Majestic yet fierce, falcons have captivated humans for thousands of years with their speed, grace, and hunting prowess. If you’ve ever dreamed of having one of these incredible raptors as a pet, you’re not alone – but deciding to care for a falcon requires serious consideration.
In short: Falcons require substantial expertise, facilities, time and money to keep them healthy and happy as pets. With proper commitment, though, they can be rewarding avian companions.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know before welcoming one of these birds into your home, including ideal living conditions, specialized care requirements, costs, legal restrictions and more.
We’ll also showcase some of the pros and cons of falcon ownership to help you determine if sharing your life with one of nature’s most regal hunters is the right choice.
Understanding Falcon Behavior and Needs
Key Traits and Attributes
Falcons are incredibly intelligent birds of prey known for their speed, agility, and keen eyesight. Some of their key traits include:
- Highly trainable – Falcons can be trained to hunt, return to their handler, and perform aerial stunts.
- Independent – While they bond strongly with their human, falcons are still wild animals that exhibit natural hunting behaviors.
- Require lots of exercise and stimulation – Regular flying and time outside the mews are essential.
- Fast fliers – Falcons like the Peregrine are the fastest birds on earth, reaching over 200 mph during dives.
Ideal Housing and Facilities
Falcons require specialized housing called a mews. The mews should include:
- A secluded, draft-free area protected from excessive sun, wind, and rain.
- Perches at varying heights for resting and exercising talons.
- Plenty of room for flying between perches.
- Outdoor space for flying and sunlight.
- Smooth surfaces for easy cleaning.
The mews must be kept clean with proper air circulation. Proximity to outdoor flying areas is ideal.
Exercise and Training Requirements
Regular flying and exercise are crucial for falcon health and training:
- Most falcons should have at least 2-3 sessions flying outdoors per day, weather permitting.
- Free loft flying allows exercise of wings and keeps muscles strong.
- Luring teaches the falcon to follow a swinging lure and return to the handler.
- As the bird becomes fit, flying farther distances develops stamina.
- Interacting with the handler maintains the bond.
Dietary Needs
Falcons are carnivores requiring a diet of:
- Whole prey like rats, quail, pigeons based on the falcon’s size.
- Vitamin supplements added to food especially calcium and vitamin D3.
- Clean, fresh water always available.
Overfeeding can cause serious health issues. Adjust food amounts based on activity level and weight maintenance.
Grooming and Healthcare
Regular falcon grooming and health checks are essential:
- Bathing helps keep feathers clean and healthy.
- Inspect feet and beaks for cracks or injury.
- Weigh regularly to monitor weight trends.
- Annual vet exams and bloodwork check for issues.
- Watch for signs of illness and treat promptly.
Common Health Issues
Some common falcon health issues include:
- Bumblefoot – inflamed footpad, requires antibiotics.
- Fatty liver disease from obesity.
- Trichomoniasis – parasite infection, can be fatal.
- Stress fractures – from nutritional deficiencies.
- Aspergillosis – fungal infection often from dirty mews.
Prevention through proper care, nutrition and housing is key. Know the signs of illness and seek vet care promptly when issues arise.
The Realities and Commitment of Falcon Ownership
Time Commitment
Owning a falcon requires a significant time investment. These magnificent birds are not pets that can be left alone for long periods. They require daily interactions, training, and exercise to thrive. Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours per day working hands-on with your bird.
This includes feeding, weighing, bathing, training, and flying or exercising. Falconry is a lifestyle more than just a hobby. Be prepared to make your bird a central part of your daily routine.
Financial Investment
In addition to dedicating your time, owning a falcon represents a considerable financial investment. Costs include housing, equipment, veterinary care, food, and permits/licenses. Expect to spend $2,000-$5,000 just getting started. Ongoing costs for food and healthcare can run $200-$500 per month.
Make sure you are financially prepared before taking on the rewarding challenge of falcon ownership.
Sourcing Your Bird Legally
Falcons are protected species, so obtaining one requires careful research and adherence to regulations. In most areas, you must possess falconry permits and apprentice under a licensed falconer before obtaining your first bird. Captive-bred falcons can cost $1,000-$3,000.
Do your homework to find reputable breeders with USFWS and state-issued permits. Trapping a wild falcon is an option once licensed, but availability depends on your location. Work closely with your state’s wildlife agency to source your bird legally.
Travel and Care Considerations
One appeal of falconry is adventuring with your bird in the field. But traveling with a falcon requires planning and diligence. Bring transport housing, perches, food, scales, and other supplies. Maintain a consistent diet and weigh your bird daily. Monitor temperature and ventilation.
Let your bird stretch her wings and get fresh air regularly. Research airline policies and document your licenses and permits if flying. Enjoy the journey, but put your falcon’s wellbeing first.
Best Practices for Falcon Husbandry and Training
Establishing Trust and Bonding
To care for a falcon, the most vital step is creating mutual trust and respect between handler and bird (see The Modern Apprentice). Spend time near the falcon’s mews allowing it to become comfortable with your presence.
Offer tasty tidbits as positive reinforcement when the bird remains calm around you. Over time, the falcon will come to associate you with rewards and look forward to your visits. Patience and consistency are key in building the human-falcon bond.
Important Commands to Teach
Using consistent verbal cues, teach your falcon commands like “up” to fly to your glove and “no” if they attempt undesirable behaviors. Always reward desired actions. Useful commands include “rouse” to take flight, “bates” to return from bating, and “wait” when preparing their food.
With regular positive reinforcement training sessions, falcons will quickly learn these essential directions.
Best Rewards for Positive Reinforcement
Food rewards motivate falcons best. Offer tiny meat tidbits immediately when your bird correctly follows a cue. Avoid overfeeding, however, as weight gain can prevent flight. Useful options are chick/quail hearts, lean beef, and rabbit meat.
Over time, phase out food rewards for simple tasks, rewarding only more advanced behaviors. But always end each session with a treat. Your falcon will anticipate this with excitement, further strengthening your bond.
Enrichment Activities
Prevent boredom and encourage natural behaviors in your falcon with enrichment items. Introduce new perches, toys, and flying exercises to spark their hunting drives. Set up squirrel or bird lures for them to chase. Intelligence toys like puzzle feeders also give mental stimulation.
Rotate new items regularly to keep things exciting. Enrichment is key for a healthy, engaged, well-adjusted falcon companion.
Safety Precautions
Potential Hazard | Safety Precautions |
---|---|
Other pets | Supervise closely, keep separate if needed |
Toxic substances | Lock away toxic cleaners, lead, zinc |
Windows and mirrors | Apply stickers or screens |
Loose hazardous items | Remove pins, tacks, exposed wires |
Falcons explore the world with their sharp beaks and talons. To falcon-proof your home, address hazards they could ingest or that could entangle them. Supervise the bird fully outside mews. With some preparation for safety, you can protect your feathered companion.
The Pros and Cons of Falcon Companions
Reasons to Consider Owning a Falcon
Falcons make incredible companion birds for the right owner. Here are some of the main benefits of sharing your home with one of these majestic raptors:
- Intelligence – Falcons are incredibly smart birds. They can be trained to hunt, perform aerial stunts, and interact with their owner. Training exercises provide stimulating mental enrichment.
- Beauty – With striking patterns and colors, falcons have an undeniable regal beauty about them. Watching them fly and glide gracefully is a breathtaking experience.
- Bonding – Falcons form close bonds with their owners and handlers. They are affectionate birds who enjoy spending time with “their person.” It’s a special relationship.
- Conservation – Falconry helps promote the conservation of raptors in the wild. Falcon owners have a vested interest in protecting habitats and populations.
- Impressive Hunters – Falconry allows you to experience the thrill of hunting alongside your formidable feathered companion.
For the right falconer, owning one of these birds is an incredibly rewarding experience. The opportunity to work closely and fly with such an amazing predator in the sky is like no other.
Potential Downsides to Falcon Ownership
However, raising a falcon does come with some notable challenges and drawbacks to consider:
- Space Needs – Falcons require large aviaries and plenty of outdoor flight space to thrive. This limits housing options.
- Time Commitment – Falconry is very time intensive. Birds need daily interactions, training, and exercise. Owners must commit a lot of time.
- Special Diet – Falcons have very specific dietary needs that include whole prey items like rats, quail, and rabbits. Meeting their food requirements is difficult and expensive.
- Vet Care – Avian vets with raptor experience are a must. But they are few and far between. This makes health issues difficult and costly to treat.
- Regulations – Falconry is heavily regulated with licenses, inspections, facilities standards, etc. Extensive permitting is required.
- Risks – A large, powerful bird of prey poses certain safety risks. They require careful handling and vigilance.
Conclusion
From their swift flight to their deadly hunting skills, falcons represent the epitome of raptors. While owning one of these remarkable birds takes an immense commitment, their beauty, intelligence and bond with their caretakers makes them unmatched animal companions.
If you have the resources, facilities, time and dedication required, opening your home to a falcon can be richly rewarding. Make sure to thoroughly research all that successful falcon husbandry entails.
If you determine you’re up for the task, your new feathered friend may just become a treasured part of the family.