Hur5ty Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Hello, What would people say the Wood Pigeons most favourite crop is leading into the summer months? Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 (edited) It's very difficult to say, but I think pigeons prefer grains and seeds to anything else. I believe they would eat wheat, barley or rape seed most of the time if they could. Right now, before any of those are available (other than drilled grain), pigeons will more than likely be found on rape, peas, clover or set-aside. Edited March 22, 2014 by motty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 I would agree theyy prefer a seed diet. however because of availability i would say clover or slow growing patchy rape, probably not there favourite but there to eat from now till laid barley etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocknee Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 They eat such a varied and wide variety that as motty says it is very hard to say what they would prefer. It is generally what is available at the time this winter for instance there has been such an abundance of acorns and wild food that the rape has barely been touched. It also varies from area to area depending on what crops are grown but I would also say that the favourite is wheat barley and rape seeds followed closely by maize beans and peas though acorns would have to figure somewhere in there too. Peas are a good crop as pigeons eat them at all stages from when they are drilled through to harvest with a gap of usually a couple of months when they go back to being woodpigeons once again and return to the woods to eat tree buds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hur5ty Posted March 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi Guys, Some great information here! Many thanks for sharing it with me! Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Rape seed Cereals Peas In that order Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 round here it will be clover favourite crop ever...............slashed mixed maize sorgum game cover at the end of the game season...........its like the pigeon version of "crack cocain"...only lasts a couple of sessions...then its had it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 Favourite arable crop would be Wheat imo Natural crop would be mast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted May 21, 2014 Report Share Posted May 21, 2014 From now till summer I'd say peas , clover and any short rape. Then the stubbles, my favorites barley rape peas then wheat in that order. Self germinating tic beans can be excellent as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Agree, clover, short rape, peas. Linseed is great to had some amazing days on linseed befor it gets too high! Them little wild Pansy's are fantastic too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 They're pretty keen to get at our cherry tree at the moment, but we've netted it after being wiped out last year. A cherry orchard (or whatever they're called) would be a top spot right now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Don't forget any berries , ivy being a favourite, then beach mast, new ash buds, and hawthorn, virtually anything new and green, chickweed , just depends what is available to them, that's why they are so successful , they will have a go at almost anything, a local horse paddock which has a lot of clover in it has been blue with birds for weeks, just wish a few would fly over my perm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted May 27, 2014 Report Share Posted May 27, 2014 I think years ago before the use of sprays they would live quite happily on the weed seeds which would be abundant and berries, buds etc. probably causing no bother to the farmers at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 My brother was out today over on tide line by Newport(wales) and spotted several pigeon out on wigeon grass.....I have seen them feeding on weed seeds every year(weeds and grass on sea side of wall)but never on wigeon grass which is 200 yards out on mud flats. Maybe they are attracted to minerals in the plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted June 1, 2014 Report Share Posted June 1, 2014 I live very near a salt marsh and there are always a few hundred pigeons on it all summer! All day everyday, just wish I could go after them but it's way too public! I have often wondered the same as you, are they after the salt content or what?? I would love to shoot jus 1 and open it's crop! Maybe someone can shed more light on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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