Feeding Birds of Prey?

N

navaho

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2009
Messages
1,311
Location
West Wales
Visit site
Now i know this is completely non horsey, but i also happen to know that there are people on here who have vast knowledge about lots of random things & im hoping this is one of them.

One of my daughters has spoken to me as she is concerned that someone she knows is feeding live rabbits (& other things) to his birds of prey, i was pretty shocked to be honest, i realise that this would happen in the wild but in captive birds surely this is unacceptable? The rabbits in questions were "free to good home" jobs. I know there are laws on feeding live prey to reptiles, so im assuming that the law would cover birds of prey as well? I was considering speaking to the RSPCA, but then i did wonder if i was over reacting, i dont feel that i am but then again is it any different than them killing a rabbit in the wild?
 
Im sure this isnt on and yes id be tempted to speak to some sort of authority..

At the end of the day, these rabbits are captive bred PETS from pet shops.. Not wild rabbits that in some wild parks you are allowed to take your bird of prey over there and teach it to hunt wild birds, rabbits etc etc.
 
Not sure who to contact in regards to this - try the RSPCA.
I don't think they should be feeding live rabbits; something I was told was anything with a backbone cannot be fed live - some thing like that anyway.
I personally don't think its an over-reaction...but then again i'm an animal lover!
 
There was something very similar doing the rounds on horsey FB pages today. It was about the feeding of "free to good home" rabbits, rodents, kittens and guinea pigs to reptiles. Just proves thorough checks should always be made when passing on animals.
 
Beausmate said:
. Pretty despicable thing to do with someone's pet. :(
Click to expand...

But it would be OK if the same (pet/captive bred) rabbit had been killed first?

I am not condoning feeding live prey, a captive bred animal does not have the same survival instincts that a wild one has, but I am sure it does go on behind closed doors.

I have heard reptile keepers often feed live prey (mice/gerbils/rabbits etc) also people who set rabbits free in enclosures and use them to train their ferrets/dogs etc too.

I wonder if crickets or worms feel any pain when a lizard or turtle rips them apart or eats them alive?
 
Double_choc_lab said:
There was something very similar doing the rounds on horsey FB pages today. It was about the feeding of "free to good home" rabbits, rodents, kittens and guinea pigs to reptiles. Just proves thorough checks should always be made when passing on animals.
Click to expand...

With the best will in the world, you can check all you like, but people can, and do, lie through their back teeth.

They'll say "they are for the kiddies"...yep, right :rolleyes:

eg: I raise goats, cute, cuddly little boy goats, by-products of the dairy industry, by the dozen, I get them in at a week old, feed them, wean them and then sell them on - for the meat trade, I have regular buyers. To me goats are no different from lambs, piglets or calves, or even meat rabbits.
I get the odd individual that comes round, swears blind they want a goat that has horns, isn't castrated and will grow to the size of a small pony for their children as a pet (Why? Buy a pygmy if you want a pet) I know darn well that they will be eating him for Thanksgiving, why don't they just say that?
 
OP are you sure this is definitely happening and not a story "doing the rounds"?

Apart from the law and arguable cruelty, if they are answering "free to good home" ads, that's pretty dispicable and immoral IMO. Sometimes families can't keep beloved pets for good reasons (family breakdown, landlord issues, family member allergies etc) and the thought that their childrens' pets might be used in this way is awful.

As someone else said, what kind of birds would this be? Most of our native species eat pretty small prey.
 
FionaM12 said:
OP are you sure this is definitely happening and not a story "doing the rounds"?

Apart from the law and arguable cruelty, if they are answering "free to good home" ads, that's pretty dispicable and immoral IMO. Sometimes families can't keep beloved pets for good reasons (family breakdown, landlord issues, family member allergies etc) and the thought that their childrens' pets might be used in this way is awful.

As someone else said, what kind of birds would this be? Most of our native species eat pretty small prey.
Click to expand...

No definitely not a story doing the rounds, i cant say to much at present, but suffice to say of the person involved nothing would surprise me. As to what birds, well they have many, Harris hawks, eagle owls, buzzards & many more.

Ill make a few calls in the morning & see where i can go from here, my main concern is my daughter as i need to keep her involvement out of it, as i think she could be put in a nasty situation over this.
 
navaho said:
No definitely not a story doing the rounds, i cant say to much at present, but suffice to say of the person involved nothing would surprise me. As to what birds, well they have many, Harris hawks, eagle owls, buzzards & many more.

Ill make a few calls in the morning & see where i can go from here, my main concern is my daughter as i need to keep her involvement out of it, as i think she could be put in a nasty situation over this.
Click to expand...

:( That sounds horrendous. as you say, your daughter's welfare has to come first.

Yep, things like eagle owls will take sizable prey. I wonder do these people have a licence to keep these birds? Some research into the law and licencing might be the way forward. Maybe the RSPB could advise?

Good luck with it.
 
FionaM12 said:
:( That sounds horrendous. as you say, your daughter's welfare has to come first.

Yep, things like eagle owls will take sizable prey. I wonder do these people have a licence to keep these birds? Some research into the law and licencing might be the way forward. Maybe the RSPB could advise?

Good luck with it.
Click to expand...

Im pretty certain if there are any licences that need having they will have them, they would be very silly not to in the business they are in...
Ive already had a run in with the chap over another welfare issue so im pretty certain if i dont tread carefully he will know exactly where all this has come from & my daughter will be first in the firing line.
Thankyou, i need all the luck i can get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top