[redtail]

Hi,

Just discovered the forum and spent some time looking at previous posts and marketing.

I have an interest in most living things but tend to major on smaller animals plus poultry, fancy pigeons and particularly birds of prey.  I am a practicing falconer and have been since 1949 (one day I'l get it right).  While my main interest is the flying of hunting birds and the teaching of others, I also keep bees, ferrets and poultry.  I have recently obtained a small area of land where shortly I will be able to increase my poultry flock and add pigs. In my square peg in a round hole suburban garden I am fortunate to have very tolerant neighbour's, although my stock is generally quiet. I did have peacocks for a while but they went when I thought I might be pushing my luck.I used to keep a stud of lilac rex rabbits for show, fur and meat, but now rely on the resurgence of the wild rabbit and hare - hawks providing me with both.

A you might have guessed from the time spent with birds of prey, I am not in the first flush and, trying, not very successfully, to wind down but its difficult when there are so many interesting things to do.

Redtail

[jameslindsay]

Hi Redatil, welcome. I think once you start with animals it is hard to give them up. I started with a dog years ago and now have over 50 animals, all pets.

[Rosemary]

Hi and welcome!

I start my beekeeping course at the end of January - am a little anxious about it. Love birds of prey - got a wee shot at Cntre Parcs years ago. What a thrill it was.

[HappyHippy]

Hello and welcome from me in South Lanarkshire 
I too have had a wee go at falconry and loved it. Would dearly love to get a bird of my own, but only when the kids are older and I can spend the time it needs on it.
Good luck with your plans for expansion, but be warned - pigs are really addictive
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Karen

I've just had a nosey at your website, lovely photos of your birds

[CameronS]

Hi, welcome from a snowing again fife.
 Out of interest what birds of prey do you work? My uncle works Birds but i could not for the life of me remember the breeds.  I started with two ferrets 3 years ago as pets, and now work a team of 6. They just seemed to multiply by magic   

[sandy]

Hello and WOW

I am a practicing falconer and have been since 1949

our eyes lit up when we read your post, we also know someone who is a falconer, not sure if he still is but my son in law used to supply him with rabbitts from his shooting expo's, we re very keen, well my OH was.....I love the idea more!!!! WHere are you?? sorry, being a bit selfish here.....welcom, really really look forward to some tales and piccies from you....and it's a bit lot icy and cold here in Clackmannan.

[sandy]

Just took a look at your web site as I was so impressed, very nice!!

[redtail]

Being beyond the age of understanding anything technical - I'm OK with most living things, I reply to all those who have made me welcome so far in one hit.

James:  50 - all pets.  I try to treat pets and workers with the same consideration, although you don't get much love reciprocated from raptors.

Rosemary: Strikes me as a trifle early to start your beekeeping course-  They are, or should be, still torpid at that time.  However, a gently intro to a hive before they are fully awake may be a good thing.

Happy Hippy:  Birds are prey are almost the most time consuming things I have ever kept (Roller Canaries bred for song are the MOST!   The trouble is that like pigs, they are very additictive.  I started in 1949 with a little Kestrel, quite the wrong bird, and my collection peaked at 24 birds being flown plus several breeding pairs.  Glad you liked the website.  It needs an update as some birds are dead now.

CameronS:  Currently I am flying several Harris Hawks(I used to fly 6 together which was exciting until they all arrive at the glove/arm/shoulder at once) Red-tailed Hawks much loved hence my pen name, my one remaining Buzzard, aSakeret (male Saker falcon) a Luggerfalcon and a gyr falcon.  I  no longer have any Peregrines, my male, shown flying on my website, died aged 19 last year, although I am currently caring for a wild peregrine which has no wing feathers on one side - when he grows new ones he will go out into the wild world.  Ferrets - I  wrote a book on ferrets 30 years ago.  Just have a few now - still love em to bits. Don't breed them any more just replace them with some from my original stock when I need some.

Sandy:  Pictures and stories   Hmm - might be a bit blood and guts although to be honest, whenever one of my birds, feerets or dogs catches something I almost never have a camera  - don't want to offend anyone although smallholders should be aware of the facts of hunting life. I carry out pest control on  medium size estate with dogs, ferrets and mostly hawks.  Just lately my Saluki is thinning the rabbit population at quite a rate.

I think thats all questions answered except  I am in the South of England - sunny (well very wet actually) Woking in Surrey.  A high proportion of my suburban neighbours think I am completely bonkers although one makes his own vodka and we make sloe and damson gin together.  Next year we are going to have a crack at cider.

[doganjo]

Rosemary: Strikes me as a trifle early to start your beekeeping course-  They are, or should be, still torpid at that time.  However, a gently intro to a hive before they are fully awake may be a good thing.

My course isn't scheduled until March/April for that reason

[redtail]

 
My course isn't scheduled until March/April for that reason
[/quote]

They will be awake then - Oh Yes!  I hope you enjoy the course - we need beekeepers. Until recently it seemed that most were old codgers like me but young people are taking on bees.  Many keepers are losing stocks each winter and giving up so new people are vital.  There is nothing like your own honey on new bread with lashings of butter

Have you heard that when a beekeeper dies you must tell him bees or they too will die.  Nonsense bees are (a) deaf, and (b) Italian.
Nice story though.

[marigold]

Hi and welcome from Angus. I have been looking into bees too. So much to do, so little time.

[little blue]

Hello Redtail, and welcome. From a currently rainy, but previously very icy and snowy Derbyshire!

[redtail]

Hello Little Blue thanks for your welcome.  Surrey is wet and cold tonight after a wet but mild day. Only activity for me today was to walk my dogs.  The saluki hates rain and tries to walk between my legs while the JR swims in every pond and runs through every puddle.  I'm not too enthusiastic about rain - or snow. Looking forward to some dry days.

[little blue]

Got a german sheherd abit like that, she loves the shower, taps, puddles and snow... but if she has to go out in the rain she is very reluctant to wee and much prefers to do it in the house! (dirty girl!)

[redtail]

Little Blue
Had that for the first two years. The 'thin thing', as she is known, sleeps in the conservatory with a flap access to outside - she seemed unable to recognise the difference between stone tines and concrete slabs, but she grew out of it.  She has access to outside to deal with foxes. She can't get to them in time as the garden fences are a quick escape route but she drives them off.