Wood pigeons

[davelumb]

I expect this should have been in the shooting section.



MIssed!

[Steve Le maitre]

Absolute verminous creatures, akin to sky rats. About 20% of seed that goes into the ground is lost to them.
The Pigeons you see on the roads first thing in the morning are not trying to get run over, or pinch Council grit but are filling there crop with grit, grit to grind and digest my freshly planted grass seed

[davelumb]

Absolute verminous creatures, akin to sky rats. About 20% of seed that goes into the ground is lost to them.
The Pigeons you see on the roads first thing in the morning are not trying to get run over, or pinch Council grit but are filling there crop with grit, grit to grind and digest my freshly planted grass seed

That field had been drilled a couple of days ago. They did get some pigeons.

[Mike J]

Absolute verminous creatures, akin to sky rats. About 20% of seed that goes into the ground is lost to them.
The Pigeons you see on the roads first thing in the morning are not trying to get run over, or pinch Council grit but are filling there crop with grit, grit to grind and digest my freshly planted grass seed

The loss of 20% of seed was an old country theory that was proved untrue by the invention of the corn drill. Formally seed was spread with a fiddle or cast by hand and pigeons picked up the seed that was not buried.

.


Dave, those pigeons on the ground are made of plastic (not wood) but the faller in the second pic isn't
Brings back memories those pics, thank you

.

[davelumb]

Absolute verminous creatures, akin to sky rats. About 20% of seed that goes into the ground is lost to them.
The Pigeons you see on the roads first thing in the morning are not trying to get run over, or pinch Council grit but are filling there crop with grit, grit to grind and digest my freshly planted grass seed

The loss of 20% of seed was an old country theory that was proved untrue by the invention of the corn drill. Formally seed was spread with a fiddle or cast by hand and pigeons picked up the seed that was not buried.

.


Dave, those pigeons on the ground are made of plastic (not wood) but the faller in the second pic isn't
Brings back memories those pics, thank you

.

The ones on the ground looked a bit 'thin' too!

I saw a black lab pick one feathered on up, and there were feathers on the ground where the guns had been when I passed by again after they'd packed up. I reckon the three blokes had an enjoyable afternoon.

[Paddy_R]

Used to do a bit of that for farmers. Serious sport on a good day - they come in fast and sometimes you just can't keep up.

The decoys work well. You can set them up in a V shape and the birds generally funnel into the 'opening'. Had a hawk come in and try and pinch one one time.

[Steve Le maitre]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

[D10bore]

I’ve had them with 30 plus acorns in their crops,some times wonder how they fly with the weight of them

[davelumb]

I’ve had them with 30 plus acorns in their crops,some times wonder how they fly with the weight of them

I've seen one in my garden with a full crop still trying to get more in. So much so the acorns were spilling out. Greedy feckers they are.

[Mike J]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available, and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that the birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is sufficient to draw them close enough to shoot. Note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

If they are they eating, what is it?
To answer we must know when the field was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.
Another answer could be feed spread by the shooter (yes it happens).

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

[davelumb]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.

_7518302.jpg

_7518431.jpg

[Rob1980]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.
_7518302.jpg
_7518431.jpg

From the colour off the bags and variety,I'm pretty sure its maize seed Dave.

[Stewlaws]

Best meat going ... But September sport when they are carrying a layer of butter milk fat on the flanks is the time to stock a freezer.

[davelumb]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.
_7518302.jpg
_7518431.jpg

From the colour off the bags and variety,I'm pretty sure its maize seed Dave.

That'll be three years on the trot then.

[Rob1980]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.
_7518302.jpg
_7518431.jpg

From the colour off the bags and variety,I'm pretty sure its maize seed Dave.

That'll be three years on the trot then.

You can keep growing maize year after year on the same field,some other crops you can only grow for a limited number of years until you start having problems.

[davelumb]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.
_7518302.jpg
_7518431.jpg

From the colour off the bags and variety,I'm pretty sure its maize seed Dave.

That'll be three years on the trot then.

You can keep growing maize year after year on the same field,some other crops you can only grow for a limited number of years until you start having problems.

Ta.

[Steve Le maitre]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.
_7518302.jpg
_7518431.jpg

From the colour off the bags and variety,I'm pretty sure its maize seed Dave.

That'll be three years on the trot then.

You can keep growing maize year after year on the same field,some other crops you can only grow for a limited number of years until you start having problems.

Yes black grass is one of those problems you refer to, Maize gets going quickly and so starves out any weed problems. You might get some weeds but nothing to cause an issue.

[Rob1980]

If they hadn’t of invented the drill Mike the loss would have been nearer 100%, think of it this way if the Pigeons aren’t eating anything then why are they there.

First I never said the bird were not eating anything.

The most obvious answer why they there is to feed on whatever was available and the assumption is it could be spilled seed.
But there are other answers, that rhe birds are feeding on similar fields and the decoy set-up is suffiecent to draw them close enough to shoot, note the bird in the second photograph is well up and not in over the spread, the absence of scattered feathers on the field and the lack of dead birds set-up as decoys.

You ask what are they eating?
To answer we must know when it was drilled and what the crop is.
If it was drilled recently we should note the field is scattered with dried stalks from last years crop thise could easily cause some seed to be spilled outside the drill, if the field was drilled a few weeks previously, and it a maize or pea crop the birds could be picking off the emerging plant tips.

Before the corn drill was invented the seed was harrowed in. If losses were near 100% corn production wouldn't have been viable.

.

Drilled and rolled on the 24th. Previously it was maize.
_7518302.jpg
_7518431.jpg

From the colour off the bags and variety,I'm pretty sure its maize seed Dave.

That'll be three years on the trot then.

You can keep growing maize year after year on the same field,some other crops you can only grow for a limited number of years until you start having problems.

Yes black grass is one of those problems you refer to, Maize gets going quickly and so starves out any weed problems. You might get some weeds but nothing to cause an issue.

[Brian Springthorpe]

Was out decoying the other day, some prat who dislikes shooting decided to cross the field and try and shooo my decoys away from the danger , made my day, what a pillock

[davelumb]

Was out decoying the other day, some prat who dislikes shooting decided to cross the field and try and shooo my decoys away from the danger , made my day, what a pillock

[stubbojo]

good day pigeon shooting 001.jpg

pigeon shoot finn 001.jpg

angelsea carp 047.JPG

you cant beat a spot of pigeon shooting ,not done any due to the lockdown , love working the dog ..... better than shooting really