Goose, imprint male gyr/saker

[qdgban]

well i cant do a vid but i can give you some instruction via here if no one else posts up a vid
id love to help you out with the feathers as i have loads (i always save them all ) but im sure someone ur side will have some, then all you need is some glue ,scissors a few jointers and a good assistant ! ill get it on tomorrow its late here [smilie=icon_thumright.gif]

[Jimmy]

Noah,
Can you get feathers from another falcon? They don't have to be from a Saker, as long as they're the right size.....

[Falcon Boy]

Thanks! More opinions on it the better.

And i don't think sending feathers international would be a good idea. I think i may be able to get some RT feathers that are basically the same size. we'll see.

Jimmy- Not sure, i'll see

[Jimmy]

Wes imped a redtail with vulture feathers once...... [smilie=eusa_doh.gif]

[awahl]

How'd you get vulture feathers?

[awahl]

Anyone out there use the really fat part of a redtail or harris feather as a sheath over the entire area that is cut when imping? I've had good luck doing that.

[wesleyc6]

I was given the vulture feathers. LOL. THanks Jimmy. It was my first RT and at one point she looked like a 1200 g swallow tailed kite. She was still killing 'em, but she looked rough. Since then.......no feather problems of any significance.

If I imp, I like to slide the shaft over or under. I don't like the "joiner" system really. I can do it about 3 different ways. I imped my friends' birds too.

[Falcon Boy]

I am able to get tailfeathers, so just need to know how to imp

[Jimmy]

It's not hard, Noah. But it's something that you have to do, to get the hang of it. It's really nice if you can have someone help you that's done it before, and is good at it. I was first shown by someone that sucked at it, and I ended up having to re-imp the bird again myself. Since then, I've had to imp my birds a few times. And, I've imped other birds for other people. I've also re-imped birds who's previous imp job didn't hold up.

There's a couple of ways you can do it. You can use a "needle" to join the feather, or you can use an outside sleeve. I prefer to use a piece of feather shaft, or a skewer (shaved down to fit the shaft) for the needle. Some people like piano wire or something similar. And I always imp the complete feather, not just part of it. The barrell of an insulin syringe works good if you do the outside sleeve method. I like to use 5 minute epoxy for the glue. Never use super glue as it will actually eat into the shaft and weaken it.

I'd strongly recommend finding someone to help you and show you, even if it means having to drive a little ways. It will go smoother and easier for you, and the bird. If that simply isn't an option for you, let me know. I'll try and put some pics together, or a video or something......

I basically had to learn to imp by myself, as there was no one to show me properly. It will be required learning if I ever take on another apprentice, which definitely won't be in the near future.

Here's a pic of some imped feathers, after they moulted. Done properly, they are as good as the original.

[kimmerar]

Thanks Jimmy. I've been trying to get someone to show me since last year - even offered to drive 4 hrs to meet someone. He's good but he's a pilot for a company and leaves anytime they ask. I'm still waiting. Tried to get it set up at our apprentice workshop - but we didn't have time. I would rather someone show me. I would love to see a video if you could set that up. Wes - I highly recommend you move this to a new section if Jimmy gets a video. Bill is supposed to be working on a video too - what happened to Bill - maybe he's sailing. I was told to use a feather shaft from one person and someone else said to whittle a toothpick for my little birds. I was also told to practice on something else - like a quail - before I do the real thing.

Had to chime in Noah - been looking for this info for awhile.

[Saluqi]

Hey Noah,

I have a complete female prairie tail & tiercel gyr/pere tail if you need feathers. If you make a trip up here we could imp Goose, I've done it several times.

Paul

[Falcon Boy]

Paul, i really need to make the trip up there, sending you a PM about it

[Jimmy]

Well, there you go, Noah. Take the trip, get him imped, then fly him over Paul's dogs. And film it all to boot. [smilie=icon_thumright.gif]

[qdgban]

glad i could help ! im sure youll be in good hands and learn a skill that can seem quite intimidating to the unintiated but is quite srtraightforward providing the bird is stable and well presented ,hers a spar i did a few weeks ago ,no spar feathers so shes resplendant in lanner.saker and gyr/saker feathers not a great fit but until i get better will support the others ,spars are notorious for trashing theri tails but this one had been found hanging by mews jesses in a tree and lost 4i use either copper wire stripped from household electrical wiring ( heavy duty will do for medium birds dependant on where the break is and if its a larger bird either carbon fibre rod splinters (such as those found on kite sticks) or bamboo

[Jimmy]

I don't like imping mid shaft. The feathers won't flex when the bird lays back on the tail, and the imp usually fails where the needle stops. I've never tried copper wire, but I used a paper clip once to fix a tip on a bird that was being released.

[wesleyc6]

I like a full imp too up under the coverts. On an accip that "eats" feathers, you might not want to do that, but if you had a husbandry issue that is solved, I recommend a full imp too.

[Falcon Boy]

Well goosey flew pretty good today. He hung around a good bit more and even put one stoop at a jack. He also chased a mouse off the fist... so raising his weight is bringing us in the right direction.

I did however run into a problem. Now when out and about i'd be warned about snakes, holes etc. One thing i did not expect was BEES! I was walking through a 30x30 patch of brush i usually avoid and i thought i kept hearing flies. Then i look around, and there are TONS of bees coming out of holes. Sense they were landing on me and not yet attacking i sneaked out of the patch and then ran like a little girl for at least 100yrds.... i don't like bees.

[Jimmy]

I sneaked out of the patch and then ran like a little girl for at least 100yrds.....

Where's the video???????

[kimmerar]

I sneaked out of the patch and then ran like a little girl for at least 100yrds.....

Where's the video???????

Yes - video pleasssse [smilie=smileys13.gif]

[Falcon Boy]

I was too busy running with my hands over my head screaming and thrashing about like a moron.

It was similar to this....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H6mCvNCRPOI

[hawkstir]

I was too busy running with my hands over my head screaming and thrashing about like a moron.

It was similar to this....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H6mCvNCRPOI

[smilie=eusa_clap.gif] [smilie=banana.gif]

[kimmerar]

My visual was kind of like that (but better) with lots of bad language all in it. [smilie=smileys13.gif] [smilie=eusa_clap.gif]

[Falcon Boy]

Hey i just said that was similiar.... we both know I was swearin up a storm lol

[Rudd]

LMAO. I love the honesty. Most of us would have done the same thing but I would have never admitted to it.

[kimmerar]

LMAO. I love the honesty. Most of us would have done the same thing but I would have never admitted to it.

That's whats great about Noah!!

[Falcon Boy]

I have no problem admitting things, one person's pain is another person's laughter. Plus if you can't laugh at yourself, life must suck! It's just a big party in my mind and life's too short to live in regret over stupid things. Might as well give someone a good laugh about it. Hell, i can only imagine if a F&G official pulled up right then LOL

[smilie=banana.gif]

[everetkhorton]

Bee ware of holes in the ground [smilie=wav.gif]

[Falcon Boy]

Another day in paradise...and another vid for those who enjoy my cursing and mishaps

So. First off goose spent the night in the hood and it went well! He rode the whole way silently and without banging around... it was priceless

We had rough winds today, 10-20mph constant. Goosey was on the wing ~45min of our hour 10minute long hunt. I flushed a lot of jacks and a few CT's, but no chases. He hovered over where 2-3CT's went, but they were the bee bushes so he can have fun over there without me.

Goose stayed pretty close, esp. considering the wind being so strong. We had some runins with kestrels and harriers.

Nothing really noteable other than he flew well in the wind and the hooding went well. Here are some pics and the vids. For those who want to see me almost fall on my face over a branch see the second vid.







A tortise i found on the road and moved off so he wouldn't get squished



vids-

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...irstflight.flv

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...fingbranch.flv

[everetkhorton]

Noah:
Great Photo's Keep them coming!

[Falcon Boy]

I'm planning on buying a high powered pellet gun tonight, if all goes to plan gooser will have a baggy tomarrow.

[raptrlvr]

Noah, I am really likeing those pictures you are sending. Not only does Goose look great, but, the surrounding area looks good as well. I will be making another trip this next week to drop off the appliances. I will probably stay a couple of days now that i can finaly get into the house.

[Falcon Boy]

Sounds good, like i said just give me a buzz when you want to move the appliances in and i'll be more than happy to give you a hand. And of course you're welcome to come see the gooser fly as well [smilie=icon_thumright.gif]

[Jimmy]

Great pictures, Noah. Such a huge difference in landscape compared to here.

[Falcon Boy]

Goose flew for about 20min today total time in the air. He ended up landing so i just picked him up and brought him home. I'm gonna start raising his weight more, i'm hoping he will be around 24oz for tuesday morning.

I had a thought today, what is the last thing a jack see's before getting smacked by a falcon? Well i made a vid to show you. Yes i know it sounds like my voice cracks in the video, freakin coughed in the middle of yellin his name.

[Falcon Boy]

Flew goose only about 10 min today because of high wind and dust storms