buzzards

[Bonusfishfox 0]

Hi,

Ive come to the conclusion over the years that ive been a full time keeper & the many converations enjoyed with falconer freinds that the best way of avoiding predation caused by buzzards among other avian predators, is by putting 9wk birds down 1-5 of august, that gives them 22 weeks for the 1st week in November when we start.

Ive put down birds for years in the begining of July but It turns out that by releasing slightly later you miss the window of them feeding their own young & that in actual fact fruits of the predation is more or less regurgitated down fledgelings throats in the nest.

Falconers friends have also said that their birds dont really like pheasant meat either but do feed it to juveniles,including tawny & other owls.

i don't know how right that is but it does tie in with what ive observed in the field.

The way i look at it,9-10 week poults are out of range for juvenile predators,getting about at the begining of August (other than the weak small birds) & at this time of year there are plenty of other prey species available silly half grown rabbits & hares & whatnot.

It seems right for us up to now as our predation this year is 90% down, or is it just one of those years...............we'll see next year but ive probably economised 100 poults or so this year.

If you can't do that, the Terror kites & round reflective whirly gigs with eyes, have proved very effective, i had a goshawk that was worrying one pen, she killed two days running, i hung it in a tree, i havn't seen it since, another coinciedence??I also stuck the whirlygig on a corner post of the pen, I bought mine at DAVID BRIGHT SEEDS LTD in salisbury.They do work.

Hope this helps.....

[danw 1,748]

Hi,

Ive come to the conclusion over the years that ive been a full time keeper & the many converations enjoyed with falconer freinds that the best way of avoiding predation caused by buzzards among other avian predators, is by putting 9wk birds down 1-5 of august, that gives them 22 weeks for the 1st week in November when we start.

Ive put down birds for years in the begining of July but It turns out that by releasing slightly later you miss the window of them feeding their own young & that in actual fact fruits of the predation is more or less regurgitated down fledgelings throats in the nest.

Falconers friends have also said that their birds dont really like pheasant meat either but do feed it to juveniles,including tawny & other owls.

i don't know how right that is but it does tie in with what ive observed in the field.

The way i look at it,9-10 week poults are out of range for juvenile predators,getting about at the begining of August (other than the weak small birds) & at this time of year there are plenty of other prey species available silly half grown rabbits & hares & whatnot.

It seems right for us up to now as our predation this year is 90% down, or is it just one of those years...............we'll see next year but ive probably economised 100 poults or so this year.

If you can't do that, the Terror kites & round reflective whirly gigs with eyes, have proved very effective, i had a goshawk that was worrying one pen, she killed two days running, i hung it in a tree, i havn't seen it since, another coinciedence??I also stuck the whirlygig on a corner post of the pen, I bought mine at DAVID BRIGHT SEEDS LTD in salisbury.They do work.

Hope this helps.....

 

 

 

Where do you get 9 week old birds in from I suspect that many game farmers would be reluctant to supply at that age knowing how the poults have a nasty habit of going back from 7 weeks on if they have not been placed in release pens and they would be a nightmare to wing clip the blood feather would have or just about grown out some of us would still need to have birds in july as we shoot in october I hope it works for you but I don't see it as a viable alternative.

 

 

 

P.s do you work for Brights seems you like advertising their wares

Edited September 5, 2011 by danw

[Lab 10,979]

Hi,

Ive come to the conclusion over the years that ive been a full time keeper & the many converations enjoyed with falconer freinds that the best way of avoiding predation caused by buzzards among other avian predators, is by putting 9wk birds down 1-5 of august, that gives them 22 weeks for the 1st week in November when we start.

Ive put down birds for years in the begining of July but It turns out that by releasing slightly later you miss the window of them feeding their own young & that in actual fact fruits of the predation is more or less regurgitated down fledgelings throats in the nest.

Falconers friends have also said that their birds dont really like pheasant meat either but do feed it to juveniles,including tawny & other owls.

i don't know how right that is but it does tie in with what ive observed in the field.

The way i look at it,9-10 week poults are out of range for juvenile predators,getting about at the begining of August (other than the weak small birds) & at this time of year there are plenty of other prey species available silly half grown rabbits & hares & whatnot.

It seems right for us up to now as our predation this year is 90% down, or is it just one of those years...............we'll see next year but ive probably economised 100 poults or so this year.

If you can't do that, the Terror kites & round reflective whirly gigs with eyes, have proved very effective, i had a goshawk that was worrying one pen, she killed two days running, i hung it in a tree, i havn't seen it since, another coinciedence??I also stuck the whirlygig on a corner post of the pen, I bought mine at DAVID BRIGHT SEEDS LTD in salisbury.They do work.

Hope this helps.....

I have a funny feeling it has just been "1 of they seasons" for you. I would be reluctant to keep poults in the field as Dan says till 9 weeks for the chance of any disease starting. Realistically they birds need out at 7 as by that time they have the grass in the pens well flattened and are needing out for space and insect life. The price would for a 9 week old poult would be another added expense. Also i wouldn't be keen on releasing poults at that age, i've found in the past that the closer you get to 10 weeks the harder it is to keep your birds in the pen.

Buzzards dont like pheasant meat?....., i would tend to say nonsense to that statement but when you see the amount of poults killed and barely eaten by Buzzards you may well have a point there........a very interesting point for the hook beak lovers that 1..........."killing for the fun off it"!!..

Will be nice to hear how your seasons continue if you decide to go along this route.........how much are your poults to buy at 9 week?......

Another obvious disadvantage would be most large commercial shoots will want to shoot a good few days in October

[davegilly 1]

Weput radios next to the pen, (radio 1s best!) And leave them on, makes them think someone is about all the time, also makes the pheasants a bit more relaxaed after a while....its worked so far

[ftm 3,357]

i was beating in northumberland a while back [loads of buzzards] and the keeper got a lad in with a golden eagle sorted!

[The Duncan 802]

thanks for your ideas ive tried most of them a with some success, will try the eagle owl one or maybe a scarecrow

 

We just put a debris mesh roof on our pens stops all raptors !! Bit of cost but worth it

Unrealistic on any decent pen. Licenses to control them at peak times is the only way.

Just try getting a license !

[Lab 10,979]

thanks for your ideas ive tried most of them a with some success, will try the eagle owl one or maybe a scarecrow

 

We just put a debris mesh roof on our pens stops all raptors !! Bit of cost but worth it

Unrealistic on any decent pen. Licenses to control them at peak times is the only way.

Just try getting a license !

i know!!

[Guest jt750]

Buzzards are all part and parcel of the countryside ...1000 poults in an enclosed area for monetary purposes isn't natural ..tough titty if you lose a few birds ..deal with it

[Lab 10,979]

Buzzards are all part and parcel of the countryside ...1000 poults in an enclosed area for monetary purposes isn't natural ..tough titty if you lose a few birds ..deal with it

.................f**k off ya auld c**t!!!

[Guest jt750]

Buzzards are all part and parcel of the countryside ...1000 poults in an enclosed area for monetary purposes isn't natural ..tough titty if you lose a few birds ..deal with it

.................f**k off ya auld c**t!!!

That a little bite

[Lab 10,979]

Buzzards are all part and parcel of the countryside ...1000 poults in an enclosed area for monetary purposes isn't natural ..tough titty if you lose a few birds ..deal with it

.................f**k off ya auld c**t!!!

That a little bite

Not at all tb750..........

[danw 1,748]

Buzzards are all part and parcel of the countryside ...1000 poults in an enclosed area for monetary purposes isn't natural ..tough titty if you lose a few birds ..deal with it

 

 

Am pleased that you agree that we should be able to deal with the problem

 

seems strange to me that licences are readily available to shoot cormorants a bird with far less numbers than buzzards yet when we want to shoot a buzzard that kills poults worth far more than any trout it's the end of the world

[jakk 6]

Guys set up a platform in the middle of a open field and throw your guts etc on there while your poults are just out buzzards will always take the easier option. Buzzards as as species are becoming much more predatory like their cousins the american red tailed buzzard. This is what my old man has done for the last few years and it gives the poults a fighting chance without resorting to illegal measures. If your shoots are holding buzzards then it means that if the buzzards were to disappear all that would happen is that another pair would take over the territory.

[not amused 4]

Guys set up a platform in the middle of a open field and throw your guts etc on there while your poults are just out buzzards will always take the easier option. Buzzards as as species are becoming much more predatory like their cousins the american red tailed buzzard. This is what my old man has done for the last few years and it gives the poults a fighting chance without resorting to illegal measures. If your shoots are holding buzzards then it means that if the buzzards were to disappear all that would happen is that another pair would take over the territory.