HARRIS HAWK, UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH DAILY FEED to maintain weight

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

Well done Pete, you let the general public know what's involved in caring for your hunting hawk. You're an excellent educator of the sport. 👨‍🎓🦅🐇📹👍

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks Mike, I tried to give a little insight into this question, sometimes difficult to explain in a comment. I appreciate the encouraging words , coming from you truly means a lot.👍

[@t2tarantula552]

Another great video. Really enjoy watching this bird

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you I’m pleased your watching.

[@David-cx4wy]

Great video Pete. Makes perfect sense regards weight of hawk to metabolism which is dictated in turn by weather temperature/ How much existing fuel he has/or doesn't have to burn and how that effects his enthusiasm to hunt. He' s caught a few in that area you showed at the end, some nice vantage points for him with that run downhill. Always great to watch the team in action. Thanks again Pete.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks for watching and the encouraging comment, yes he has caught a few around there. I like leaving a catch area for a week or so, fortunately I have loads of land to choose from. Cheer and thanks again.

[@leggy6234]

Regular flying throughout the season will increase muscle mass, which will increase flying/hunting weight to a point, great to watch Woody soaring, great to watch your video's, keep them coming.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks for watching, yes he is a lean bit of muscle now I’m sure, I like flying him high in weight but do love to see him at lower weight when he is at everything that moves, although he is always catching and feeding up.

[@terencegarsidr7096]

Great vids good education

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you glad you liked it appreciate your comment 👍

[@bobmyerly7189]

Marvelous clip! I especially enjoyed the slope soaring segments. A less experienced falconer may decline to fly in that wind. Thanks for sharing.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you Bob, I am very glad you enjoyed this video, he is a good all round hawk 👍

[@philwebb606]

That slow-mo at 1.40 was awesome

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks ,always good getting a encouraging comment.

[@philwebb606]

@@freebirdofreason1994 came across your channel at the weekend, very informative. I’ve never seen or heard of anyone with a bop in Northern Ireland, I’d love to tag along and watch them work the bird, it’s very impressive

[@chrisvarney323]

Brilliant as always, wish my birds would soar like that lol, woody has come on so well 👍

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks, sometimes we can just be lucky with the way things are, good luck👍

[@BB3Andy]

Nice video thanks m8 mint soaring 👍

[@britishgal1808-Sue]

Terrific video, Pete! Very informative and interesting . Woody, looks to be in pristine condition! :)

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks for watching again, have a great day. 👍🙋🏼‍♂

[@falconrydude1552]

Nice vid Pete!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks mate

[@philipsutton8921]

What an awesome relationship between man and bird. I've seen that the poor old HH is much maligned - looked at as a beginner bird, and nothing else. This beautiful creature is far from that. Is it male or female? You also got a subscribe.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you ,this is a male, and I totally agree about how they are looked upon as a beginners bird, that should not be in my opinion, to many will be passed on or become a second. Few people will take them to their full potential and see that they are much more. Thank for subscribing take care.

[@HarrisHawkAcademy]

Nice video 👍💯

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thank you, good luck hunting 👍

[@Connor-sq6bc]

I made a huge newbie mistake with feeding this week. I flew her sat sun mon last week with no luck. I rewarded her with a rabbit as it was the first time she had followed on and the whole weekend was brilliant. I let her have the rabbit on the Monday night as I thought she would eat the whole thing mon/tues and then be ready for lamping Thurs/ ready for the weekends flying. Turns out there’s a lot more meat on a rabbit than I anticipated and she was still 4oz over weight on the Sunday…

[@Connor-sq6bc]

I looked forward all week to the weekends flying so was absolutely gutted

[@Connor-sq6bc]

I should add that it was below freezing and even -5 one night so I didn’t expect her to hold the weight like she did

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Yep , I understand you wanted to feed but it's a mistake, I have over fed many times, my falconry mate says you'll learn, and its true. Get that weight off and carry on, seems you had your hawk about right before.👍there is a lot of meat on a rabbit, a back leg and hip is like 4or 5 chicks, if they eat bone will also increase weight plus the livers if they were still in cavity. I personally wood keep weighing daily and keep weight just slightly up and small feed day before going out ,that's if I was having none flying days. Anyway always good to share our problems we learn from each other this way.

[@JeremyThePlayer88]

You provided some excellent details on how to maintain Woody's weight! Although one thing you could have talked about was that there are certain foods that are less dense and have less calories per oz. A bird, such as a chicken or a pigeon would have less dense than a rabbit would. Of course, a chick would be even less dense than an older bird would! Its more of a filler food than anything else! Even though Woody's weight was high on a windy day, at least he decided to catch a ride in the thermals! He did end up returning to you after 15-20 minutes of flying! He could have rode the thermals longer if you wanted him to. I do want to emphasize on the fact that you try to slightly reduce the feed, but not so much that Woody notices it! Also, you try to keep him above hunting weight while trying to keep him keen at the same time, but not so keen that he's hopping onto your shoulder! By doing this, you can increase his muscle rather than fat. This is why I enjoy watching every single one of your videos! At 10:12, you held your fist up, but you were hiding the food within the glove. You must have hid it a little too good. Woody ended up flying the opposite direction afterwards! Right before you said the words, "he still wants to hunt.", what were the previous 2 words you said? Did you say "he's not bothered?" You weren't surprised of his reaction at all! Haha! And congrats to the rabbit catch, all was good in the end!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Thanks for watching, great comment. A pigeon will put a lot of weight on a hawk than chicken, pigeon is very bloody red meat, I didn’t speak to much about which meat will increase weight the most , but was giving a very small insight into maintaining weight, although I did mention different food will have an effect This subject would need another video I’m sure. At 10:12 I did say he’s not bothered, this was at the start of this hunt and he was eager to find a bigger meal, I wasn’t surprised at him , plus he know these woods hold rabbit and pheasant. Good luck and thanks again.

[@daleskidmore1685]

Woody was soaring on an updraft. He is working so well with Chewie. HNY, speak to you soon.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Cheers mate , all going swimmingly, 👍I’ll call you soon.

[@chriscasey4525]

great video pete ,forget the keyboard warrior,you do it the way you want to, i do

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Cheers mate , I will, thanks for watching, 👍👍

[@CaribGrackle]

how do you teach him to soar? it's really great what you have done with him!

[@freebirdofreason1994]

sorry for late reply, the soaring is really just a natural thing, I would say it’s best to have the weight right as they can get blown away on a windy days. a little updraft on a hill and a happy hawk that will come back to the whistle and your away. thanks for your comment.

[@CaribGrackle]

@@freebirdofreason1994 thanks for the advice!

[@Zombie_Longwinger]

He looks good soaring up on that hill excellent work how far in to this year are you going to fly him before you put him away for the moult ? How you going to moult him this year just leave him get on with it not let him get crazy fat minimal interaction ?

[@freebirdofreason1994]

I probably will fly him until the 28th February which happens to be my birthday, I will have a nice hunt and put him to moult. He seem to get fat at the start of the moult and then eat to keep to a certain weight last year, I’ll probably do that again feeding lost of good meat. As far as leaving him , I think I will still try to get him out and feed although last year this got difficult toward the end, when it’s time to get him out again after the moult , if he is gone feral I will grab in up in the dark , I not messing about like last season. Thanks for watching again 👍

[@QuickFlake]

Will it let you pet him/her don't think just in case of your bird but whole species once they trust you enough?

[@freebirdofreason1994]

yes if handled daily and cared for properly, they really only want you for food.

[@Buddavan]

What breed is the terrier bud.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@Buddavan He is a Patterdale.

[@priceswildlifesolutionspri4083]

How do you get them to stop footing the hand

[@freebirdofreason1994]

All I can say is Woody will foot at flying weight and at fat weight no footing. if food if offered at flying weight he will natch at lightning speed and grab my hand. if he is eating I can get my fingers involved by helping him. He will never foot without food involved. I do occasionally lower food to the head whilst holding him with jesses so he can’t foot, but generally he will only fly to me for food, or feed through chute. hope this helps

[@priceswildlifesolutionspri4083]

@@freebirdofreason1994 My koko doesnt like my bare hand.I can feed bare handed ,no footing,but if i rotate her perch,or reach in without food ,bam,she tries to foot me

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@priceswildlifesolutionspri4083 Right I see that’s a bit different. How old is she? I really have know answer does she catch plenty, when she does catch get in there and assist with feeding, although I really don’t know your hawk. She needs to learn your hands are not food, I show empty hands to mine if he seems like he may be over excited. Weight if low will also make them over keen and foot. As the season ends I’d slowly take her weight up and see if there is a point that she is better mannered. Also females are more highly strung I believe. It really is a difficult situation to answer for me, I hope you get on ok, pleased let me know how it all goes.

[@YouTubefreak92p]

In this cold weather does he have to be in a shed or something?

[@freebirdofreason1994]

yes he has a mews which is like a shed all sealed from any draft, a perch high up .

[@YouTubefreak92p]

@@freebirdofreason1994 I live in Bedford,near the river and there was a guy with an owl,gos round on a barge with it,so he was near the river with it,it was quite an attraction, beautiful bird to,everyone was crowding round taking pictures of it ,and petting it,the owls head turns quite a way round,that's the only bird of prey I've come close to,I keep meaning to watch the film "KES",about the boy that trains a hawk.how did you get it buy it ,or did it's mum die.

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@KZbinfreak92p Woody the Harris hawk was captive bred, which is the only way to get a Harris in the uk. Thank you and the film kes is a great film but sad.

[@dannyo6413]

Do you need permission to fly him or can You pick a spot and let him go

[@freebirdofreason1994]

Yes always need permission to fly birds of prey.👍

[@dannyo6413]

@@freebirdofreason1994 thanks ,I'm assuming most farmers would be quite happy to let you get rid of some rabbits for them 😂👍

[@freebirdofreason1994]

@@dannyo6413 yes and some like birds of prey flying about as a deterrent for pigeon although that don't work for long.