Thanks for the info George/Accip both set ups look to work well looking at the condition of the birds. Did you make the guard yourself George or buy it in?
Thats ideal then, she doesn't look like an imprint if that makes sense. Some of them are horrible, mantling, grubby chests, and broken tail and primary tips. I have had some horrible imprints.
my question is should I let the bird have the space free or keep it tethered?
When the bird is fresh out of the breeding chamber and at flying weight you will need to keep it tethered, once it is conditioned you should be able to free loft it.
If you learn the trade with a redtail it will put you in good stead to fly just about anything. Whereas if you learn it with a Harris it will only condition you to fly a Harris. You would get a lot more knowledge about weight control and handling with a redtail. It will teach you patience and manners among many other attributes.
Yes it could have easily been not such a pleasant outcome in many ways, I wasn't sure what to expect when I knocked on the door lol. Was just glad that he was such a decent bloke.
Bit of a caper today slipped on some gulls that were a bit too far. She didn't get on terms with them, had a bit of a fly about then nailed one in an old blokes back garden in a housing estate. Luckily for me he had lost his marbles and was fine with it,lol.