sexing young red tail

[Dustin]

Are you licenced falconer? If not you need to get that bird to a rehab center, it's illegal to be in possetion of a raptor with out the proper licence.

EDIT

Just read you're from the bahamas I'm not sure what the regulations are there. So you might need to serch on that to make sure you're not going against the law.

[raymond]

If only there was a rehab centre!! The bahamas don't use rehab for druggies let alone red tails! Just to reassure you I have contacted people in the US for assistance, his diet is as near ideal as anybody has recommended to me and he is in his 18 x 18 mews already. If I hadn't taken him he would be dead by now. I am also a hunter of 30 years so I am experienced with country life, he will get the best possible care.

[Dustin]

Well then 1up to you. Maybe you can order some book from state side on falconry, and train it to become a good killer and then hack it back. I'd PM Yarak as well he's been caring for his RT for a very long time, he's sure to have good advise.

[ritchiera]

Well, From what I have read and understand, a Redtail that is imprinted is probably going to be a face grabbing son of a gun.. Maybe it's not too late to feed that thing with a puppet and a 1 way mirror.

Good luck

Bob Ritchie
Orem, UT

[colohen]

Look like your doing well with the RT but watch the pigeons for frounce . Freezing for about 60 days and or removing the head , neck and internals will help safe guard against this as well !
As falconer and rehab , I know what its like to have imprints , wanted or not , and they can be a hand full . Ritchiera is on the right track with the mirror , I have found by using a large mirror in the mews , while raising a wild raptors , tends to lesson the imprinting . DON'T hand feed it !! If it is as old as you say , it can feed its self . If it is standing on it s own , just place the food in the mews next to it and leave . Check on it in about a half hour to see it has eaten .
You said its about 8 weeks old , this bird should be fully feathered and ready to branch ! ? If thats the case you may be past any real imprinting ? Determination of age will depend on what stage of down the bird is in and how much of the juvenile feathers are present ?
As to the sex , its not always possible to determine on boarder line male or female ( with a medium size foot ) . Also would need to know what spices / subspecies in order to get any ideal as to what weight range it should be in for male or female , once it is fully feathered and ready to man .
Don't know what the regulations are there but it may be a good ideal to check , for your on sack !
If you like hunting and animals , falconry may be right up your alley !
Good Luck !!!

[raymond]

Thanks for the advice. The bird is fully feathered and feeding on rats by itself. She is comfortable sat on the glove and is getting used to being walked around near the usual distractions. I have read the newest 8 books on amazon and am becoming aware of the pitfalls of an imprint. At what age am I likely to see the screaming and possible aggression. At the moment she is happy in the weathering just watching the world go by, however, I am not heavily training her and am simply manning her. Will the screaming start when I start to trim her down to flight weight? She is just ready to fly, she is strengthening her wings and will fly in the next few days.
Any advice is welcome, or more book recommendations.
Ray

[Yarak]

So, what exactly our your intentions? Do you plan to keep this bird? Do you plan to hunt with the bird? Do you plan to release the bird? I am not sure what advice you want. It did not sound like this bird is a hard imprint, if it were me I would turn it lose. Explain your long term goal so that we can better understand your plans then we can provide you with better info.
Yarak