Suitable premises
As well as providing aviaries of a size attributable to good practice, you will also need land on which to fly your birds. This is more demanding than you think: the land needs to be in the countryside, but it’s no good flying your birds of prey in an area where they can worry or attack a farmer’s livestock.

Tight security
Some birds of prey are very valuable. Aside from having a DNa test done on your bird, and registering it with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, you would be also well advised to have your bird micro-chipped. On-site security might include gravel paths, alarms, and movement detector lights.

Equipment
Besides constructing a suitable aviary, you’ll need an assortment of blocks, rotating perches, gloves, bags, hoods and tackle for flying your bird.

Food
Birds of prey require a specialised diet of mice, chicks, rats. These don’t have to be live prey; however, birds of prey don’t prosper on a diet of Big Macs.

A ‘Special’ love-hat
If you’re going to attempt to breed birds of prey, you’re going to need specialist knowledge of artificial insemination techniques. Whilst not necessarily requiring one of Griff’s ‘love hats’, you will need access to scientific equipment which allows you to gather, split, keep, and transport bird semen.