Teathering vs. freelofting

[Weasel]

Lets discuss different views about this subject and who does what.

[Yarak]

If you or someone you know has been in this sport long enough they will have some bad story about losing a bird that was tethered. If you can work out adaptive behavioral issues (if their are any) then freelofting is the way to go. I am only talking about Rts and HHs. Though I know several longwingers that have free lofted them as well. I have stong opinions on most things concerning falconry this is no exception. Your birds well being is as important to me as my own. If I felt their were better ways to house my bird I would have adopted them long ago. I have yet to hear a decent argument for tethering. So give me what you got!
Yarak

[falconer]

I tether because i have not got the space to freeloft,
but would like to know what the advantages of freelofting has on a FHH if any as this is what i will fly this season

[Yarak]

Don't have the space? Our state regs require 64sq feet of mews per raptor. The excersise and activity level maintains better condition throughout the moult. My perches are varying heights so as the bird moves around it gets more excersise than if it were tied down.
I had a good friend lose a HH under unusual circumstances. It was tethered, a rat snake got into the mew and killed it. Now could this have happened with a free lofted bird...you bet. The hawk would however have the maens to attack rather than be attacked and at least might be able to flee or fight back.
Yarak

[falconer]

Once the bird is at top weight, moulting out
and freelofted.
how difficult is it to call it or get it back under controll.
is this a prob while freelofting.

As i tetherd mine i was always handeling her because of moving from the shed to the garden and was fine she never baited from me or encounted any feather probs

Also we don't have snakes over here and i was not getting at you just asking your opinion

[Yarak]

I guess it could be if you do not interact with your bird daily. I take mine out perch her out and weigh and feed her. I have been flown at by her twice in ten years she has struck my face but did not bind. The worst time is at the end of the hunting season. Hormones and being geared up for the hunt make those first few weeks of April quite a challenge. I am glad I have Apprentices I can send in. She has lost ALL fear of me, them she still respects. I do take offense easily. I did not percieve your post as hostile at all. As the bird weight comes down in preperation for our mid Sept start date she is much more accepting and tolerant.
Yarak

[Ooby]

Ok, here goes /cracks knuckles

While you have heard of bad stories about people who lose birds from tieing them down, i say thats an idiot falconer. I, like you, take my bird out to weather and feed every day. At most she is teathered to the perch for perhaps 24 hours at the most unless it is raining big time. I fail to see the difference in tieing a bird down durring the molt as opposed to durring the season. There are just as many dangers to the bird durring the molt as there are durring the season when tied to the perch in the mews. I CAN understand though how it could be more dangerous for anyone who doesn't interact with thier birds as much as you or I do.

However, how many people have you heard about who's bird becomes insanely agressive because of free lofting? There are plenty of stories of people who's birds have attacked them, or they had to chase them around the mews, lots of bad stuff.

I kind of prefer to avoid an adventure every time i enter the mews. I will agree that you won't end up with an agressive bird all the time, but it is far more common i would say, than birds dieing from being perched in the mews.

[Yarak]

I will say my take on that is people feeding in the mew.
I asked Hal Webster about freelofting and Steve Layman and Gary Brewer. These folks say its the way to go! Now as far as aggression, imprints are much worse as you know. I will hazard a guess that the birds that became aggressive were imprints. I have never teathered her nor have I ever fed in the mews. I wish you could meet some of the really good falconers I know that have lost birds from being teathered I seriously doubt you would think any of them idiots!
Yarak

[Ooby]

I wish i could meet em too man, as you are the only really good falconer i know who free lofts a red tail. My sponsor free lofts his peregrin, but its a different bird with a different attitude.

The stories i have heard of free lofted red tails were all passage birds. There is that odd late imprinting thing we talked about once, but i don't know how much that comes into play.

I designed my mews specifically so that it would be safe to teather the bird in. No animal is digging in, not even a snake, and the door is locked. Short of her getting tangled on the perch, or a snake climbing 5 feet straight up against smooth wood, i can't think of a single danger to her in the mews.

I still think its the best way, at least for my bird. Perhaps its because im new to it, and am unwilling to teach bad manners to my bird. We have all seen those apprentices who think they are the best, and teach thier bird all kinds of horrible things. Im just unwilling to do that, and i have seen it come the MOST from free lofting.

[Yarak]

One of these guys was inspirational to me in the literal sense. He took a peregrine egg hatched it out hand fed it every two hours a homemade goop and at the end of duck season, just being alive a few months killed 56 ducks. He was giving away peregrines before Tx would let us sell them. He took many to the TX coast for release throught the time he bred him. One of his breeding females got the leash wrapped around its neck
she had taken more than 100 ducks in two seasons. He does not practice now but I still him he is great guy
Yarak

[wes]

Hear You Keith & Ooby: my sponsor as well as most in my area (all that I have met so far) freeloft, once birds are well manned of course, especially for the molt anyway. Yes I freeloft year round. The more the bird flys, hops, etc. (Different height perchs) The better condition bird stays in and I think it's easier to manage weight control. Have had good results with my limited knowledge (2 F R/T's) I do teather or creance my bird with feeding out of mew and weathering area when necessary, ie Fat bird.

Falconer, I understand the laws are different in the UK. I've not had any problems about picking bird back up as I'm handling my bird daily, weighing and taking her out to feed.

I don't recommend feeding any animal in there bedding area if it can be helped. Some of the wild animals and pets I've had or worked with have developed bad habits which can be dangerous and hard to stop, from this type of feeding practice.
wes

[Tiercel78]

Well, I like free lofting better in most cases but don't practice it at this time. Since, I'm due to move in the next few years. I'm not going to build a really nice mew to leave it or have the Navy move it. In Forida you have to have a weathering area or mew. I went with the weatherinag area for the air circulation due to the humid falls and dampness. It is 9x9x6 with gravel bottom for drainage. The gravel is covered with indoor/outdoor carpet. The bowperch is spiked through a 4x4 soft rubber mat (to help keep talons sharp). the top of the chamber is covered 5ft by roofing and the rest in live stock wire covered with shade cloth. The rest of the weathering area is wraped with live stock wire and shade cloth. The weathering area has a good breeze and protects the bird from mosquitos and other pest. I perch the bird on a bow perch with a bungee. I've never seen him tangled. Plus, I don't give tons of slack on leash. Enough that he can get to the bath pan easily.

So Far, I've had good luck with teathering and will probally continue to do it next season. I have to agree with Ooby on his views of manners of the bird. I guess to each his own. I've heard of RT's just pounding themselves in the mews.

[falconer]

Falconer, I understand the laws are different in the UK. I've not had any problems about picking bird back up as I'm handling my bird daily, weighing and taking her out to feed.

I don't recommend feeding any animal in there bedding area if it can be helped. Some of the wild animals and pets I've had or worked with have developed bad habits which can be dangerous and hard to stop, from this type of feeding practice.
wes

WES

You say that ya don't recommend feeding in the mews area.

And that you take ya bird out to feed her.

WHERE do ya feed her.

As i have been told more or less the same by other falconers not to feed ( IN OR AROUND ) the mews area,
as this could lead to screaming as it starts to assiciate food with the weathering area.

What am i supposed to do then little short of taking her into a field and feeding her on the fist.

But is this ok to do whilst they are in moult

SORRY IF I SEEM TO BE GOING OFF THREAD A BIT YARAK
BUT I NEED TO CLEAR THIS ONE UP M8.

[wes]

Falconer, I don't mean it to sound that I have a lot of yard to work in, I pick up Clou, and walk across the yard, maybe all for 40 feet into shop,put her on scale, perch a few mintues on gaint hood or in GH, sometimes weigh her outside on picnic table, tether her in yard on a low perch, start hopping her up for feed, sometimes I'll use lure, I do vary when and where, I go to local park somedays, or down the street to a friends home, and no I don't walk or down to Mom's and feed her in field just for a change, with trying to cause as little stress as possible, if that day she acts up, or just not intested in working I do not push her or force her, and try later in day, I just go at her pace during the molt . This is the second F R/T I've done this with, maybe it's been beginners luck, but had no problems during molt with feather steaks or stress marks. Please understand I'm an apprentice and don't know much or saying this is the only way, I'm just saying what I've done. I do know people do things differently. Ask one of the more experince fellows what they do. Happy hawking!
wes

[Yarak]

My bird gets very territorial in the mews. I will NOT add food stimulis to the mix. I have my weathering perch around the corner of the house. It is out of sight of the mew. Now she knows when its dinnertime. She has also learned that too much wild behavior and she will not get fed. Even fat her crest comes up and her pupils dialate when I go in the mews to get her. She quivers with anticipation. She is anxious and will fly to her perch as we round the corner. As I have written before routine is a falconers best friend. The closer you can stick to your daily schedule the more reliable your results will be both in and out of the field. Keep in mind that she over 3.5 lbs during the moult (about 1550 gms)
Thats alot of nasty bird.
Yarak