07 Imprint Sharpie

[Lee]

I was told the sharpies hatched, so off I went to collect my bird. All the birds in the nest my friend found were around 5 days old and under so they were perfect for imprinting. There were 5 chicks all together in the nest, and they all were very healthy. I picked the second from the smallest chick, I am hoping its a male but at this age you cant tell unless you DNA it, I will wait. It ate right off the bat and hasnt stopped since, I am feeding it a diet of whole birds that I have plucked and removed the heads and intestines then I ran them threw a meat grinder, the bird loves it. I will keep a post on its training I plan on using the recipe technic. Lee

[Lee]

[Lee]

[Lee]

[Lee]

[Takasho]

[smilie=icon_thumright.gif] Congrats! [smilie=banana.gif] [smilie=eusa_clap.gif] [smilie=icon_pidu.gif]

[everetkhorton]

Lee: What was the area like that the nest was found in? Such a small bird to keep alive. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Lee]

[Lee]

This Stand of pines was surounded by hardwoods and had a small clearing nearby, classic sharpy habitat. LEE

[kimmerar]

Congradulations Lee. [smilie=banana.gif] Thanks so much for keeping a log.

They are small. Can't wait to watch it grow.

Is this your first sharpie???

I hope someday to get a sharpie myself. Your logs will be a great help. I'm reading mikes book right now. My husband won a receiver at our club picnic yesterday [smilie=banana.gif] - that sure gets me closer.

Thanks again

[Lee]

Thanks, yes this my first sharpy I have been wanting to fly one since I got into the sport I love the little guys.

[everetkhorton]

Lee: Thanks for the pictures. I know some spots just like the pictures. I banded some passage SSHA this spring. No big single daily flight this year. They strong out. I trapped 26 and missed a Rt. and Marsh Hawk.

[Lee]

After working with the bird all day it is now feeding itself off the food dish, It was neat watching it grab at its food with that little beak, now all it has to learn is how to use those feet.

[Lee]

[Lee]

[everetkhorton]

Lee: What are you useing for bedding. It looks like ground up egg cartons [smilie=dontknow.gif]

[Lee]

Its a type of bedding you buy from a petstore its called carefresh its made from recycled newspaper. It is very absorbant and masks odor very well it is also dust free and it doesnt harm the birds if they eat some accidently we have used it on harris hawks,falcons,kestrels, and owls with no problems it is also very soft and helps prevent splayed legs, I wont use anything else.

[wesleyc6]

Lee,
I can't wait to hear all about the sharpie. I am a big fan too, but I have never even seen one be hunted. I have talked with some guys that I know are hard hunters and to hear them describe them is amazing! I hope you do really well with him!

[everetkhorton]

Wes: I had a friend the flew a SSHA and said it was the hardest bird he ever flew and took the most time. These small bird are tough!

[`Chris L.]

Lee,
Great job on the Sharpie [smilie=eusa_clap.gif] . Very nie. Thank you for taking the time to post a log. I know I will enjoy reading it.

Again congrats he looks great [smilie=icon_pidu.gif]

[kimmerar]

Lee - thanks so much. Can you put a quarter next to it in the next set of pictures for a size comparison?

Keep up the good work.

Ev - the carefresh is used for cats that have been declawed - I use to use it for parrots too. Good stuff.

[Lee]

Here it is with the lure, the bottom shows hin standing on a Qtip for size compairson.

[Lee]

Grown a little bit today [smilie=icon_pidu.gif]

[Lee]

Today the chick was taken out of the brooder it isnt shivering like it was the day before so I think the chick is now starting to thermo regulate, plus the extra down growing in is keeping it warmer. We did alot of socializing today the bird was around my wife and 2 year old all afternoon and tonight, it did great no fear at all towards them. I also have been touching its feet and body getting it use to my hands coming towards it, it loved it when I rubbed his back and under the chin the eyass started preening right away and nibbling at my fingers he loves it those new feathers coming in are sore..

Preening

Here it is playing with the bedding as I rub its back.

[Jimmy]

How are you brooding it?

[Lee]

Its actually a converted a cat litter box. It has a plexy glass front for a door and in the back it has a ceramic heating element attatched. I plug that into a reptile thermostat so I can set the temp to what I want.

[Lee]

Today the bird is 9 -10 days old and it weighed 80 grams I am thinking its a female.

[Jimmy]

How about a pic of the brooder? I'm sure someone besides me is interested in seeing it.

[kimmerar]

I'd like to see the brooder. Sounds inexpensive.

[`Chris L.]

Its actually a converted a cat litter box. It has a plexy glass front for a door and in the back it has a ceramic heating element attatched. I plug that into a reptile thermostat so I can set the temp to what I want.

Lee great Idea with the thermostat.. are you suing a Ranco or a proportional?

I will use that for sure when ever I get some chicks. [smilie=icon_thumright.gif]

The sharpie is looking great. Were you hoping for a female?

[Lee]

I will snap some pics of the brooder soon. The thermo stat is made by big apple supple company.

[Lee]

Here's a few pics of the chick trying to get its legs under itself. Came close too I might add.

[everetkhorton]

Lee:
Looking good!

[Lee]

10 days old weighed 90 grams its a female and her name is Minny.

[Lee]