Harnser Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Had a drive around the farms today and noticed about twenty pigeons on young sugar beet . Also sat and watched 3 fallow bucks feeding on one of the rape fields , made my day . Even more convinced I don't want to shoot them any more . I did walk them off the field to stop them munching the rape . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 I have shot some nice bags on young beet fields , I have never been convinced they are eating to beet itself though , I think they are more likely to be on the weeds that grow between the rows. As you say always worth keeping a eye on the beet fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 +1 never known of pigeons to eat sugarbeet leaves wrong foliage but like what is termed soft weeds chickweed etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 i notice birds on the emerging sugar beet....cant be after weeds as they spray a "pre-emergence" spray...but yet again i have never known the birds to eat beet....mice do a lot of damage in the early stages, and birds do halfheartedly peck the leaves..........but still i have shot 30-50 on young beet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 +1 never known of pigeons to eat sugarbeet leaves wrong foliage but like what is termed soft weeds chickweed etc They will eat the young leaves with relish . They will also eat the leaves when about half grown . They like the beet leaves in hot weather for the moisture content . You will often see the beet drooping in hot weather . Keep your eye on it after it has been irrigated .it then becomes succulent to pigeons because of the moisture content . Harnser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 must be a local thing your way with the sandy soil never seen irrigation on beet fields (not saying it doesn't happen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 must be a local thing your way with the sandy soil never seen irrigation on beet fields (not saying it doesn't happen) gets this dry down here sometimes...you have to irrigate the field to germinate it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted April 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 must be a local thing your way with the sandy soil never seen irrigation on beet fields (not saying it doesn't happen) I tell you now , the beet and potatoes would not survive with out almost constant irrigation . Last year my farmer was irrigating cereals . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted April 13, 2014 Report Share Posted April 13, 2014 I tell you now , the beet and potatoes would not survive with out almost constant irrigation . Last year my farmer was irrigating cereals . Harnser . There is a farm I have shot partridges on and they use a mobile irrigation system on the wheat! They have a huge lake and draw it from there. It adds about 1/2 ton to the acre according to the guy on the tractor. TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 (edited) On the shoot I have just joined, the farm grow a fair bit of beet and has two large irrigation reservoirs for that very purpose. A couple of weeks ago I found a good number of pigeons feeding on old rotten beet still in the ground on what was fairly new drilled peas. You could so all the beak marks in the soft mushy beets. I tell you now , the beet and potatoes would not survive with out almost constant irrigation . Last year my farmer was irrigating cereals .Harnser . Edited April 14, 2014 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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