Hood Training 101

If you've followed previous videos with reclaiming "Shadow" you know she's been a challenge i.e. aggressive, rude, bites, and at 1600 grams she's powerful.
Upon arrival December 5th, 2020, I introduced the hood, as seen in the first few segments, she went into panic mode. No sense starting battles with her, besides there were more important issues to overcome. However I began desensitizing her to the hood straightaway, it became part of everyday scenery.
Hood training sessions started in earnest the first week of May using an oversized hood. No food drive required, tid bits during these end of day sessions were extra. Falcons are such greedy things.
5 different hoods were used to determine the proper size. Jason Reid (Hawkeye Falconry) is making a sewn Dutch hood that should not only look sharp but fit properly.
Through the process of bridge conditioning and modifying/reshaping behavior, she's progressed nicely over these past 6 months. Always enjoys a drink of cool water from her cup in the morning and again at days end. She has access to water all day however never fails to take a sip when offered, interesting behavior, my Harris' does the same.
Hood training has now been incorporated into the daily routine prior to feeding. It's only been a few days but so far, so good. She still has her moments but less so as time moves on. I'm looking forward to getting game under her this season.
Thank you for watching, as we get further along with hood training I'll post a follow up video. Stay safe, Robert

[@davemyers7507]

Great job 👏 thanks for the update

[@user-lo3gx5mi9q]

You are super! Thanks you!!!

[@blondalstefan]

Thanks a lot for the demonstration! I have a candidate for this treatment.

[@RobertWEiser-su8tp]

The moult offers a good time to tackle problems. Captive bred, chamber raised, parent fed birds are the worst. Shadow is a hard imprint, no fear, aggressive by nature, still gets that way if she spends nights in the mews. If she spends the night on the round perch in my office, she's golden. Trainer's Motto: Bridge What You See. Have Fun!

[@RobertWEiser-su8tp]

Wanted to add: hood training to the point seen in the video took me a week. By day 4, I was slipping the hood on her head. By day 6, I was leaving it on longer periods and trying various sized hoods, she never balked. Your's may do the same.

[@blondalstefan]

@@Zombie_Longwinger If you only have positive experiences, I'm glad for you! "The strong opposition by a hunting bird to having a hood placed on her head and to the subsequent wearing of it is easily understood; the whole scheme is contrary to her nature and, in consequence, she is restless under these alien conditions." - Frederick II of Hohenstaufen

[@blondalstefan]

@@Zombie_Longwinger Still, I would say it's individual. All my falcons have been parent reared, and I've had the whole spectrum from awful to ideal hooders.

[@oldsagerat]

Excellent ! I must ask if you got your bonnet from Jack Oar ! 😉 I love that contented rouse at the end. Thanks for sharing.

[@angelo8516]

The Bird looks like a Peales P Falcon.

[@robconohan3537]

Excellent job!

[@rajasarfraz3948]

Good job done I like it very much

[@jujucattys156]

Very nice method

[@UnHermanoHalconero]

👏👏👏

[@williampinchers]

Hi nice vidio had she never been made to a hood also is she an imprint or parent reared bird

[@asasefilosofia770]

👍👍😀😀

[@tysonpreest1223]

4.59 anyone else notice the pigeon 😆😆