Avian Husbandry - Hawks, Pigeons, Waterfowl etc Flashcards
List raptors
Falcons, Hawks, Buzzards, Eagles, Owls & Vultures
What is the purpose of a tail guard?
Protect tail feathers if hospitialised
Bod weight of a Harris Hawk
550-880g (m), 825-1200g (f)
When do Harris Hawks reach sexual matuirty
2-3 years
Maximum lifespan of a Harris Hawk
20 years
Harris Hawk as a Falconry Bird
Good for beginners, Very intelligent (easy socilaise & train), Common behaioural problems - Feahter plucking & aggression
Tiercel
Male falon
Mews
Housing
Aylmeri
Anklet, loop of leather round tarsometatarsus with brass eyelet for jess
Jesses
Leather strap passed through alymetri to restrain bird on glove
Mutes
Droppings
Bate
To fly off the glove in panic when tethered
To cast
Restrain bird round shoulders/Regurgitate indigestible fur/feathers
Handling Raptors
Restrain feet first (except vultures),
Falcontry birds restrained on glove,
Equipment individually fitted,
Hoods for falcons,
Wildlife cast in towel,
Owls & ealges & vultures may try to bite, vultures often regurgitate, 2 handlers needed for large raptors
Sexing raptors
Many raptors monomorphic but females are usually larger than males, DNA sexing or Endoscopy
Identifiction for Ratpros
Closed ring, Micrchipped left pectoral region, Independent bird register for ratpros, Indigenous captive-bred raptros but be rung and regisered to DEFRA (Article 10 licence under CITES)
Diet & Nutrtion of Raptors
Whole prey best, Casting should occur within 12 hours of feeding, Water provided for drinking & bathing
Common diet related diseases in raptors
Metabolic bone disease, Wild-caught food risk, Avian TB, Lead ingestion, Fatty liver-kindet syndrom
Housing Raptors
Free-lofting is best in brick or wooden aviary with 3 solid sides and wire mesh front, Falconry birds may be tether to purte during flying season & moved to shelter at night, During closed season left undisturbe to molt or breed in aviary, Swviel feeders & Shallow water tray for bathing
When is flying season for raptors?
August - Feburary
What perches can be used?
Falcons - Block perches, Hawks - Bow perches covered with astroturf
Why would you use Skylight seclusion in an aviary & how would you accomplish this?
For nervous birds & breeding pairs/ 4 Solid sides
What substrate is suitable for an avirary?
Gravel, sand, soil (risk of endoparasites)
Purpose for keeping pigeons
Racing, showing, Zoos & Meat in the US
What is it meant by pigeons pairs are monogamous?
They mate for life
What is pigeon fencing lung also known as?
Allergic alveolitis
Body weight of a pigeon
0.24-2Kg
When do pigeons reach sexual matuiry?
4 months
Lifespan of pigeons
15-20 years
Heart rate of pigeons
160-300bpm
Respiratory rate of pigeons
20-30bpm
Flying speed of a pigeon
> 100 km/hr
Pigeon handling
Support body & Wings under-control, Do not restric sternal movements, Horizontal hold, Racing pigeon hold = rest hand between feet held between 1st & 2nd finger and wings kept under control with the thmb and 1st finger
Sexing pigeons
Monomorphic but males slightly larger, Fanciers distiguish different behaviours (fanning taily & strutting), DNA sexing or Endocsopy
ID of pigeon
Ring placed before 5 days old, Racing pigeon also have a passport
Pigeon diet
Mixed cereals & pulses/pellets with Vit & Min supplements,
Some grit should be provided,
Different deits for breeding, rearing, racing, moulting and winter rest
What do wild pigeons often eat?
Fruit, vegitation and small invertberates + grains and seeds
Pigeon housing
Racing - kept in lofts, seperates lofts for young, breeding & racing,
good ventiltation,
dry,
absorbent dust free substrate,
separate perching for each bird,
large outdoor flights with covered shelters and nest boxses for breeding
What is meant be Passerines?
Perhcing or Song birds (Canaries, Finches, Exotic softbills (Mynahs)
Hardbills vs Softbills in Passerines
Hardbills - seeds,
Softbills - Fruit & Insects
Body weight of passerines
Canary: 12-30g; Finches: 10-16g
Max lifespan of passerines
Canary: 20-25 (5-15); Finches: 15(5)
Handling Passerines
Stressed easily, Dimming lights, Ringer grip, Hold in cloth
Sexing passerines
Finches Dimorphic - Males more colourful
Canaries Monomorphic - Males sing, Females Chirp & Whistle, DNA Sexing, Males often perform courtship displays
ID on Passerines
Closed ring fitted at 6-8 days, Split rings whenever
Passerines Diet
Granivores (Seed only inadequate lead to poor feathers, soft shelled eggs, egg binding & obesity) often need Vit & Min supplementation.
Grit not essential, some required green, live food (gut-loaded) or egg specific food during breeding season (increase protein).
Softbills often fed live food, fruit and/or pellets - prone to iron-storage disease
Passerine Housing
Mixed aviaries, pairs of diff species can be kept together, outdoor aviaries - protected from elements, covered roof, place feeders and water containers in night-room to encourage indoor nesting) Fanceires keep pairs small boxes during breeding season
Why are some ducks domesticated?
For meat & eggs
Are ducks monogamous?
Yes
Important points of waterfowl
Geese like to live in flocks, Precocial chicks - Nidifugous, Should have access to water, Some completel annual moult after breeding season
Ornamental waterfowl are often pinioned, what does this mean?
Occurs on birds up to 10 days of age & carried out consciout, permited mutilation (vets only), after 10 days required anaesthetic, Cut occurs between the carpus and metacarpus
Body weight of ducks
0.4-4kg
Body weight of geese
2-4kg
Body weight of swans
6-12kg
Sexual maturity of ducks
1 year
Sexual maturity of geese
2 years
Sexual maturity of swans
3-5 years
Lifespan of ducks
10-20years old
Lifespan of geese
15-30
Lifespan of swans
25-32
Incubation period of ducks
23-33 days
Incubation period of geese
22-32 days
Incubation period of swans
30-40 days
Clutch size of mallards
8-12eggs
Clutch size of Mute swans
4-8eggs
Heart rate of water fowl
80-250 pbm (swans
Handling waterofwl
~Aggressie, Large swans & Geese - Graps neck below head and place other arm around body to restrain wings, Swan bags useful, Flamings- Care to prevent leg damage, Keep one finger between hocks to prevent abrasions
Sexing waterfowl
Often dimorphic, Male has erectile phallus (seen if cloaca everted), DNA sexing & Endoscopy
ID waterfowl
Rings on Tarsometarsus, Micrchip in left pectoral region
Waterfowl Diet & Nutrtion
Proprietary diet best - float pellets useful, Unspplemented grains (wheat, maize nutrinally inadequate), Grit important esp if grains are fed, Provide water with dry feed to prevent impaction, Supplemental greens can be given to ducks and geese - Should allow geese to graze
Housing waterfowl
Best kept outdoors, Ducks & Swans require pool, Perching ducks require perches, Floor - Prone to pododermatitis (bumblefoot) if kept on rough surfaces, Tropical species may require winter housing, Predator proof