[Out Hunting]

Doh..double post...sorry

[Coedhirion]

Oh Boy.... At least A couple have pointed out not to put a bird away wet !!!
BOPs dont drink much, it is not a good idea to give a bird a bath after mid day in winter, or ever if there is a significant wind chill. If you are worried about water in take, wet the food. If your bird gets wet for any reason in cold weather dry it as soon as you can with a hair dryer (sensibly used) Most Bops dont take kindly to our cold damp British climates !!! and the results of letting them get wet and cold are terminal !!

[Hacker]

Just stick it on the fist and drive to the nearest car wash:evil: :evil: :evil:

[Out Hunting]

Make sure it has a drier also :lol:

[Hacker]

Don`t forget the wax to give the feathers a lovely shine:-D

[Out Hunting]

Better be a hot wax in the winter though....

[Hacker]

There you go again, inuendo`s

[Out Hunting]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Coedhirion]

Just the kind of posts that make reading this forum rather boring these days.
And heaven help the novice people who come for info and help...what are they expected to believe...what you may find a joke, they may believe.
Try pointing out the problems of doing something wrong...and may be some people may learn something and others may not depart this forum in disgust.
If you want a joke and chat to your mates....use a chat room..not a serious post.......OK Now slag me off if you like !!!!

[Gaz]

Cant belive that not one person(of who answered) has stated the one,single, most important thing about the question:confused: ...drinking,DEHYDRATION..as,if not more,important to guard against in the cold than heat...want to kill your bird easy in winter:?: dehydrate it:!:

[Hacker]

Just the kind of posts that make reading this forum rather boring these days.
And heaven help the novice people who come for info and help...what are they expected to believe...what you may find a joke, they may believe.
Try pointing out the problems of doing something wrong...and may be some people may learn something and others may not depart this forum in disgust.
If you want a joke and chat to your mates....use a chat room..not a serious post.......OK Now slag me off if you like !!!!
Sorry m8 but whats the point?

[Juzzer]

Cant belive that not one person(of who answered) has stated the one,single, most important thing about the questionhttp://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/confused.gif ...drinking,DEHYDRATION..as,if not more,important to guard against in the cold than heat...want to kill your bird easy in winterhttp://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_question.gif dehydrate ithttp://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif

there is youre answer m8.:D
__________________

[IAmTheWeasel]

i was asked a question by a mate of mine today : Why is it important for hawks to have access to water even in freezing conditions? what are the risks? i have come up with a few ideas does any1 else have anySorry if someone answered this already, but I have little time right now. The reason it's important to keep water available in winter is because the atmosphere is very dry in the winter and the birds can become dehydrated quite easily from what I have heard.

[Out Hunting]

Oh Boy.... At least A couple have pointed out not to put a bird away wet !!!
BOPs dont drink much, it is not a good idea to give a bird a bath after mid day in winter, or ever if there is a significant wind chill. If you are worried about water in take, wet the food. If your bird gets wet for any reason in cold weather dry it as soon as you can with a hair dryer (sensibly used) Most Bops dont take kindly to our cold damp British climates !!! and the results of letting them get wet and cold are terminal !!

There you go Jizzer it was mentioned about dehydration in this thread...read them all before you comment M8:butthead:

[Out Hunting]

Oups...sorry mate,,didnt realise what that smilie ment, thought he was just mooning!!Lol

[Wightwings]

mm didnt realise it was a quiz:roll: .......good read tho:supz:

[Coedhirion]

Sorry if someone answered this already, but I have little time right now. The reason it's important to keep water available in winter is because the atmosphere is very dry in the winter and the birds can become dehydrated quite easily from what I have heard.
Very rarely is the air in winter in UK dry. Dehydration is very unlikely as most good food fed to BOPs contain a lot of water. Summer is obviously totally different. As I said ...wet the food not the bird if it is cold, or risk lung infections, chills, or wing tip oedema etc. etc. etc. Out hunting if the bird wants a drink it will stop for one, quite often in warm weather but very, very rare in a healthy bird in cold weather.

[Hacker]

To whoever fits the bill
I will only say this once, this is a public forum and it is here to inform and air the views and feelings of its members.
Now when i joined i did not see the " only serious threads" or " i haven`t a sense of humour " or " I must read and if i do not like i must make a derogatry remarks" sections.
Obviuosly i missed these and have joined a forum with a membership that contains some people that feel their opinion is the only one to be tolerated.
All i can say is grow up and get a life, if you do not like a particular thread or input just pass it by rather than put out your spiel on the forum.
This forum is a public "Forum" not a do as i do bible to falconry!
I would suggest if you feel so opinionated then a public forum is not really the place for you, rather you should seek a closed door environment.
We are all different and all have our views. if not the world would be a miserable place full of people like "You".
Get a life and learn to be tolerant.

[Wightwings]

praise be..good post hacker:supz:

[Coedhirion]

Iamtheweasel comes from Texas....a different climate from ours!

If your digs are at me...I am not stating any one is wrong, ...if I am wrong then do please tell me why.
Just some adults get fed up with rude childish posts being made on this forum. As other young people visit this forum I for one feel it should be kept clean and sensible, serious posts kept as such and those more "light hearted" put in the correct catagory, so those who dont want to read childish rubish to unearth interesting facts....dont have to !!!

[Hacker]

Iamtheweasel comes from Texas....a different climate from ours!

If your digs are at me...I am not stating any one is wrong, ...if I am wrong then do please tell me why.
Just some adults get fed up with rude childish posts being made on this forum. As other young people visit this forum I for one feel it should be kept clean and sensible, serious posts kept as such and those more "light hearted" put in the correct catagory, so those who dont want to read childish rubish to unearth interesting facts....dont have to !!!
Just the kind of posts that make reading this forum rather boring these days.
And heaven help the novice people who come for info and help...what are they expected to believe...what you may find a joke, they may believe.
Try pointing out the problems of doing something wrong...and may be some people may learn something and others may not depart this forum in disgust.
If you want a joke and chat to your mates....use a chat room..not a serious post.......OK Now slag me off if you like !!!!

I don`t need to and would`nt slag people off!
Pray tell me where the material was not "clean and sensible" in fact you could not get a cleaner subject.
You obviously did not take in what i meant by my post of a public forum with public views "ie NOT JUST YOURS" use the off button that is what it is there for.
Nobody minds constructive criticism, but the " I don`t like it so don`t do IT "attitude is exactly what i teach my kids not to behave like as it is an unsociable and non democraticoutlook on life and one that does not fit into a "community" lifestyle:!: .

[Sparrow Hawker]

The way I interpreted coedhirion's post was refferreing to a general comment about the forum nowadays how much it's changed!

HH

[Wightwings]

The way I interpreted coedhirion's post was refferreing to a general comment about the forum nowadays how much it's changed!

HH

sean that happened 6 months back.......just generally got worse...ive had two abusive pms already today for minor comments.......:roll:

[OutFlying]

Only 2 - you are lucky. I get ones dating from months back :rolleyes: Good job I've a sense of humour and don't give a monkee's.

Jim

[OutFlying]

Read this, keep on wetting your food :twisted: - you might think your doing the best, your hawk might think otherwise.

http://www.ibr.org.uk/dirv4/page152.html

[Out Hunting]

Oh Boy.... If you are worried about water in take, wet the food.

Nobody said they feed their bird wet food, especially permenantly!! The post is mearly a sugestion, as you can tell from the way it is worded. I assume Coedhirions' post was especially for the summer months also. We are all (mainly) adults here, so lets not take everything by the written word Hu? and use our common sense guys! :tfrag:

[Tarqers]

in person i have,rightly or wrongly never made water avalaible to my hawks,
i do believe however it is a exellent laxative and will increase weight lose....tarqs

[Out Hunting]

in person i have,rightly or wrongly never made water avalaible to my hawks,
i do believe however it is a exellent laxative and will increase weight lose....tarqs

My birds only get offered water when blocked out, i believe there is sufficient water in their food especially if it is of good quality and fresh. I worked in a hawking centre for a while and in the averies the birds were NEVER offered water, they bred and raised young without any problens and so do my birds. However this is only my oppinion:supz:

[Tarqers]

spars often take a bath in the feild it can be a pain in the arse.but from memory some of the best hawks iv seen fly are the dirtiest tatty looking mothers that ever took to the wing.

[Hardcore Hawker]

My male harris is an absolute minger flown every day with few exceptions never drinks or takes a bath even if offered daily he really does not look very good by the end of the season but really does fly well and is in much better internal condition than external.

[MattSpar]

I personally find that birds vary a great deal in their need/desire to drink and bathe, both individually, and from species to species. I have a tiercel who not only bathes almost daily, but will invariably have a pretty good drink before performing his ablutions. I've never had a merlin that wouldn't bathe thoroughly every day without fail, and sometimes more than once. A gos of mine never, to my certain knowledge, took a dip, whereas one of my female spars would always jump in the bath on return from flying. A female harris' I once had would never enter a bath placed on the lawn, but would roll around in a puddle of rainwater if tethered near one. She would also sit in the summer rain, wings and tail spread, with every evidence of enjoyment.
Whether it's considered necessary or not, my own practice is to offer all my birds the chance to drink or bathe, in one form or another.

[Puzo]

put some nice smelling bubble bath in it the ladies love it. oh and candles,..:lol: :rolleyes:



sorry my silly bit to lighting up the forum for tonight


I once had a R T similarly disinclined to bathe. I decided to make a game of throwing little pieces of meat into her bath, gradualy increasing the depth.
It was fun watching the hawk problem solving. A kind of avian IQ test.!
& it worked a treat. .....puzo.!