All about home owls. Home nest. How to tame an owl and is it worth it. Hand training and taming
Previously, pet lovers were limited to cats, hamsters, parrots and dogs, and today among the pets at home you can find exotic animals, spiders, snakes and even predators. Here on the last and dwell. This article will focus on living an owl at home.
Place of acquisition
Eagle owl, in the form of poultry, is of course a strange phenomenon, but more and more people have been bringing them in recently, despite the fact that it is a wild and predatory bird in nature. Who can pass this cute fluffy creature with round eyes? They can be met more often in “bird markets” and sellers will be very funny to tell you the story of whether they found an abandoned owl’s nest or the kids fell out of it.
The story of the appearance of owls on the market is sad - the mass capture of birds by poachers. But sellers always talk about the fact that the breeding of these birds is their "main calling in life" and so on. None of them will tell you that you have to constantly remove owl droppings, as owls spoil a lot. They also will not say that the bird screams very strongly at night, succumbing to its natural instincts. In particular, you will hear stories that the owl will eat all the same as the rest of the poultry - this is a lie of pure water, because owls eat only mice, which they hunt in night forests. For the sake of money, people are ready to do a lot. Since the bird was caught, be sure that a whole "bouquet" of various types of helminths and infections is provided to it. And what is typical, in owls, most diseases occur without any symptoms, they “come out” abruptly and unexpectedly. And often the bird is already impossible to save. Therefore, before making such a serious decision as keeping a predatory owl at home, weigh all your desires and, most importantly, your abilities.
When buying owls in a nursery, be sure to require all relevant and supporting documents. You should be aware that keeping owls at home is prohibited by law. Therefore, if you do not have proper documentation, they may withdraw it from you. Also know that in the official nurseries of owls they ring, and they have their own number, which should completely coincide with the number on paper.
Carry / transport the owl is not worth it in transparent containers, such as cat. The bird will see what is happening and will begin to beat its wings, because they are fearful winged. Before you go for a feathered friend, make sure that you have a spacious box with a diaper on the bottom, and make small holes in the walls to allow air circulation. If the purchase occurs in the winter, then reduce the time the bird stays on the street to a minimum, as the owl can catch a cold.
After you have already purchased a bird, show it to your veterinarian immediately, take tests and it is advisable to take an X-ray. Try to conduct routine check-ups of your new friend more often.
Features of choice
So, you, nevertheless, have definitely decided to make a forest owl at home and made sure that you want such a friend. It is important to understand that this species of bird is active at night, so it would be nice if your lifestyle matches. In natural conditions, owls fly out to hunt late in the evening, in fact, at night and early enough morning. Do not console yourself with the thought that the owl, having settled at your home, is already tame and will sniff quietly at night. Yes, no - screams (in the mating season at its maximum), the roar and your rest is disturbed.
Now we turn to the financial side of the issue - to contain owls is by no means an expensive pleasure. You probably already know that bird food does not suit these predators, they eat meat. Yes, the meat is not simple, but mouse, bird and the like. But it becomes even more “interesting” when you also learn that a feature of the owl’s digestive tract is that it requires the digestion of whole carcasses. In this case, do not plan to feed them chicken, beef or pork. Owls eat the entire “victim” without picking up bones, feathers and tails. That is why you immediately prepare yourself for the fact that you will need to purchase the carcasses of mice, quail and chickens, which are only a day old. It will be a little problem to provide the pet with the necessary amount of food, but as they say “I see the goal - I see no obstacles”, so if you seriously decide to keep such a household, you will find ways to feed him.
Owl species
If after reading the above, you still do not abandon the dream of acquiring an owl as a home friend, then you should decide which one. The most attractive in appearance is the breed of obscure, but they are too big for apartment sizes. Even if you have large rooms, the bird will still be uncomfortable, and it will beat its wings every time during the flight. Yes, and it will be difficult for you to catch an owl, despite the fact that it is quite large. Therefore, we suggest you get acquainted with the birds that may be suitable for your home:
- Long-eared owls - a medium-sized bird, grows up to 36 centimeters. It has bunches of feathers on the head that resemble ears and thus have similarities with owls. An owl knows how to bend these "ears" so that they become invisible. The color of the iris of the eyes is bright orange, the older birds are red. It has a brown, ocher plumage, similar to pine bark. An interesting fact is that when a bird leans against a pine tree during a day's rest and sleeps, it can be mistaken for a fragment of a thick branch. They feed mainly on rodents, which are very useful in nature. During the day, the "eared" can be fed up with three mice.
- Swamp owls are a medium-sized bird with large wings and feather bunches on their legs. There are small ears on the head. The main shade of plumage varies from red to gray, but the sides, head, legs and undertail are white. Wings - light with dark spots. The iris of the eye is yellow, and the plumage around the eyes is black, the beak is the same color. The voice is quiet, ornithologists say that with protective behavior they make sounds similar to a dog barking. They are eaten by rodents, small birds, insects, caterpillars and even fish.
- Barn Owl is an owl with a total length of up to 40 centimeters, which has a wingspan of up to 1 meter. Her plumage is soft and fluffy enough, which gives her an attractive appearance, which attracts to have such a friend at home. The upper part of the body is red or ocher in color with various specks and stripes, and the lower part is either white, or with yellowness, or orange. Barn Owls have a short tail and many love her face with a heart-shaped plumage, which makes them different from other species of owls. The shell of the eye of these birds is brown, and the ears are placed on the sides, but not symmetrically, which also makes the barn owl special birds. Outside of the mating season, these owls are quite silent. The barn owl, like other relatives, eats rodents, but they do not refuse opossums, frogs and other reptile-like bats, caterpillars, worms and other birds, even birds of prey.
- Owls are small-sized owls that are colored brown with specks of color at the top, and the lower part of the body is light, have a striped tail. Their face is painted with black or brown stripes. Very friendly to people and practically not afraid of them. Like others, it eats mice, rats, shrews, and small birds.
Owl temper
According to external signs, it seems that owls are very aggressive and angry birds, but this is far from the case. In fact, these birds are very vulnerable, susceptible to change and very responsive. Including, a change of residence, especially “imprisonment”, is a huge stress for owls. And not always they even calmly experience the very moment of adaptation, a change of location and getting used to new conditions, even to you. You should be prepared for this in advance.
Owls, by nature, monogamous. If, nevertheless, you managed to tame her and find a “common language” with her, then she will consider that she has found her reliable friend. Owls love attention and the more it is, the better. If she does not receive it, then she will certainly demand it, showing it with loud screams and wingspan. This is also worth considering when deciding whether to start or not. If you doubt at least a bit that it will not be possible for you to create the necessary conditions, to provide food or if you don’t have enough time to care for the bird, then it is better to abandon this venture. For a bird to feel loneliness after it is already used to you is destructive.
Adaptation period
You brought the bird home, and now the difficult period begins - the owl must understand where it is and what it does here. If you see that the chick is hiding in a corner and refuses to eat, then, in principle, this is a normal reaction lasting several days, but no more. In this case, be patient, wait and try not to bother the bird.
Feed, and after a while the owl will understand that it can trust you. From this moment, the process of taming begins. Stock up on a leather glove so that when the pet wants to sit on your hand, it will not tear your hand with its strong claws. Do not make sudden movements, do not immediately try to reach for it, yank, circle, and so on. Everything is smooth and gradual. If an owl hisses, clicks its beak, it means that it does not long for communication yet. Buy immediately such a device as a shrouds, it’s like a dog leash that clings to your hand. First you can use it at home so that the bird gets used to it, and later you will walk together in the fresh air.
Owl housing
What should be in the owl room? At the initial stage, you need to take out everything that the bird can tear, bend, knock over and smear. Owls, oddly enough, are very playful, so remove things that you don’t want to look for from their field of vision. There should be no tulle or curtains in the “owl room”; replace them with curtains made of thick fabric. Your birdie may get confused in the mesh materials, and in the process of trying to free it, it can injure and break its wings or legs. If she cannot get out of the tulle, and you, for example, are late at work, then the owl will have to hang upside down until you appear. If in this position she will remain for several hours, then she may even die.
If there is a mirror in the room, it must be hung, but it is better to remove it. The window is also not advisable to keep without curtains. The bird can see the reflection and view outside the window, will try to fly out or peck the glass, as a result - severe injuries.
On the walls should be installed inadequacies - a place where the bird will sit, rest and sleep. They can be made of wood or metal, but cover them with carpet or artificial grass. The owl should also have a place for swimming; they love to conduct “bath” procedures. For this purpose, a cat litter tray is perfect, only one that has high sides.
Do you need a crate?
The opinions of those who contain owls disagreed on whether the owl needs a cage? But still, the majority are in favor of her absence. An owl is not a small bird, it needs free flight and its appearance in captivity will deteriorate. Plumage will lose its beauty and brilliance. But nevertheless, there are cases when a bird needs to be placed, nevertheless, in a cage for a short period of time - 1-2 hours, no more. In this case, it is better that the crate was, for such moments.
Nutrition and Health
As mentioned above, it is difficult to find freshly killed carcasses of rodents and other species for feeding owls. Some use frozen bodies, but keep in mind that you can’t constantly feed a bird with a frozen product, as meat loses its properties. Find channels, people, and opportunities to supply fresh “food” for your pet. An owl per day, on average, eats up with two or three rodents. So provide her with a complete diet.
Pet shops and “bird markets” provide such “food”, but their prices are higher than you are stingy “with your hands”. An important point - you can feed the whole owl rodents and day-old chicks, and you will need to cut the quail chicks. These birds often suffer from various infectious diseases and in order to avoid ailments from your winged friend, cut off paws, heads and quails from quail. An owl should be given only the bird’s body itself.
You will need to carefully monitor the digestion of your bird. Be aware that approximately 10 hours after eating, an owl should burp a riddle - these are the remains of undigested food, that is, bones, feathers and wool. If this does not happen, sound the alarm. The riddle should not have blood impurities, or smell unpleasant. Litter also plays a role in the readings of the pet's health status. When everything is fine with the household, his litter is white with a harder speck of dark color. If you see something else, be sure to contact a specialist. Only a medical professional will be able to understand and explain what is the cause of the owl’s poor condition and will prescribe the necessary medications.
It so happened that in owls, various diseases acquire a swift character. Then the bird frolicked and fluttered merrily around the apartment, and at another moment it was already sitting in the barn, not eating, not drinking, covering its eyes, the undercoat was wet and dirty - this was also an occasion to immediately visit the veterinarian.
An owl in an ordinary apartment is, of course, unusual and a little troublesome, but they can brighten up your leisure time and bring joy to your home at maximum marks. If you decided to have such a pet, and, having got acquainted with all the nuances, made a firm decision, then go for it - this is a friend who loves to play, have fun and can be your true favorite.
Home-keeping of exotic animals and birds is becoming increasingly fashionable and popular. An owl in an apartment or at home - this will not surprise anyone, today such cases are found everywhere. Is it possible to tame a wild bird? If so, how can you name an owl?
Is it possible to have an owl at home?
Owls are wild birds that lead mainly nocturnal life, hunting for rodents and insects. Why tame such an animal, is it possible to be sure of its loyalty to the owners?
Today, the market is full of offers to buy a domestic owl, for this it makes no sense to go to the forest in search of a pet. Owls bred specifically for home living are fashionable, popular and unusual. However, such birds require increased attention, compliance with special conditions of feeding and life.
You can get an owl at home, today demand creates supply, so this issue is not considered illegal. The main thing to remember is that a person takes responsibility for any animal that tames, and an owl is not easy.
How to care for an owl at home?
In order for the bird to feel comfortable, not sick and not feel a lack of space and food, you will have to try hard. The predator needs a fairly spacious enclosure in which it can move around quietly. It is best to provide a separate room for her where she can fly.
The owl is not adapted for constant sitting in the cage, it needs the ability to warm up. At the same time, the bird craps a lot. The digestion process is well established, so the owl defecates up to 15 times a day. It doesn’t matter what the owl is called, it’s important to properly care for it and maintain the conditions necessary for a comfortable life.
Feeding is a separate topic for discussion. Despite the fact that owls eat meat of small rodents, it is contraindicated to feed them with pork, beef or chicken. The bird is ill due to malnutrition. The main diet of owls is rats, hamsters, quail, insects, even rabbits. In the wild, an owl swallows a prey whole, along with hair and bones. At home, you will have to provide the same diet, but to kill small animals, most likely, the owner will have to independently. Birds grown specifically for the home do not possess hunting and killing skills.
Despite the funny look, as well as the chosen funny name (if the question of how to name an owl has already been resolved), this bird has a very difficult character. With its beak and claws, it can cause serious damage not only to the owners, but also to the interior.
Where to get a home owl?
An owl is an exotic animal. To purchase a bird, you must contact a special nursery. You can’t buy an owl by hand without the right documents, this can result in heavy fines for the owner under Russian law. An owl raised in a nursery has a personal number, which will be indicated in all its documents. It is better to buy an owl at a young age, this will allow it to get used to both the new house and the new owner.
How to name an owl?
Choosing a name for a feathered pet is an interesting and difficult question. If for cats and dogs the nicknames seem obvious, then for the forest predator I want to choose a special name. How to name an owl? There are a lot of options, but we picked up the cutest and coziest names that may give the obstinate pet a more loyal character.
Based on the characteristics of behavior, how to name an owl girl? Splyusha, Glazen, Bukl (for fans of the famous work of wizards), Mouse, Sonya. By and large, ordinary human names are also suitable if they are associated with a new inhabitant.
How to name a boy owl? Splyush, Prosha, Fluff (if the plumage meets this definition), Phil. Looking at the color of the feathers, you can pick up names such as Chernysh or Snowball.
In choosing a name, it is best to rely on your own opinion, because it is for you to communicate with the big-eyed pet in the future. Sound and good associations are excellent helpers in deciding what to name an owl. The name is as important to the bird as it is to humans. An owl is a graceful bird, although it has rather funny manners. Approach the choice of nicknames creatively, do not cast aside your imagination and you will surely find a suitable combination.
Here we will stop at the birds of prey.
Mostly get owls. It is very difficult to walk past a cute furry creature with huge eyes. People acquire owls in the infamous “Bird Market” or bring owls from the forest, believing that they “got lost”, “fell out of the nest”. About the "Bird Market" you can talk endlessly. Possessed by a thirst for profit, sellers are half-heartedly lying to buyers in the hope of a profitable sale. Naturally. After all, few people want to keep a birdie at home, which is very crap, screams at night and eats only mice. Moreover, it possesses all the "charms" of a wild animal - as a rule, sellers assure that owls are raised in nurseries, but in fact - all birds were caught by poachers. So people buy a pet literally “stuffed” with helminths and various infections. And in birds, most diseases are asymptomatic and rapid - only yesterday the bird ate well and was active, and today it lies at the bottom of the cage.
Photo 1. Long-tailed owl
Therefore, before you get an owl, think carefully, weigh your opportunities - do they coincide with desires?
So, owls. An owl is a nocturnal predator. This already says a lot - the main activity in the bird is in the late evening, night and early morning. At this time, owls in nature hunt. So in captivity it will be the same - from evening until morning the owl will rattle with something, shout (especially during the mating season), preventing you from resting. So it’s best to have an owl for people who live mostly “nocturnal” lifestyles. Now we will understand the concept of “predator”. It is clear that such a bird cannot be fed with cereals, predators feed on meat. But even here there is a difficulty - the owl’s digestion is arranged in such a way that it needs to eat the whole carcass of a rodent or a bird as a whole - with feathers, wool, and bones. Accordingly, feeding chicken or beef disappears - get ready for the purchase of mice, daily chickens, quails. But they cost a lot and get the problem in the right amount.
Photo 2. Brownie
But suppose that the night cries and the specific diet of owls do not scare you and you still want to get an owl. Then, first of all, you need to decide which particular owl you can contain. The fact is that owls are many and different - from small-sized detectives (photo) to a huge owl (photo). Owls of medium size are the gray owl (photo) and the long-tailed owl (photo). But nevertheless, for an ordinary city apartment, the owl is too big, they will need a lot of space for flights, and even if you have spacious rooms, the owl will still be upholstered with a feather. Therefore, it is optimal to keep eared owls (photo), bog owls (photo) barn owls (photo) or the aforementioned detectives.
Photo 3. Barn Owl
Before you get an owl, arrange an apartment for her in an appropriate way. Yes Yes. Your apartment, not the cage in the apartment, because it is impossible to keep owls in cages. An owl will certainly beat a feather on the rods, injure a wax-up (soft spot above its beak), earn namina on its paws.
How to prepare a room for an owl.
First of all, you should remove all objects that an owl can overturn, tear, and stain. Owls love to play, so keep in mind - you have to strictly monitor the location of their belongings, especially socks and documents. Leave it unattended - the owl will certainly pick up the “toy” and goodbye the passport! Tulle on the windows must be replaced with blackout curtains, because in tulle, an owl can easily get confused and, while fighting, break its legs or wings, or simply die, hanging upside down for several hours. Large mirrors (windows, too) should be removed or curtained, otherwise the owl may be severely crippled, trying to fly through the glass.
Photo 4. Owls
It is necessary to nail “walls” onto the walls - wooden or iron “sticks”, which must be beaten with something soft - for example, artificial grass “astroturf” or, at worst - with carpet. Also, think over a place for a bathing place in advance - owls love to wash, for this they are put in shallow wide containers with water (trays for cat's toilets with high sides are perfect).
So, the place is prepared. Now you need to think about food for an owl. As I wrote above - owls need to be fed carcasses of rodents and birds, and freshly slaughtered. Of course, you can give thawed carcasses, but “live” food must be present in the diet, because frozen meat loses some essential trace elements.
Photo 5. Long-eared Owl
You can buy rodents at the pet store, but the prices there are "biting" and most often there is no quantity needed. Indeed, even a small eared owl eats at least two mice per day. So it is better to buy mice in bulk at the Bird Market. There you can buy daily chickens and quails. Keep in mind that if mice and chickens can be given an owl without preparing a carcass, then the quail must be opened and the entrails carefully removed and the head and legs cut off. The fact is that these birds often have various diseases that can be transmitted to your owl during the meal.
Photo 6. Chick of an eared owl
Do you still want to get an owl at home? Then about the purchase:
Owls must be purchased in official nurseries, making sure that when buying you get all the documents for the owl and the number on the document matches the number stamped on the ring (they ring in the bird nurseries). Thus, you will be insured against the seizure of birds (the capture and keeping of wild birds is prohibited by law), in addition, birds from nurseries are more tame and healthy. Although immediately after acquiring an owl, it is necessary to show the owl to a veterinarian, pass the necessary tests, just in case to take an x-ray. By the way, not every veterinary clinic has a veterinarian who understands birds. In Moscow, a veterinarian ornithologist is at the White Fang Clinic and at the Moscow Zoo, in the Moscow Region birds are received at the Kobra Clinic, which is located in Krasnogorsk.
As a rule, in the nursery you will be offered a choice of the most common species - a long-eared owl, a marsh owl, a gray owl, a long-tailed owl (there is also a bearded owl (photo), but it is great for an apartment) and a variety of detectives. When choosing a type of owl, you should remember that even a small eared owl needs a lot of space (at least a room), therefore I strongly do not recommend acquiring long tails, beards, and even less so an owl. Small owls are no worse than larger species, they are also sociable and playful, and the plumage is not inferior in beauty. It’s better to buy a very young owlet, it will get used to hands faster, and like all young ones, the owls are very funny. It’s quite easy to distinguish a chick from an adult - owls are covered with delicate feathers, older owls are already beginning to grow with an “adult” feather, but their tails are noticeably shorter than adults, and in some places fluff still exists. It is necessary to transport the owl in a closed spacious box (cat carrying is not the best option, because the owl will see through the grill, therefore, it will be frightened and will fight out of habit). At the bottom of the box you need to lay a soft diaper, cut some very small holes in the walls of the box for air access. If an owl is acquired in winter, then the time spent on the street should be limited as much as possible, otherwise there is a risk of catching a cold.
When you arrive home, do not scare the owl, let it look around. To do this, simply open the box and leave the bird alone for a while.
After a couple of hours, you can offer an owlet food and water. Sometimes owls can still not tear carcasses, so the carcass must be finely chopped. Put the water so that the owl sees it perfectly - when he pays attention to the bathing - chat in the water with your hand, thus showing the presence of water in the tank. Over time, the owl himself will determine whether there is water, but while it is small and in an unusual environment, you should pay much more attention to it, while not bothering or scaring - try not to pick it up, do not make unnecessarily abrupt movements, do not shout.
Always offer food with your hands - so the owl will get used to you faster.
Carefully monitor the digestion and appearance of the pet. After each meal, the owl must throw off the riddle. The riddle is the undigested bones, wool and feathers that the birds spit up about 10 hours after feeding. If there is no clue - this is a cause for concern about the health of the pet. You should also inspect the riddles - there should not be blood on them, the riddle should not smell bad. Pay attention and litter - a normal owl litter is a white “puddle” with a small interspersing of a dark, harder litter. If the litter gets a bad smell, yellow or brown, becomes more liquid - contact your veterinarian.
The normal behavior of a healthy owl is very different from the behavior of the diseased. A sick bird loses its appetite, becomes apathetic, sits for hours, closing its eyes, squinting, half covering its eyes with the lower eyelid, the feather, especially under the tail, sticks together and becomes dirty. All of the above is a sign of disease. Therefore, in such cases, the owl should be shown to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Diseases in birds proceed rapidly, you can not lose a minute.
Julia Mikhaylina,
owl owner with experience
Now pets are considered not only cats, dogs and various rodents, but also wild birds. Owls were not spared in taming. However, when choosing a pet for yourself, the first thing you need is to objectively evaluate your capabilities, both physical and material.
The main thing is not only to acquire the animal itself, but also to provide him with a decent life. And if we take a puppy or a kitten, we already know a lot about their content, care, food addiction and behavior, then acquiring a wild owl as a pet, we are faced with the unknown.
Domestic owls are not cute parrots and voiced canaries that can easily live in a cage and occasionally fly out for a walk. As we know, owls are especially active at night and they need a lot of space for flying. Can you get used to your pet's night walks and strange sounds ?! Although if you yourself prefer nightlife, you will find a common language.
Domestic owls can attract with their exotic appearance and large dark eyes. When buying a bird, the seller tries to advertise his goods as best as possible, praising its calm nature and unpretentiousness in food. You should not trust such people, it is better to postpone the purchase and prepare more carefully, having familiarized yourself with the information you are interested in. Most of all domestic owls are purchased at the bird market, and some bring foundlings home from the forest as chicks and grow them on their own.
There are practically no legal places where you can buy an owl. These are mostly wild birds that have been caught in an illegal way. After the capture of an owl, it can either be sold or left to breed new offspring and their further sale. As a rule, such birds have a different bouquet of diseases and infections, and it will be very difficult to find a knowledgeable veterinarian. We do not recommend bringing the owlet home from the forest, unless it is left alone and is not able to fly away from you. It will be difficult for him to survive in the forest.
Care for domestic owls.
Domestic owls need special care and if you cannot provide him with a separate space, then it is better not to start. Such an owl will not be able to become your faithful and affectionate pet, as it is a night wild, ravenous bird. Being in the same room with such a bird is dangerous to health. Yes, you can’t get used to its smell, it is so caustic that daily cleaning does not help either.
Being locked up for a long time, the owl will fly around the cage until you release it. If the place where the owl is kept is relatively small, then a large bird will not be able to spread its wings there. And a small individual during flight can damage its wings on the grill. You can only think about the contents of an owl in a large country house, and you will not get along with it in a cramped apartment.
At night, the domestic owl will make loud noises for both you and your neighbors. If you do not find a good veterinarian who can help her, then at one point you can lose the bird.
How to choose an owl?
If you persistently decided to take an owl as a pet and you are not afraid of all of the above, then you must approach the choice of the type of owl responsibly. As you know, there is a wide variety of owls and not all of them may suit you. Therefore, stop at the choice of small owls, for example, polar owls are huge in terms of wingspan and need at least three to four rodents per day as food. Based on this, when choosing a pet, like a home owl, consider a barn owl or an owl. Even if you manage to tame her over time, she will never be able to trust you one hundred percent. Your domestic owl will remain a forest predator.
In the room where the domestic owl will be kept, first of all, remove all fragile breaking objects. Since the owl is a lover of playing, valuable things should be in hard-to-reach places. You can slightly change the mode of the day of the owl. To do this, curtain the windows of the room with blackout curtains, not forgetting to remove the tulle, in which the owl can get tangled up like a net. There should not be mirrors, since she will not understand what it is and trying to fly through them will get hurt.
For the convenience of an owl on the walls, you can make poles covered with soft cloth or grass so that she can sit down and relax. Do not forget to install a feeding trough and a drinking bowl on one of the poles, as well as a bathing tank. Since owls like to swim often, you will have to change the water often enough. As a bath, you can advise a deep container with sides or a tray from a cat's toilet. As mentioned earlier, the smell from the bird will be very unpleasant and persistent. Have to clean every day and do not use chemistry in the water.
Another disadvantage in the content of a domestic owl is the process of feeding it. You cannot give your owl only pieces of raw meat. This bird of prey must be fed entirely by rodents so as not to disturb the digestion process. Feathers, bones, blood should enter and be processed into the stomach. Other food will not be able to ensure the normal functioning of the body and the overall health of the owl. From the fact that the bird cannot digest, lumps are formed in the stomach, clues that the bird burps over time. And if all the food is digestible, then there will be no riddles, and consequently this will lead to poor health.
In addition, whole carcasses of animals contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals that she needs so much. And the process of absorption is not the most pleasant sight. After each such meal you will have to do a thorough cleaning, as the food remains will be everywhere.
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The main disadvantages of keeping a home owl:
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How many domestic owls live?
The average life expectancy of a domestic owl is no more than 20 years. And during this time you will have to repeatedly seek help from a veterinarian. Since the owl is a wild bird, once it gets into the home, it experiences stress, and as a result, the immunity begins to work weaker. Therefore, we advise you to constantly find a doctor so that he monitors all changes in your owl. Like other pets, owls should be vaccinated every year from various infections and take a vitamin complex, especially if your plans include their further breeding.
Domestic owls cannot become completely tame. Therefore, playing with them like dogs or cats will not work. She can fly to you for a mouse and take it from her hand, but any movement in her direction can be perceived as a threat. For safety reasons, do not allow children to enter the room to the owl alone.
Domestic owls are rather a conditional name, since they will forever remain forest birds, which are best admired aside and occasionally. Perhaps you should buy a funny parrot that eats seeds, rather than a large predator that feeds on carcasses of small animals. Maintaining and caring for an owl requires special skills and can be dangerous for both you and your family members.
Many of us in our childhood wanted to have a puppy or cat. For various reasons, not everyone was able to do this. Cramped living conditions, allergies, parents' concern about the dirt at home, that there will be no one to walk the dog, and many other various arguments became an insurmountable obstacle to the cherished dream.
We have matured, and some of us have not forgotten about our childhood aspirations. Fortunately, now you can make decisions on your own, based only on personal preferences. Only the dog does not cause such delight as in childhood, I want something more original.
For example, an owl. Friends came to visit, and here such a miracle with huge eyes sits on a perch, and grins. This effect will be! Let's try to figure out whether it is possible to keep an owlet at home.
Is it possible to keep an owl at home
In the wild, owls feed on small rodents or birds. Very often her food is a source of infections. Most of the diseases in birds are almost asymptomatic and very fast. In the evening, the feathered one is still full of strength and energy, and in the morning he has an acute form of some kind of ailment. 
In this situation, everyone in the immediate vicinity of the pet is at risk. Many bird diseases are dangerous for humans, and often more dangerous than for the most feathered.
Did you know? The order of Owls includes more than two hundred species of owls. The largest of all, the eagle owl, can reach 3 kg of weight and have a wingspan of up to 2 m. The weight of the smallest, Peruvian owl, does not exceed 30 g.
If you still decided on such a serious step, how to get an owl as a pet, then it is better to do it in a nursery. There, the birds are under surveillance. If you bought a bird with it or caught it yourself, you should show it to the veterinarian.
It should be remembered that the owl is a nocturnal predator. This implies a number of lifestyle features of your potential pet. During the day he will quietly doze, calmly digesting food. With the approach of night, he begins a period of activity. This quality is laid at the genetic level, it is almost impossible to wean.
The owl will make sounds, move and terrify others. If you live in an apartment building, be sure that not only you will hear the bird. 
You have to feed the bird at home. While the owl is small, 2-3 mice daily will be enough for it, but an adult owl needs much more. If you plan to get such a quantity of food in the city yourself, you have to quit work and only engage in rodent hunting. So think carefully before becoming a thunderstorm of mice and rats throughout the neighborhood.
An alternative and more acceptable is to buy such food in a pet store. It's not cheap, keep in mind.
Another caveat regarding feeding. A bird intended for food by a feathered predator requires pre-treatment. The owl does not eat the digestive organs of its prey. You have to gut the birds.
So the feeding factor in this case is very important. It should pay close attention when choosing a pet. And if you don’t change your mind, take a look at the small varieties:
It is extremely undesirable to keep the bird in the aviary, and categorically not in the cage. She can be injured on the net and rods, get in addition to physical and psychological trauma. Important!If the owl flies away, it will most likely die. She lived all her life with a person, completely depends on him and absolutely does not know how to get food on her own.
Hence the conclusion: for the maintenance of owls at home, an appropriate room is needed. The room should be separate, with the squats prepared in it - special crossbars that are vertically attached to the wall. If there is nowhere to equip such a room, it is better to opt for a canary or a parrot.
Often people get pets at home because of a lack of communication or an unrealized desire to take care of someone. An owl is not the best candidate for these purposes. Predators have poor contact not only with people, but with everyone in general.
An owl is a typical predator. Even those owls who see a person from birth are reluctant to bring representatives of another species closer to themselves. It’s not worth talking about adult birds.
A bird can cause serious injury to humans, not wanting to. Adult owl preys on a wild boar. A little owl with its claws and beak, having played, is able to cripple a person. 
Character and habits
An owl is a monogamous bird, it creates a couple once. It is mainly a sedentary lifestyle, but some individuals probably fly south in the cold season.
Activity birds differ at night, then they hunt. Only a white owl that lives in the circumpolar regions hunts around the clock. Birds without much trepidation relate to arranging their own home, they do not like to build nests. They can occupy someone else's, or lay eggs in a small pit or niche.
The normal number of eggs in one clutch is 3–10. Older chicks sometimes eat those that hatch later. This happens with a lack of protein food. A month after hatching, the chicks begin to live an independent life.
One of the varieties of owls, barn owl, hunting, uses only its own hearing.
Owl Choice
From this moment, according to the law of natural selection, the strongest survive, and the weaker become someone else's food. The Soviets, not prepared for an independent existence in the natural environment, enjoy the first enemies of the owl with pleasure - the eagles, golden eagles, hunting in the afternoon, etc.
In the afternoon, an owl can be active only in case of danger. Then you can see the nocturnal predator changing its location. If disturbed, she will find a new place to hide, wait for the dark.
All members of the owl family eat only animal food. Small birds, rodents, reptiles - the main diet of an owl family, sometimes eat fish.
Large eagle owls prey on big game and can rush even a wild boar from hunger. Carrots are despised by carrion, but they like to stockpile. They can do without water for a long time, since the balance of fluids in the body is maintained by the blood of their prey. Propagate once a year. A very large number of owls die due to lack of food. When rodent populations shrink, approximately 25% of owls do not survive. Another reason for the mass death is the constant attacks from daytime birds of prey. During the day, the nocturnal predator is almost defenseless.
If you want to get a good healthy bird, you should not do this in the bird market. Most often in the markets they sell birds that are caught in their natural habitat.
Important! Poaching of owls is prohibited. An administrative fine may be imposed for him.
The nursery will provide you with documents about the health status of your potential pet. Specialists will answer all questions, and you, in turn, do not hesitate to ask them. They will tell you in detail how to care for the owl at home, how to feed it, where to start the training. 
Another important circumstance in favor of the nursery: owls born and raised there, much better than their counterparts from the forest, adapt to the human environment.
Content Features
As already mentioned, it is not necessary to start a bird of prey in the house if you are not allowed to do this by living conditions. A separate room is a prerequisite.
It is necessary to remove from it all the things that your pet can turn over. Remove openwork curtains from the windows; the bird may become entangled in them. Hang thick curtains instead, which can create the illusion of twilight in a room. Such images can try to deceive the owl instincts by shifting the schedule of bird activity in the daytime.
Remove the mirrors from the room, and if this is not possible, curtain them well. Make additives or buy ready-made ones. Remember to make a perch for feeding. Take care of access to water. 
Care
All owls swim with pleasure and plenty. They can do this in a shallow basin, which you should put in the room and regularly change the water in it.
Did you know? In flight, an owl can reach speeds of up to 24 m / s.
Regularly have to carry out thorough cleaning. Dirt provokes the spread of various infections, so do not be lazy. In addition, the litter has a sharp unpleasant odor. Do not use chemical or strongly smelling detergents when cleaning the owl's living space.
Predator by nature - the bird is very smart, she sees and understands everything. Your concern, which is expressed in cleaning her home, will not go unnoticed by her. This circumstance, in turn, will help you make friends better and faster.
Owl nutrition at home should be as close as possible to what it eats in its natural habitat. Soviets, while they are small, should be given finely chopped meat soaked in saline. They eat it with pleasure, since such a marinade imitates mother's saliva, helps intestinal motility and stomach function. Do not forget that birds constantly need fresh water. 
Diet
As already mentioned, the main diet is small rodents and birds. It is unlikely that you will be able to get the required amount yourself, so contact the pet store, they will help you. A great option is a quail, but it is necessary for the owlet to start eating from a very young age, you need to get used to it.
Important! Watch carefully when the bird resets the puzzle. Once she has done this, pick her up, inspect her and throw her away. Otherwise, the bird can eat it.
Technique and rules of feeding
The digestive organs of the birds that go to feed your pet must be removed; he will not eat them. Closely watch the puzzle. These are undigested bird remains consisting of feathers and claws. It forms in the stomach and is discharged several hours after feeding. Until the puzzle has been reset, the next feeding is not necessary.
Inspect the puzzle regularly. It should be without bloody inclusions, not have a bad smell. If there is evidence of blood or an unpleasant odor is present, consult your veterinarian. 
Health and Life Expectancy
Cleanliness and cleanliness again! As already mentioned, the main cause of mortality of owls in the natural habitat is hunger and daytime predators. At home, these dangers are not threatened by your pet.
But there is another risk factor - infectious diseases, the main cause of which is dirt. Clean the room where the pet lives more often. Adhere to proper nutrition and at the slightest threat to health, immediately contact a veterinarian.
Did you know? On a $ 1 denomination in the upper right is a horned owl, symbolizing the goddess Astarte, bringing pain, suffering and war.
You will immediately realize that something is wrong with your owl. She becomes lethargic, lethargic. The appetite disappears, the bird can sit all day with narrowed eyes. This feathered behavior is a sure sign to go to the veterinarian. 
How many owls live in the wild is not known for certain, but it is generally accepted that an average of 5-10 years. In zoos and home conditions, cases of the life span of a nocturnal predator up to half a century have been recorded.
Hand training and taming
After you bring the owlet home, most likely the first few days he will experience stress. This is expressed in the refusal of food, the chick can get into a corner and not get out for a while.
Do not worry, this is normal. Patience and patience should be shown. Soon the feeling of hunger will take its toll - be careful not to miss this moment.
Important! Owls are representatives of a small owl family, have a more flexible and playful disposition than that of large relatives. If you have definitely decided to take an owl for upbringing, pay attention to the borefoot, or sparrow owl.
As soon as you feed the chick, his attitude towards you will change, and after a couple more feedings he will get used to you and will trust. Instinct tells the baby that there is a creature that cares when hungry - feed. By this time, the chick will already know that you have no bad intentions towards him. 
Now you can start taming the pet:
- Use a glove to protect against claws.
- No need to rush. Do not make sudden movements. If something doesn’t work out, don’t shout, you can create an insurmountable wall of misunderstanding.
- As already mentioned, predators with everyone prefer to keep their distance. At first - even with his master. An owl has an independent disposition, and she will try to demonstrate it to you. Be prepared for this.
- Hissing, clicking with a beak - signs of discontent. A feathered person can express them if you try to impose something on him. This is a signal that it is worth stopping communication.
- Your communication should include an element of play and encouragement.
- You can walk with your pet after full contact is made, not earlier. By that time, he should get used to the fittings that need to be worn a little from the first days.
Now you know what an owl is, whether it is worth keeping it at home, and what difficulties can await you in this case. But if you still have not abandoned the idea of \u200b\u200bacquiring an owl, then do not be very scared by the stories about their unsociable disposition. Remember, every living creature has its own personality, and love sometimes works miracles.
It might be useful to read:
- All About Lovebirds Parrots;
- Taming budgies: ground rules;
- Where does the golden eagle live? What is a Golden Eagle? What did the "Golden Eagles" do on Euromaidan? What eagles eat;
- How to train a parrot on the shoulder;
- Alexander Stepanovich Yakovlev “capercaillie;
- Many-faced owl: symbolism, talismans, traditions;
- All about home owls. Home nest. How to tame an owl and is it worth it. Hand training and taming;
- Why do frigates need a red bag;