How's The Moult Going?

mje · How's The Moult Going?

We're nearly there aren't we?
Anybody's bird finsihed moulting yet and better still anybody got their bird flying again - no Big Lad (Sean) not huntin just flying:lol.
Lets have an update.
Cal my MHH should be finished by mid-August (I hope).
Cheers
M

killiwee

my mhh only has 1 full tail feather down and 4 more half way so far thats all hes dropped hes very slow this is his 1st moult..mark

mje

Thanks for the reply Mark. I wonder where the rest of the guys are - maybe they are all out flying their birds already:lol. Come on guys lets here from you.
M

Sean

mje

Big lad hopefully the race will be on by then:lol
M

mje

Just a quick update (mainly for Sean's benefit). Pulled Cal yesterday so he's back on the bowperch and I have started to re-man him today. Still a bit batey on the glove. But he dozed off this evening for 5 mins on the glove- something he's never done before. Of course it could be he was just plain bored with my company :lol. Now its back to 'Weight Watchers' for him so he can get his figure (and responsiveness) back :lol.
Cheers
M

Sean

the race is on

what about the anklets and jesses then lol? i made you 2 sets each

mje

Don't worry they're spares. By the way I think we can barter for them (fresh quail & DOCs) What do you think lol:
M

Sean

will only need docs now, cutting him down to 1 a day now, and pickign him up on sunday. how'd you get on today with cal?

mje

Not too bad. Had him out on the pole perch for a good part of the day while I cleaned and power hosed his mews and weathering. Managed half an hour sitting with him on the glove in the afternoon still a bit wary which is only to be expected with him sitting at 1lb 8 ozs. Only gave him a couple of chick legs but will let him have a ('washed') rabbit leg tomorrow all being well.
M

DitchShitter

What an amazing read!

mje

Thanks DS. But really its just the usual banter between me and the 'big lad'.
Ask him about our bet.
Cheers
M

Sean

Well then! Paul called down today to cast rolf, and fit him with the new gear for the season, disaster struck, when i went into the avairy and seen a brand new deck feather on the floor! hes started to remoult! as well as this, alot of downy feathers were coming off him later in the day. anyway caught him and put all the gear on, except the tail mount

and weighed him. weighed in at a whooping 1lb 11 and a half ounces! ( i blame MJE's quail for it lol) so it will be at least a 1 or 2 before we will be in the field

anyway, heres a pic of him all geared up, not the best of pics, i know lol

mje

Oh dear what can I possibly say :lol. I gave you my very best quail - it must just be the way I fed them :lol.
Anyway the wager remains in place :lol.
M

mje

New gear fitted (anklets,permanent flying jesses, and tail mount) - just trying to get the b***ers weight down and todays warm weather hasn't been a great deal of help. Had him on the pole perch for a couple of hours am and gave him a couple of nice showers with the hose. Boy did he enjoy them. So no food or tid bits today. Will test his response on the creance tomorrow.
M

mje

Yesterday (Thursday) took Cal to my training ground (a biggish field :lol) and tried getting him to fly long flights on the creance. Just managed one flight about 25-30 yards before he decided he wanted to view things from nearby trees. So I didn't push my luck and called it a day.
Today I just flew him on a heavier creance in the backyard (10 feet or so) for washed DOC pieces and got a good prompt response for each tidbit. At the minute the weight just seems to be glued to him :lol so its just a matter of perseverance with his weight reduction.
M

Sean

what weight is he at? ive rolf down to 1lb 8.5, tried him jumoing leash length, and he was very very slow. still alot more to go, but hard to take weight of in this weather, only getting about 2 legs a day. if all goes to plan, how about a hunt next saturday?

mje

I was getting various weights (honest) mainly because I was weighing him with mews jesses swivel and leash - trying to hold the leash and swivel up off the scales. Was really pi**ed of with this so this morning stripped him down to flying jesses only and he weighed in at 1lb 7.5 ozs , which believe it or not is not far off what I was getting with the previous method.
Even at that weight he is keen enough to fly (in the back yard!!!). I'm just wondering if his flying weight is going to be higher than I suspect it should be - 1lb 6 - 1lb 6.5 which would be good. As for a hunt next Saturday no problem, but I'll let you know better mid-week. Ionly hope you haven't tempted fate for the both of us by suggesting a hunt :lol
M

Sean

just let the swivel and leash hang, then its the same everytime

mje

Thats what the actress said to the bishop - couldn't resist that :lol
It would be sensible to let the swivel and leash both hang - but when have I ever done the sensible thing?????
M

Sean

10 yards tonight at local pitches, though he was terrible getting into the box!
also seen a few rabbits at the pitches, one of which was bluey grey colour

mje

Bluey grey won't count - it has to be the authentic colour ok :lol
M

Sean

blood hell, 3 days and only dropped 0.1 ounce, been feed about 2 wings and 2 legs a day, and flying 20 yards or so, weight shed off last week too and now its slowed right down, how are you getting on in dropping cals weight.

mje

"how are you getting on in dropping cals weight" - terrible thanks:lol
Took the bull by the horns this afternoon and flew Cal free at 1lb 6.75 ozs.
Got a great response for 3/4 of the circuit (around the forest) then met a farmer on a quad herding 3 cows. Needless to say Cal got spooked and flew off about 50 yards to trees outside the edge of the forest. Coaxed him and cursed him and he came back indirectly got him on the fist and jessed him up and called a day - didn't want to overdo my blood pressure :lol. By the looks of things his flying weight's going to be 1lb 6ozs. I'm certainly not going to chance it much higher than that.
Big lad as with Rolf I'm finding it more difficult this year to get the weight down.
M

Sean

1lb 7.3

good stuff! good session tonight, dispite the fact that rabbits all over the place where distracting him at the start

he was flyign full creance length instantly. then gave him to runs at lure, which resulted in twice the length of the creance both times, so 2 80 yard flights.. on way back tried him from tree, very bad response

was fairly windy too. so hopefully him weight should be below 1lb 7 tomorrow, and he will be going free

mje

Hope all goes well tomorrow for you but remember only authentically coloured bunnies will be counted:lol

Sean

well cmon lads, anyone else finnished the moult yet?