This may be the craziest idea I've ever had...or not

[dlhunicorn]

I LOVE raptors... however I HATE the proposition of only working them "an hour or so" a day and keeping them penned up the rest of the time....

If it were me and I wanted to do both, I would have to do a lot more research and a lot more work on pens and such in order to keep the both types of birds in happy quarters....
...of course we are talking about quite an investment here of time and money...
... I would probably end up making a roofed (hawk proof) pen and free-range area for the chickens ... (extensive one >to keep birds happy)
Have no idea how you would fit in the time for your raptors with your study plans you were talking of a few months ago, but I have an acquaintance who works his 4-6 hours a day (so not penned)...

ETA: Here is archives from an international Falconry forum...
http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/
...might be a good idea to get some input from them.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

Quote:
From what I understand, some birds that have suffered broken wings can sometimes no longer fly for the long periods of time required to sustain their natural hunting instincts.

I don't really have a rodent problem on my property. The falcon would be more of a hobby & project to see if other raptors where indeed scared off. If it was half as spoiled as my chooks are, it would live a very good life.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I edited my post above with a link to a falconry forum ... perhaps you can get some input from them there too....

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Uh, why would scaring off raptors be a good thing? You could never be sure there wasn't a hawk passing through, if you're thinking about free-ranging your chickens.

Also, I think that bird's idea of "a very good life" (especially a large mobile bird accustomed to solitude, freedom, variety, and an infinite world in which to roam) is VERY different from a human's (which tends to revolve more around warmth, nice carpets, freedom from worry, and yummy take-out dinners).

Spending a buncha money on an animal's quarters and upkeep does not in any way guarantee it a good life. Sure, some critters are pretty happy in captivity, but other critters, especially the more footloose types, really not so much

If you want exotic and expensive feathered hobbies, breed Java green peafowl or something

Just my $.02,

Pat

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Anything new you can learn and have fun at, go for it!! Good luck!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I've always wanted to get into this as well, but since I was entering college, it just was not do-able at the time. A teacher of mine in high school that I keep in contact with used to be VERY involved in the sport. She already had people that I could go under as an apprentice. However, the laws in the US may be different from over there. Here, I would have to be an apprentice for a certain amount of time. Then I would have to build my pens, flight pens, etc and have the state inspect it all. Then I would have to take various classes and pass a test. That part actually seemed like the easiest! When I finally got my license, I would only be able to own a red tailed hawk, great horned owl, or an american kestrel. After that I could train and enter the various falconry contests in the area. It's a really awesome sport.

If you have the money to spend, then I say go for it. Feeding can be pricey because they need certain meats or other feeder animals. Training is also very time consuming. You would have to train them to return after flight and some just never will. Raptors are very different animals. They aren't cuddly little animals and definitely have a mind of their own, no matter how much training you do. The one thing I do remember is that when you let them out, they have to be hungry. Otherwise, they will fly right away and never come back. Also, you have to be careful of neighbors who may have cats and small dogs. We've had several cases of falconers' birds taking other people's pets.

Good luck in whatever you decide! One day I would love to get into the sport myself.

 

[TransplantedTexan]

I think you should do it if you have the dedication, time and money.
All animals that humans keep in captivity were mobile and accustomed to their freedom prior to man domesticating them. We are talking about domesticating a wild bird.
It may not be happy in the beginning, but it will become some what domesticated and accustomed to it's new life.
Animals were placed on this earth for humans sustenance and enjoyment, not the other way around.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

Quote:
We have hawks all the time around here. I'm very close to the Niagara escarpment which is prime breeding grounds. I'm just looking for an alternative to my current birds of prey predator control. Falconry has been practiced for thousands of years & I admit I find it interesting. I only free range my chooks when I am around, and have had too many close calls.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Sorry, but domestication is something that happens from generation to generation to generation as you breed for a tamer, more, well, domesticated

disposition.

Just penning an animal up and saying 'tough luck, get used to it' does not constitute domestication.

Look, if you lock a person up in a cage they will undoubtedly get used to it in time, by one means or another, but does that mean that it would be just fine for me to come over to your place and lock you up for the rest of your life because you'd learn to be quite sufficiently happy with it?

Even if you do believe that animals were placed on earth solely for peoples' use, that still does not mean we get to do whatever we want to them just 'cuz we want to. IMHO.

(Mind, I am not suggesting that was what LittleChickenRacingTeam was proposing to do, nor am I suggesting that injured raptors shouldn't be rehabilitated or even kept caged if they can be kept adequately happy... I am just saying that 'adequately happy' CANNOT ALWAYS be achieved, with wild animals)

Sitting down and shutting up now on the subject,

Pat

 

[TransplantedTexan]

I realize that domestication is a process done over generations. But it starts somewhere. If the approach was taken that you should in no circumstances pen a wild animal, then it would never have proceeded. None of us would have our chickens. I doubt that the first generation of penned chickens liked it as much as roaming around the wild.
I find the lock a person in a cage analogy to be unsound.
We are human beings. This is entirely different.
In no way was I suggesting that as human we can treat animals any way we please. My feelings are that if one is going to do everything humanly possible to make this animals life a satisfactory one, then he has the right to do so.
I imagine that if a raptor was unhappy, when you let him out of the cage that would be the end of that.