Bow Perch (in the working)

[Dustin]

Hey, what's going on everyone. I've been working on a bow perch this week in my AG class, I've started from scratch and made everything myself so far. It mesures 30" wide and 9" high the legs are each 24" long.



so tell me what you think, but be WARNED I'm no were near done lol so don't tell me I need a ring, or need to clean up my welds because I'm still working on it lol.

[ccrobbins]

looks great so far. Keep us posted!

[Weasel]

Make sure it has enough weight to stop it from being drug across the floor....or drill holes in the legs to drive spikes into the earth. It could do with a cross bar to stop the legs from spreading. Be sure that the two stability legs cannot cause the jesses or leash to get tangled up when the bird bates.

[Dustin]

Yes, I've already got that planned, out and pretty much planning to do everything you mentioned right there, going to drill holes for spikes, and put a cross bar in. I don't see a way the jesses or leash could get tangled up either

[Weasel]

The two bars sticking out at each end could get inbetween the jesses above the swivel and the bird will be hung up badly

[Dustin]

Ooooo, I see what you're saying now (I think). Yea I think I know how to fix that.

[Dustin]

Alright I got some updates on my bow perch.



I also got myself an eagle. He hasn't ate is two days, and he never really moves, I think I might have to make a trip to the vet.



It's still not done yet tho, It's getting really close tho, won't be much longer.

[frootdog]

Get rid of the center bar it's oo much stuff for the bird to get tangled up in.

[kenbro77]

I guess what frootdog is saying is to put the ring on the bow itself, is this correct. Than you will need a larger ring to go around what ever you wrap the bar with. Did you make the ring or buy it. If you bought it, where? I also agree, Eagle needs to see the vet

[SkyRider]

I don't like that bar running across the middle. Just stick it on the actual bow, like has been said. Seems like too much to have to worry about with the bird on the perch. Simplicity is probably the best way to go in this case.

[Dustin]

Well I was instructed by sponcer to put that middle bar, that putting the ring on the bow its self is a bad idea, he had some very good reasons too. the bird can get very badly tangled up by "running circles" around the perch, even tho he really wouldn't have to run around, but that just makes it easer to think of. Also elimates the problem of any snags of the ring on the wrapping, and so far I've only had one possible tangle up pointed out, and that's the bird crawling under the middle bar, but an RT would have a hard time sqeezing threw that gap. I mean if you see another possible tangle up please inform me, but right now the middle bar shall stay. I didn't make the ring it's a steel ring off a cow harness, amazing what I can get ahold of, I didn't pay for it so I have no clue how much a harness cost, the AG teacher gave it to me, and told me "if it'll hold a cow it'll hold a hawk."

[frootdog]

Who is your sponsor. You can PM me w/ that one if you want. I stick by what I said. Remove the middle bar. You would be suprised what a RT can get through, a year or 2 in the field flying one every day will teach you that...that is if your bird does not get tangled up on the bow and die first.

[Weasel]

I too dislike the ring on the second crossbar. The crossbar could be an issue, but I think the main problem lies with the ring. Look at the design of the bows on sites like Mikes falconry or Northwoods. They do not put the rings on the crossbar and if they have a croosbar, it is designed differently so that there is no way for the bird to get hung up in it. Other than that, it seems like a fairly decent design. I would still stick to time proven designs though....they have been used for a reason.
Cheers,

[frootdog]

I got the new Northwoods catalog this weekend and low and behold the bowperches had a second bow under the firs w/ the ring on the secondary bow. That being said I still would not use this new design. I too believe there is nothing wrong with the tried and true. One of the recent NAFA mags had an article written by Postelweight (sp?) before he died about how to wrap a bow so the ring did not get hung up. I'll look into that and see what issue it was in.

[shyloh97]

Does your sponsor also have the middle ring? If that is what he says works best and he wants you to have it, then keep it. There are so many ways of doing things and yes, things do change over time.
I really don't think we can say that falconry equip has not evolved over time. Look at swivels, leashes, jesses, hoods, gloves. Not only are there multiple ways of doing things, but "the best way" changes with time. I worked for a bird trainer that is known to many as "the best" and he removed the rings off all his bow perches. With him we tied leashes straight onto the bow. In his 30+ years of working with birds, he has never had a problem of a bird getting tangled up without the ring, and yet everyone believes you have to have a ring. And no he does not have a problem with tail damage.

But that is just my opinion......