Hawks & falcons

Starvation / hypoglycemia

SignsWeight below the training baseline, wobbling, drooped wings, unable to grip, seizures, dull responses

PreventionWeigh at the same time every morning. Set the flying weight with your vet and never cut weight abruptly. Energy needs rise in winter

Trichomoniasis (frounce)

SignsYellow-white cheesy masses in the mouth or throat, mouth held open, dropping food because it cannot swallow, foul odor, weight loss

PreventionPigeons are the most dangerous source. Never feed raw wild pigeon; freeze pigeon feed and remove the head and crop

Aspergillosis

SignsOpen-mouth breathing, respiratory noise, loss of voice, tail bobbing with each breath, weight loss. Especially common in goshawks and peregrines

PreventionAvoid straw, hay and damp bedding; ventilate. High-stress periods such as transport and early manning need extra vigilance and prompt vet visits

Bumblefoot (pododermatitis)

SignsRedness, black scabs or swelling on the foot pads, avoiding the perch and standing on one leg, deformed toes

PreventionAvoid hard, thin perches; use artificial turf or rope-wrapped perches. Prevent obesity and overgrown talons; inspect the foot pads daily

Lead poisoning

SignsGreen droppings, wobbling, drooped wings, seizures, loss of appetite. Caused by shot in hunted prey

PreventionAlways remove shot and lead fragments from hunted or gifted prey. Do not feed prey of unknown origin

Pigeon pox / viral disease

SignsWart-like growths around the beak, eyelids and feet, lethargy. Transmitted from pigeons

PreventionNever feed raw wild pigeon. Quarantine new birds for 2 weeks and have droppings and the mouth tested

Hanging by a tangled leash

PreventionTether with a swivel and keep the leash shorter than the perch height. Never tether where you cannot see the bird

First aidFirst support the bird to take the load off its legs, then untangle. Swollen legs or inability to grip suggest a fracture: see a vet the same day

Wing or leg fracture

PreventionFly only in obstacle-free areas. Use a cage design that cannot trap feet in mesh; avoid contact with wild animals

First aidDo not touch; hood the bird and keep it warm in a dark box. Do not splint it yourself; transport immediately to a hospital that treats raptors

Talon or foot lacerations

PreventionFeet get cut on prey or wire fencing. Keep talons trimmed and wash and inspect the feet and talons after every hunt

First aidRinse with saline and apply pressure with clean gauze. Lost talons and deep wounds infect easily: see a vet the same day

Collision / crash

PreventionFree-fly only where there are few power lines, windows and cars. Do not fly a bird that is full or stressed

First aidAfter retrieving, hood the bird and keep it dark and quiet. Head tilt, a drooping wing or bleeding: see a vet immediately. Do not fly it

Talon puncture wounds

RouteThe bird grips with its feet and the sharp talons penetrate deeply

PreventionAlways handle with thick gloves. Rinse punctures under running water; if deep, see a doctor (surgery) the same day

Salmonellosis

RouteOral, via hands that touched raw feed, prey or droppings

PreventionWash hands after preparing feed and handling the bird. Use a separate cutting board and knife for feed

Psittacosis

RouteInhaling dust from dried droppings

PreventionMist droppings before cleaning and wear a mask. If you develop fever or cough, tell your doctor you keep birds

Avian influenza

RouteContact with wild birds and wild prey

PreventionDo not feed wild waterfowl. Avoid outdoor tethering during outbreaks and do not touch dead wild birds

Food

• Fully thawed frozen quail, chicks, mice or rats once a day
• Adjust the amount by weight and season; on training days, time feeding to the training
• Whole prey including bones and organs. Always freeze pigeon and remove the head and crop

Water

• Replace a shallow, wide bathing/drinking dish daily
• When tethered in summer, keep water in the shade at all times to prevent dehydration

Toys & play

• Recall training to the lure and glove is the best stimulation
• No toys needed. Hide food and let the bird search for it
• Provide a bathing dish daily to encourage feather care

Nest, bed & hideout

• Block perch or bow perch wrapped with artificial turf or rope
• A recessed perch inside the enclosure, sheltered from wind, rain and view

Bedding & litter

• Gravel or newspaper on the floor; remove droppings daily
• Do not use straw or hay; they breed mold
• Wipe droppings and blood off the perch daily

Cage / housing material

Wooden frame with vertical bars or soft netting. Wire mesh damages feathers and feet

Size & space

Deep enough to spread the wings and fly between perches. At least 2 m square and 2 m high

Layout

• Several perches at different heights, set more than a wingspan from the walls
• Place a shallow bathing dish in a sunny spot
• Fit a double door and a roof to prevent escape and wild-bird intrusion

Placement notes

• A quiet spot out of sight of dogs, cats and passing people
• Outdoors, avoid direct sun and build so crows and wild birds cannot approach

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Train daily in short sessions; build recall gradually from a creance (long line)
• Check weight and weather before free flight and always fit a transmitter
• Tether a few hours a day, always within sight

Temperature & humidity

Temperature10–25°C. Tolerates cold but is vulnerable to heat

Humidity50–60%. Avoid damp and mold; ventilate

Summer & winter

• Summer: train only in the early morning, provide shade and bathing, never leave in a car
• Winter: food needs rise. Avoid wind, rain and condensation; increase food based on weight

Nail trimming

Overgrown talons pierce the foot pad and cause bumblefoot. Trim only the tip with dedicated clippers. Cutting too short causes bleeding

Brushing, skin & coat care

Not needed. Bathing and preening keep the plumage in order. For broken flight or tail feathers, consult your vet about imping (feather grafting)

Other care

Leave beak coping (reshaping) to a specialist. Check the skin under the jesses and anklets and the swivel daily

Protection from predators

• Watch for attacks by crows, cats, kites and weasels while tethered outdoors
• Never keep in the same space as dogs or cats. Supervise at all times while tethered
• Control mosquitoes and ticks with screens and cleaning; keep wild birds out

Foreign-body ingestion

The bird may swallow leash, transmitter cord, shot or fishing line. Always inspect prey; a distended crop, vomiting or green droppings: see a vet the same day

Being stepped on

Birds on the ground during training get stepped on. Watch your footing and do not bring dogs. Do not fly in crowds

Getting pinched

Feet and wings get caught in doors, car doors and cage mesh. Transport in a dedicated box; never let the bird loose inside a car

Falls

Hanging from the perch by a tangled leash is the most common accident. Prevent it with a swivel and correct length; if you find the bird hanging, support it first

Escape

Birds are most often lost when full or in strong wind. Fit a transmitter and GPS; if it flies off, track it with recall food, and notify the police, public health center and social media

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving; support the bird so it is not putting weight on its feet
2. Cover its eyes with a hood or cloth to darken
3. Open the toes one by one from behind, releasing from the talon tips
4. Place on the glove or a perch and leave it unstimulated for a while

After the release

Talon punctures are deep and infect easily. Rinse under running water and apply pressure. Swelling, heat or pus: see a doctor (surgery)

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Weight log, feeding details, type of prey, photos of droppings, CITES registration certificate. Confirm in advance that the hospital treats raptors

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Consciousness: remove the hood and check eye movement and response to stimuli
• Breathing: rise and fall of the chest, tail movement, whether the mouth is open
• Heartbeat: place a finger beside the keel. Normal is fast and regular

Stopping bleeding

• Press with clean gauze for several minutes; do not pull feathers
• For talon or beak bleeding, press on styptic powder or cornstarch
• Deep wounds on wings or feet: transport while applying pressure

Transport

• Hood the bird and place it in a dark box too small for the wings to spread
• Non-slip lining on the floor; do not jolt, and keep heating or air conditioning from blowing directly on it