Barn Owl Care

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Jessica Dring

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 9, 2007
1,545
1
36
Liverpool, UK.
Hi all. Does anybody out there keep/breed barn owls, or just know of a good book on them? It seems no matter how much I search the internet I can't find anything on how to keep them properly. I obviously know the basics, but really want to look up as much as I possibly can before seriously thinking about buying. I would need information on how to keep them from selling age (not sure exactly what age that is, but basically babies) right up to adulthood. Any help appreciated. Cheers.
 
idk much about owls but do you happens to have an aviary for it? because from what i do kno they need a fair amount of flying room, as well as small mammals etc running around at night. honestly i do not think it would be a good pet unless you have a large aviary
 
Not as yet, Like I said on the thread, I am CONSIDERING. It would be unwise to buy/build an avairy if you dont know exactly what size you need. I have a rough idea but this is why I'm here, to find out. I would be a fool to think I could have a barn owl without needing a large avairy. I know animals need alot of space, and house them accordingly. If you check the pets I've got (Green Iguana especially) that pretty much specifies that I am aware of space needed for larger animals etc. I also know you can not just 'dump' a young barn owl in a large avairy, you need a smaller space for it as it grows (which I have). So yes, Im very aware that Barn Owls need avairies. I also know what is and what isn't a suitable pet for me, as I have experience in CAREFULLY choosing and accomadating the pets I want to keep and care for. I will never buy anything I know I cannot fully care for or give a fair life to live, or that I know I will have to sell on as it gets to a certain point in its life, just keeping it until I can no longer do so. I would much rather not support that type of animal keeping. So before I can make the decision for certain, I need to know as much as possible. Also, If I do decide to keep one, I will NOT be feeding my owl live food, I'm sorry but I dont agree with it when the breeder I know rears them on F/T and they are doing fine on them. Thanks alot.
 
I have heard of water fowls being sold, but not owls? Have you located a legit seller? Of course you have though; around here all I seen are the ones wild-captive by non-liscensed retailers. I have no idea really -- other than we used to have owls around here.

The reason why you can't find a lot of information is because a lot of states, provinces, counties, countries or cities banned them from being privately owned. Check with your local government regarding the matter.
 
Raptors have a long list of legalities behind them. For one, most, if not all? are illegal to be kept privately, and those that are, are usually by individuals affliated with an educational organization, with a license which takes quite a lot of work to get. Even other "wild" birds are illegal to keep, such as crows, per se, I believe.
Even tropical raptors fall under this category. I suggest you, first, consider a legal, readily available bird to work with first, and if you enjoy that, then I suggest you contact some rehabilitation agencies about becoming a licensed raptor foster parent.
 
I also noticed (Just now) that you are in the UK. The above applies to the US. The UK might be different. But I still personally don't believe in keeping such birds caged, period.
 
I suggest, before you start attacking me for trying to keep an 'illegal' bird, you take alook where I'm from. Yes, thats right, Liverpool, England, UK! They are perfectly legal here (if bred in captivity) and the breeder I know of supplies all the babies with proper A10 papers.. Now that we have the legal part sorted and whether I know birds of prey need a large avairy.. can we get to the books/proper care of them please? Sorry Santoury but I just felt you was jumping on the band wagon with your comment there 'I suggest you, first, consider a legal, readily available bird to work with first'. Sorry If I mistook your comment for being a little judgemental and quick fired, if it was not intended like this, then yeah, apoligies, I just felt it was being put across like this. Anyway, Thanks for your comments.
 
santoury;911313; said:
I still personally don't believe in keeping such birds caged, period.

I really dont want to get into a debate about keeping animals captive whether it be your lungfish (yes I CAN comment about that) or my possible choice of a barn owl. Both animals are kept, and If I bought, and it was possible for it to be flown, I am then quite sure your keeping of your animal is more unfair than an owl kept in a very large avairy yet being flown every day! The fact of the matter is, animals are kept, and barn owls NEED to be bred in captivity here, so I can almost guarantee you that its generation has not seen the wild for a long time, though I cant say the same for your lungfish! Anyways, My point is, both animals are kept. Period! I dont suppose you let your lungfish out? Lol, Sorry, but if your going to begin to attack me for my choice of animals I will bite back just as hard my friend. I'm not being argumentitive btw, just stating something before an argument could break out :)
 
Eh, don't blame him. A lot of people are like that with some creatures. For me -- as long it is being bred, then it is okay with me. Some of the animals I plan to keep in the future, some of the members of the herptile will probably remind me on their size -- especially three of them get to be bigger than Nile Monitors which itself is usually frowned upon.

As long it is legal, captive-bred and well-taken care of, you are in my good book. :) From what I can find about owl-keeping though -- is mostly scarce so far, even books. It seem like people are unwilling to touch the legal issues surrounding keeping raptors to provide a well-rounded foundation of information.

What I suggest is find out about other large birds that are being kept in captivity and apply basic knowledge. Contact zoos with good reputations about how they do it. Better yet, ask your breeder if she or he know any other owl keepers that you can ask.
 
Hi bloodyirish. Thanks for the advice, I'll do so. I've just thought of asking a place that does demonstrations for flying birds of prey. I'm sure they'd rather give the right advice out than just try talk me out of it (as most people know, if people have their heart set on something, they cannot be talked out of it) which, aslong as they WILL care for it properly, I see nothing wrong with. Thanks for your advice.
With regards to Santoury, I'm sorry but I never blamed him, I'm just defending myself. I never asked his opinion on keeping birds, I asked information on HOW to keep them, I just think he was way too fast to attack me for 'trying' to keep illegal species, (which obviously wasn't true) but hey it happens, and I understand that. If thats his opinion, thats great, opinions are one of the best and free'est of things in the world, but theres no need to apply it as an attack at me, thats all I'm saying. I think people should stop trying to put others down and making them feel ashamed for what they want to keep, when (I guess IMHO) theres no problem with it. I dont see why I should be told off for (trying?) to be a responsible owner. I never once thought about telling him off for wanting, or more specificily, keeping what he does, as really, its none of my buisness, and its no better or no lower than what I keep/want to. We all keep animals here, and I think aslong as kept properly its just part of the hobby, so what am I doing that is so different from him? I know of many people on here (without mentioning names) that buy animals first without knowing the first thing about them, or providing the wrong conditons DESPITE asking and being given advice. So I hope you understand why I'm upset, because I'm trying to be a decent and fair owner to what I want to keep yet I am being punished for it as would somebody who is just interested in having the animal, regardless of its needs and wants :):):)
 
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