what do u think

[bobby dazzler]

hi chaps got a farmer puting in some beans next week i no that can produce some good sport but all so puting in some linseed and never shot on linseed before is this crop any good for pigeon shooting

[Topgunners]

here is a quote from WIll Beasley back in september 2005

 

Linseed is funny stuff. I have found that they will either hit it and hit it hard or they wont bother with it what so ever. I have found that they will go mad on it at some stages when its just a couple of inches high, then again shortly once it has come into seed before harvest but never ever have I found birds feeding on it after harvesting, but that doesnt mean that they won't. They used to grow plenty of it here but I never see any these days. More and more Lupins now, and they're goooooood for de pigwigs!

[bobby dazzler]

cheers topgunner hope for the best then

[stirky]

One of the farms that i shoot planted about 10 acre of linseed last year, the pigeons never realy touched it, one day we put about a dozen birds off it but that was as good as it got, they never realy botherd with it. :yp:

[Will Beasley]

T'is funny stuff Linseed. If they spill enough of it when its drilled you'll probably get some action but like I said earlier, once its about an inch high they can go bananas on it, then they tend to leave it well alone. I think they like it when its young and succulent however shortly after I posted that in September I found 3 fields of Linseed that had been left un harvested and during October they went bananas on it. They were landing in it and pecking away like good 'uns. We found that the shot birds that had fed on it were eating the whole seed "pod" ( like a little round ball filled with seed ) rather that feeding on the little tiny seeds themselves.

[henry d]

The seed heads you meantion there,reminds me of recently when I was roosting pigeonsit was about 50/50 clover and mustard,but the whole mustard seed head was in the crop(which must have took some swallowing!)

It is interesting to hear about this as we don`t,to my knowledge get Linseed here but I can also recommend Lupins.

[invector]

Lupins are certainly a great draw for woodies. I'm waiting for the four fields that were used for field turnips,( for the sheep,) to be ploughed and seeded with lupins, and I expect to be able to shoot some fairly good numbers, soon after the seedlings show through. In fact, just last week I was checking these fields and mentally deciding where to place my hides, subject to the usual flight lines. Roll on!! With rabbits along all the hedges I'll probably also take the .17HMR, just in case.

[Highlander]

If farmer's using modern equipment or contractors for their drilling there's not likely to be much left for the birds to pick up. Unlike rooks etc pigeons don't appear to unearth their food. Once (some) crops come through Woody might take an interest but not on beans, they're best left 'til harvest time.

 

Does anyone know if a (proper) scientific study has been conducted into Woody's feeding habits? If not maybe we should all club together to sponsor one