Love in the Air: Conditioning Birds of Prey for Breeding Season

As daylight hours increase, falcons, hawks and owls begin shifting into breeding condition. For falconers and raptor keepers, this is the ideal time to review your bird of prey diet and increase nutritional density to support fertility, egg production and overall health.

Increase Nutritional Density with Whole Prey

In the wild, raptors consume whole animals. Offering a variety of whole prey during pre-breeding helps provide the balanced protein, fat, bone and organ content birds need.

Frozen quail are an excellent conditioning choice. They offer a complete prey profile, natural calcium from bone, and quality fat reserves, making them ideal for falcon feeding in the UK during breeding prep.

Similarly, frozen day-old chicks are highly digestible and naturally fatty, helping birds build energy reserves without excessive bulk. Many keepers rotate chicks into the diet several times per week as breeding approaches. You can explore our range of frozen day-old chicks on our website.

Small mammals are equally important for balanced raptor nutrition. Whole mice provide bone, organ tissue and muscle in the correct proportions, supporting both body condition and long-term health. Our frozen mice range can be found here.

Adding Variety with Raw Meat Mixes

While whole prey should remain the foundation, high-quality raw meat blends can support conditioning when used correctly. They’re particularly useful for adjusting intake or supplementing leaner birds. Our KB raw minced meat mixtures offer convenient options for adding protein and variety to breeding diets.

Successful breeding starts weeks before the first egg is laid. By focusing on nutrient-dense whole prey — including quail, chicks and small mammals — and maintaining a varied, species-appropriate feeding plan, you’ll support optimal condition and reproductive health.