Steve29 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Is anyone else seeing a lot of dead pigeons lying around at the moment, and I don't mean ones you have shot before someone makes that comment !? Whilst out walking over the last few months I've been seeing quite a few carcases lying around under trees and a few sick looking pigeons either sat up in trees or on the ground. It didn't really register as anything out of the ordinary until earlier this week when I saw 5 carcases and 2 sick birds in as many paces. I've done almost no pigeon shooting this year so have not kept in touch with it, it might be that this is something more widespread and widely reported, although I haven't found any articles to suggest that is the case as yet. Anyone any ideas? Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browning n spaniel Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I read last week the there is a disease called trichomonosis which is a parasite, which affects the digestive tract of the bird and pervents it from swallowing and breathing properly, since 2005 out breaks have been every year, this parasite is also affecting garden birds such as greenfinches, chaffinches . symptoms are wetness around beak, puffed feathers, and lifeless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Seen a few lying under trees when walking the dog around here , not that unusual though all those birds we "*****" normally will just go sit in a tree until they drop dead and hence are often found under them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorsey Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 all those birds we "*****" normally will just go sit in a tree until they drop dead and hence are often found under them. I don't wanna know what you do to pigeons that forces Pigeon Watch to censor your words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browning n spaniel Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 in this part of the world we try our best to shoot um, but hey,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foghorn Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Sparrow hawks ( females ) and buzzards picking of wounded or sick and some times young pigeons. If you watch a buzzard it will sit for hours in a favorite tree and wait and see what pops up either under the tree or in it. Buzzards in particular have now changed their feeding habits, ie not as reliant on carrion and road kill and are starting to catch live quarry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Lot's of them about round here.. Usually found looking dull, and just moping about the tramlines :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 We see some birds dead under trees each year around the seeding and have always put it down to RED seed. Talking to farmers they seem to think that the red coating is bad for the birds. I'm not sure if that is true but one old boy said that it was red lead that they cover the seed with the kill the crows??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 We see some birds dead under trees each year around the seeding and have always put it down to RED seed. Talking to farmers they seem to think that the red coating is bad for the birds. I'm not sure if that is true but one old boy said that it was red lead that they cover the seed with the kill the crows??? If that were true there would be thousands of dead birds around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon street Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I've seen loads around here as well. all looking very unwell and with puffed feathers. spoke to a local farmer who said he han rollered quite a few that didn't get out the way in time. this is the first year i have seen it and it seems to be everywhere. of course we are all trying to keep pigeon numbers down but i don't like to see this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve29 Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I've seen loads around here as well. all looking very unwell and with puffed feathers. Whereabouts are you pigeon street? That's very similar to what i'm seeing. I don't think it can be put down to wounded birds, shooting or buzzards, etc, the dead/ill birds are too spread out within the area. Also not sure it is seed as the instances would be concentrated around the time that they has access to 'red' seed! Looks to my untrained eye to be some sort of disease that's hitting them! Next time I see one looking unwell i'll have a look for the symtoms of trichomonosis. Is it something I ought to be reporting if it looks like it might be that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 i have heard that if they eat too many acorns some can poision themselfs ,last year there was hardly any acorns around this area and i did'nt see many sick or dead birds, this year theres loads of acorns and i have seen a fair few sick and dead uns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon street Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Whereabouts are you pigeon street? That's very similar to what i'm seeing. I don't think it can be put down to wounded birds, shooting or buzzards, etc, the dead/ill birds are too spread out within the area. Also not sure it is seed as the instances would be concentrated around the time that they has access to 'red' seed! Looks to my untrained eye to be some sort of disease that's hitting them! Next time I see one looking unwell i'll have a look for the symtoms of trichomonosis. Is it something I ought to be reporting if it looks like it might be that? Im in Suffolk, and as you say, the birds are all spread out. i have noticed it now for several months now. its something i have never seen in 30 years of shooting i have heard that if they eat too many acorns some can poision themselfs ,last year there was hardly any acorns around this area and i did'nt see many sick or dead birds, this year theres loads of acorns and i have seen a fair few sick and dead uns. thing to do is find a dead one and open its crop, see what its been eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 thing to do is find a dead one and open its crop, see what its been eating. Thats a good point, maybe it might show something in common Gets those crops opened up and post the results back here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 if it was the red seed you would see it every year because they have used it for drilling for years and never heard or seen anything myself out the ordinary, including this year to be honest but reading about it on here has got me thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 It can be the toxins in acorns they Eat so many that the tannins kill them I kid you not! Silly things ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon street Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 I'll have a look later today see what i can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 i have heard that if they eat too many acorns some can poision themselfs ,last year there was hardly any acorns around this area and i did'nt see many sick or dead birds, this year theres loads of acorns and i have seen a fair few sick and dead uns. Whether its true or not it makes sense.Haven't seen as many acorns around here for years and years. Only seen a couple of sickly birds though,walking around aimlessly when they should have been off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 Farmer on one of my farms reckons he's been finding weak pigeons laying about around his house. Could be anybody's guess why Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon street Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) Well, found 2 dead birds tonight both rollerd by the farmer and have been dead for about 4 days+. Opened up ther crop's to find they were both empty Spoke to a friend how said he thorght it was Canker. My link I found this, it has already been mentioned in this thread, on reading, it seem that this is probable it. Anyone eles had a look? Edited October 13, 2011 by pigeon street Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve29 Posted October 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Anyone eles had a look? Not had chance yet but will do as soon as I come across the next one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 the red 'stuff' on seeds is probably the dressing, the seeds are coated in it to stop disease in the soils infecting it, like a pre fungicide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpip Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Drove onto a cut maize field today only 1 pigeon sat, it flew off when I drove up to it, went back down lane 2 pigeons sat, drove over 1 it did not fly off just sat there. Got out & picked it up, it was very weak so I dispatched it its crop was empty & it was really thin, no sign of being shot, the other 1 did'nt look healthy but was strong enough to fly off, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlander Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Very interesting thread, lately my spaniel has brought a few very lethargic woodies and collared doves that she has found back to me when we are out on our daily walks, wonder if this is the same thing??? Outlander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thats a good point, maybe it might show something in common Gets those crops opened up and post the results back here I would think all sick and dead birds crops will be empty because they probly go off feeding then get weak and die. i rekon its acorns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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