tethering rings

[demarest]

Hey,
i made my own bow perch for a kestrel and had a couple questions about the tethering ring materiel.
the smallest steel ring i could find was as thick as the perching rod and weighs about as much as the average kestrel (99.7grams exactly). I also found a brass ring, 3inch diameter and 1/8 inch thick, the perfect size and weight. I know it's not a very good idea to tether say a redtail to brass, but is it a bad idea to tether a kestrel to brass since their so small and aren't going to be exerting tremendous amounts of pressure as a redtail would? bassically: Is it ok to use brass?
-rwdesmaret

[Weasel]

Maybe Minca can answer that one as I have no experience with kestrels.....Minca? Any opinions?

[ccrobbins]

I work with brass a bit and I have thought about using a key ring made of brass for this. I think it "should" work.

[bobby]

Whats folks usuing for rts? ;D

[ccrobbins]

Steel, welded steel.

[Minca]

If it's the kind that I think you're talking about, it should be fine for a kestrel. I found the craft stores have brass rings for needlepoint that are really small, like 3 inches or so, that are nice and light. A kestrel couldn't bate hard enough to damage a brass ring(if that's what you're worried about), but the one I had last year was strong enough to drag her gravel filled pvc bow perch across a floor. If you've got Mullenix's book, he uses large keyrings. I would avoid the kind with the hinge that hooks closed like school binder rings. I talked to some one once who said they'd used a rubber ring for a bird that bated at night so he could get some sleep (no clanking).

[colohen]

Ace hardware , in my area , has 1 in. brass rings strong enough even for RT's , tho I use the 2 & 3 in. steel rings . You should be able to find them in pipe and steel section .