The art and practice of hawking - Modern Prepper

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ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING
may be curtailed, or in feeding up after the day's exercise she
may be indulged only with a good half-crop, instead of the
habitual three-quarters. When a peregrine or hawk of similar
habits is inclined to be uppish, and to disdain the dead lure, it is
a good plan, besides being a shade stingy at dinner-time, to
fly her each day at least an hour later than the day before.
VVhen, in this way, her time of flying has got to be so late that
it cannot be deferred till later on the following day, give her
a gorge, or at least a very full meal, when she has done flying,
and on the next day, an hour after she has cast, give her quite
a light feed, and do not fly her at all till the day after at
noon.
Sakers, lanners, and that class of hawks must be rather
sternly treated if they get above themselves, for their nature is
to support long fasts without much trouble. And eagles, of
course, must sometimes be almost starved a little.
Remember always that the food given to a trained hawk
belongs to one or other of several categories, which rank differently
as regards nutritive power. Highest on the list is the flesh
of birds or other animals eaten immediately after they are killed,
while the life-blood is still warm within them. The meals of
wild hawks are, as a rule, of this description ; and these accordingly,
by virtue of their diet, as well as of their habits, are the
most vigorous and healthy of all. Next in order comes the
flesh of such creatures as have been killed long enough to grow
cold. And in the last rank must be placed washed meat—artificially
reduced to its least nutritive character. When it is
desired to improve the condition of a hawk, food of the first
class will most quickly and most surely effect the object. Any
hawk which is found to be below par should have at the first
opportunity at least one " bloody crop," i.e. should either be
allowed to take her pleasure on some quarry which she has herself
killed, or be indulged with a pigeon, duck, fowl, or other
animal which has just been killed. The flesh of animals, whether
freshly killed or not, differs a good deal in quality. Pigeons,
duck, plovers, and sparrows are about the most nourishing
chickens, rabbits, quails, larks, and mice, somewhat less so.
The
flesh of rooks, gulls, magpies, water-hens, and coots is not very
palatable ; and some trained hawks will not touch it. None
are likely to improve in condition if fed upon it. There is
nothing a trained hawk likes better than good tender beef,
especially if it is slightly warmed before being given. It is also
very sustaining, and will increase a hawk's weight rapidly, when
a generous allowance of it is made. It is, however, much heavier