Apache - 2011 Imprint Male Goshawk

[rocgwp]

I'm not sure how detailed I'm gonna keep this thread, but I couldn't resist sharing.

Meet Apache. He is an 18 day old goshawk from Barry's project. I am raising him with full-food association (hand feeding). Here are some pics...

This is the large soft sided dog kennel I'm using as an imprint tank. It is lined with a cheap shower curtain that I can change regularly.


Apache in his nest bowl. (I'm going to get a bigger nest bowl for him, he can already get out of this one)


Exploring the house...


Taking a rest on the dog bed...


Exposing him to horses, just in case I ever hunt from horseback


Last night he crawled out of the nestbowl and explored for a little bit. He went back to the nestbowl on his own where I rewarded him.

At this point I am handing feeding him and introducing the CR (clicker). I only feed him when he is sitting calmly on his haunches. I hand feed him until he loses interest and then I leave the rest of the food with him.

[hcmcelroy]

Jeff,

He looks a handsome fellow. Good to see you experimenting with hand feeding. Are you feeding from the bare fingers? Are you going to use Steve Layman's system of hand feeding? Please give us any detail in his raising.
I am collecting information on weights used in gender determination in the gos so it would be great if you would weigh him at day 20 in the morning before feeding. My guess is that the male and female gos begin to separate in weights at 20 days but this is only a guess. The aplomado and Cooper's can be sexed using weight so there is a record that the system will work.
My intention is to use food association in hooding a male gos I will imprint this year.
Best of luck with your little boy.

Harry.

[rocgwp]

Harry,

I am feeding him with my bare fingers and I am using Steve Layman's method of feeding, raising, imprinting. I approach the nest bowl with food and set it in front of him. I crouch down with my face close to him and hand him the tidbit as if I am a parent feeding him. I don't hide food from him at all. The goal is to simulate a parent as much as possible and to teach him to calmly wait for food.

I'll try and weigh him on Monday for you since that will be 20 days.

[kitana]

Cool project! I intend to do something very similar the day I get a goshawk. I will follow your thread with attention. Good luck and have fun!

[FredFogg]

Man, I am getting eyas fever! LOL Definately going to watch this thread because I want to imprint a goshawk sometime in the future and really would like to see the OC methond done in steps and detail. Thanks for starting this thead.

[hcmcelroy]

Jeff,

Most interesting. I look forward to reading the details of your project and how this system works for you and your little buddy.

Many thanks for the weighing Monday.

Harry.

[DirtHawker]

Keep up the thread, I am enjoying following the progression I have been doing some thinking about a goshawk next year and find your thread valuable.
Sue

[rocgwp]

27 days

Apache is making the transition to the free flight pen. He spent about 3 hours in it yesterday. He didn't explore a whole lot, but he got to spend some time in the Texas heat.

I am slowly increasing his time in the pen to gradually adjust him to the heat. Our temps are close to 100 lately. The pen is shaded, so he is not experiencing direct sun.

I feed him only at the nest bowl at this point. That is how I move him from place to place. He comes to the bowl for food and I can pick the bowl up and transport him.

[Steve L.]

Hey Jeff, I hope this isn't to far off topic, but can you post a solo shot of your Wirehair? Looks like a nice dog. Thanks

[rocgwp]

Hey Jeff, I hope this isn't to far off topic, but can you post a solo shot of your Wirehair? Looks like a nice dog. Thanks

Thanks...she has been a blessing. Her name is Karis, which is the Greek word for grace or free gift. She was given to us by a group of coworkers after a dog I had was stolen.

Her registered name is Scotian Holy Smokes. She is a NAVHDA NA Prize I and a Utility Prize II. She scored 192 of 204 possible points in her Utility test.

Her is a couple pics of her:






and a couple videos:

[rocgwp]

Sorry, try this for the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHgFH...e_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxVkH...e_gdata_player

[harrishawk_79]

I'm truly sorry to read this and to be honest its things like this that scares me the most yes in this case it was west Nile but I'm always worried about asper and stress with my gos your thread was great and you did a awesome job I look forward to read. Your next charge really sorry

[hcmcelroy]

Sorry to hear Jeff. This sport can deal some blows.

Harry.

[goshawkr]

Jeff,

That bites.

A good friend of mine refered to goshawks as "The roller coaster ride of madness." That thought frequently comes to mind with goshawks.

[FredFogg]

Wow Jeff, sorry to read this! I too really enjoyed your progress with him and how well he turned out. Falconry has the highest highs and the lowest lows, that's for sure!

[PeteJ]

Sorry to hear. You did real good with him and I'm sure you would be able to repeat with another one. The WNV/Asper thing is always a constant threat with those of us living this far south due to the heat factor adding to the stress level, particularly with Goshawks.
Again, condolences on your loss.

[colelkhunter]

......I don't even know what to say. Sorry just doesn't cut it man, but that is all I got. You and Apache put me on the path to raising blue the way that I did. I am thankful for that as she is coming along in fine fashion. Terribly sorry to read this.

[DirtHawker]

I am so sorry to hear that, it is an awful blow. I have followed your thread with great interest since you got the bird from Barry, and celebrated your sucess with him. My condolences, but thank you for sharing your experiences with him.
Sue

[Dirthawking]

Dude that sucks! We wondered if you were there for the same reasons we were, but we did not want to ask and overstep bounds.

[JeffNH]

Sorry to hear this Jeff...chin up.

[Matthew Patching]

Been reading the whole thread over the last 2 days, sorry for your loss, and I'll look forwards to reading of your future exploits.

[varanus]

Thats rough, sorry to hear about your loss.

[Richard]

Sorry about you're losing such a great bird! We lost one to WNV and had a few others that survived it. One was on death's doorstep, and we didn't expect him to live through the night, but a friend gave us an anti-viral he'd picked up in Germany. He not only made it but was up and moving the next morning like nothing had been wrong. I'm not sure what it was, but it wasn't available in the US at the time. I wonder if any US vets have tried available anti-virals?

[pj_elia]

Tough loss, I've been in your exact situation. WNV sucks. It usually hits in mid to late summer while asper usually hits birds at hunting weight.

Hang in there.

[JRedig]

Hey Jeff, hope you're dealing ok, I know this pain all to well suddenly.

Was WNV ever confirmed? Any other results from the necropsy?

[rocgwp]

West Nile was confirmed...

[COMEAUX]

West Nile was confirmed...

Jeff, did you have him vaccinated? I worry down here on the coast about WNV, already a few cases in Houston, people and birds. Sorry to read about about this.

Chris

[rocgwp]

He was not vaccinated yet.