elmer fudd 0 Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Could a magpie take a new born lambs eyes and tongue or do you think something else started on the lamb and the magpie joined in ? Quote Link to post
garyw 0 Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Could a magpie take a new born lambs eyes and tongue or do you think something else started on the lamb and the magpie joined in ? yes a maggie can but so can a crow or a fox it looks like the maggie got a free lunch. Quote Link to post
Neil Cooney. 1 Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Never heard of a fox just taking the eyes and tongue. Over here the grey crow takes the eyes and tongue so I suppose the carrion crow will take them else where. In fact I've seen the grey crow taking the eyes out of a ewe stuck on her back. IMO a lamb would have to be quiet weak for a magpie to do damage. Quote Link to post
Guest JohnGalway Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Eyes, tounges, brains and guts from the lower belly and behind are all corvid work Maggie could well do it yes, as could hoodie/greycrow, raven, greater black backed seagull etc. As Neil has said they'll do it to ewes on their backs, I've seen them stalk very young lambs while their ewe was away eating at the trough, they'll also, obviously, go after a sickly lamb. Proper shower the lot of them, some liek the raven are protected though so don't shoot any unless you have permission from Defra or whomever deals with that over there. Not sure on GBB seagull status, I know here they can be shot if you can prove they're a problem to stock. Quote Link to post
garyw 0 Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Never heard of a fox just taking the eyes and tongue. Over here the grey crow takes the eyes and tongue so I suppose the carrion crow will take them else where. In fact I've seen the grey crow taking the eyes out of a ewe stuck on her back.IMO a lamb would have to be quiet weak for a magpie to do damage. neil sorry i answered the question in the wrong context i meant that a fox will take the tongue as well as the rest of a carcass. Quote Link to post
elmer fudd 0 Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Just to add , two magpies have been shot and it was a sickly lamb . We`ll have to see if it`s the end of the lamb problem. It will depend on if there are any more slow lambs and any more problem birds i suppose, not nice for the farmer at all. Quote Link to post
Guest JohnGalway Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 I'm a sheep farmer, and you're right it's not one bit nice. I've a lot more time and respect for Mr Fox than corvids. At least the fox will do his level best to outright kill the lamb and not leave walking wounded behind. We've had, before I got armed mind you , lambs with 50% of their tounge pulled out and one eye pecked out who recovered from their injuries. Quote Link to post
Rabbit sniper 0 Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 It's normaly ether hooded crows or rooks that do it but i have seen magpies join in with them. Quote Link to post
lgray88 4 Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 up here its usually black backed gulls and arctic skuas that do the most damage , the corvids usually come on later but they never seems to be able to cause the damage that the arctic skuas do liam Quote Link to post
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