DJL4 Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 The farm manager on one of the larger shoots I pick up on is intending to spread chicken manure on all the stubble's very shortly. With a significant number of pheasant/partridge on the shoot what do readers think? Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Something stinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 It certainly won't help. Better send him the bill for all the birds that ****** off afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 The farm manager on one of the larger shoots I pick up on is intending to spread chicken manure on all the stubble's very shortly. With a significant number of pheasant/partridge on the shoot what do readers think? Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated. We had chicken muck spread on our fields for years ,pheasants dont seem mind as much as I do ,but as far as it goes he will have to incorperate in once spread so you will loose your stubble after its been done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJL4 Posted October 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2011 Apart from the obvious problems of smell and loseing the stubbles would there not be the potential for disease transmission? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted November 4, 2011 Report Share Posted November 4, 2011 Apart from the obvious problems of smell and loseing the stubbles would there not be the potential for disease transmission? Sorry its been a while for my answer I've been a bit busy ,so in answer to your question.theres no more potential for disease than if a bird carring a disease flys over your field and poos on it from a great hight as most chicken farms etc treat their birds as a matter of cause so there should'nt be a problem cheers Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeperdan Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 If you can get some spread on your game crop sites it works wonders.. We put it on ours and it's like rocket fuel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 The farm manager on one of the larger shoots I pick up on is intending to spread chicken manure on all the stubble's very shortly. With a significant number of pheasant/partridge on the shoot what do readers think? Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated. So tell us DJL4 has the farmer spread the muck/ or what difference has it made ?. Cheers Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJL4 Posted November 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 So tell us DJL4 has the farmer spread the muck/ or what difference has it made ?. Cheers Dave. Ongoing ..... Shoot owner abroad. Meeting arranged between farm manager, keeper & shoot owner on his return. Will keep you posted. Cheers for the interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 We can't be called a "pheasant shoot" by any stretch of the imagination. We have completely wild birds which we look after by hammering the fox and magpies. Must say, though, that this year we've got a fair few - the fields are looking more like Sandringham than Birmingham. One of the farm's products is eggs so we're used to the manure and it causes the birds no problems. However, define manure. The local fox population are aware - and it seems to get handed down from generation to generation - that there's the occasional carcass to be found. Consequently as soon as they pick up the scent of a new deposit, they're on it. In one sense it's handy as it acts as a midden, but either way watch out as you're probably going to be busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJL4 Posted November 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 wymberley Posted Today, 11:57 AM We can't be called a "pheasant shoot" by any stretch of the imagination. We have completely wild birds which we look after by hammering the fox and magpies. Must say, though, that this year we've got a fair few - the fields are looking more like Sandringham than Birmingham. One of the farm's products is eggs so we're used to the manure and it causes the birds no problems. However, define manure. The local fox population are aware - and it seems to get handed down from generation to generation - that there's the occasional carcass to be found. Consequently as soon as they pick up the scent of a new deposit, they're on it. In one sense it's handy as it acts as a midden, but either way watch out as you're probably going to be busy. Thanks for the post Wymberley, good to hear you've seen no down side. As to being busy with "extra" foxes, the total's shot on this estate in past years has always been in the hundreds each year so I doubt a few extra's would be noticeable. As an aside, has anyone around the country noticed a reduction in fox numbers being seen/lamped/shot lately? I ask because the three estates here in Kent I have most to do with are all down on numbers seen/shot in comparison with this time last year and previously. I'm sure they'll come out of the woodwork shortly but would be interested to hear if others are experiencing the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 (edited) Thanks for the post Wymberley, good to hear you've seen no down side. As to being busy with "extra" foxes, the total's shot on this estate in past years has always been in the hundreds each year so I doubt a few extra's would be noticeable. As an aside, has anyone around the country noticed a reduction in fox numbers being seen/lamped/shot lately? I ask because the three estates here in Kent I have most to do with are all down on numbers seen/shot in comparison with this time last year and previously. I'm sure they'll come out of the woodwork shortly but would be interested to hear if others are experiencing the same. Absolutely, haven't bothered going out for several weeks - none of the farm lads have seen owt. We were pretty pleased that we'd got the numbers down, but this is very unusual. Perhaps the mating season will liven things up. Edit: Oops, East Devon Edited November 11, 2011 by wymberley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJL4 Posted November 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 Absolutely, haven't bothered going out for several weeks - none of the farm lads have seen owt. We were pretty pleased that we'd got the numbers down, but this is very unusual. Perhaps the mating season will liven things up. Edit: Oops, East Devon This post has been edited by wymberley: Today, 04:09 PM Dont think the local keepers would consider not going out for several weeks an option! We still go out lamping very regularly but just are'nt seing the numbers around atm. Interesting to hear your seeing less to tho .... strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 Dont think the local keepers would consider not going out for several weeks an option! We still go out lamping very regularly but just are'nt seing the numbers around atm. Interesting to hear your seeing less to tho .... strange. At my age you don't keep a dog and b.... The chap out lamping the rabbits will let me know if I have to put the stopper back in the port decanter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Thanks for the post Wymberley, good to hear you've seen no down side. As to being busy with "extra" foxes, the total's shot on this estate in past years has always been in the hundreds each year so I doubt a few extra's would be noticeable. As an aside, has anyone around the country noticed a reduction in fox numbers being seen/lamped/shot lately? I ask because the three estates here in Kent I have most to do with are all down on numbers seen/shot in comparison with this time last year and previously. I'm sure they'll come out of the woodwork shortly but would be interested to hear if others are experiencing the same. I must admit we have one big dog fox who keeps the rest away (well the moment!) but its not going to be long before the ladys come calling and then we'll be ready, and at least they'll be easier to call up aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJL4 Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Update - Shoot owner decreed there is to be NO chicken manure spread anywhere on the shoot, end of. Keeper happy .... Farm manager not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav912 Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Update - Shoot owner decreed there is to be NO chicken manure spread anywhere on the shoot, end of. Keeper happy .... Farm manager not. Thats the start of a battle then......farm manager not happy = he will now do things to interrupt any shooting activities and annoy the keeper. Shoots cause more arguements on farms than anything else at times, once the shoot starts taking president over farming activities its the start of a slippery slope. I've seen it first hand with working on a large estate in the past where our cropping plan actually got modified to accomodate 3 days of sporting activity, along with a ban on hedge cutting until the end of the season. Currently the shoot works around us where I am now which is how it should be in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 (edited) Thats the start of a battle then......farm manager not happy = he will now do things to interrupt any shooting activities and annoy the keeper. Shoots cause more arguements on farms than anything else at times, once the shoot starts taking president over farming activities its the start of a slippery slope. I've seen it first hand with working on a large estate in the past where our cropping plan actually got modified to accomodate 3 days of sporting activity, along with a ban on hedge cutting until the end of the season. Currently the shoot works around us where I am now which is how it should be in my opinion. I totally agree with you on this one gav912 until shoot earns more than the farm the farm must come first, Now if the farmer/ manager can work well with you put it down as a bonus.This is one of the problems I had with my last lot said I should have told the farmer he could'nt lift sugar beet on a day we were shooting! honest to god some people have no idear . Edited November 28, 2011 by gamekeeper1960 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav912 Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I totally agree with you on this one gav912 until shoot earns more than the farm the farm must come first, Now if the farmer/ manager can work well with you put it down as a bonus.This is one of the problems I had with my last lot said I should have told the farmer he could'nt lift sugar beet on a day we were shooting! honest to god some people have no idear . Its a big bonus if the manager/farmer will work with you, in my experience most will as long as the shoot make no unreasonable demands. Its when they start trying to dictate what should and shouldn't be done by the farm that a storm starts to brew. I was always told by a keeper that he would actually prefer us to be working on shoot days (within reason, not in the middle of a drive obviously) as it keeps the birds on their toes. With a little co-operation and communication between both parties about shoot days and which drives you plan on using on what day the farm and shoot can work in harmony with each other. Syndicates need to be particularly carefull if they only rent a shoot off a farm as if they start throwing their weight around they basically sign their own eviction notice. There's not many shoots that earn more than the farm but those that do are usually on bigger estates so their still shouldn't be too much friction. Some trouble can come when the machinery operators on the farm know more about shooting practices than the manager who can be completely ignorant on such matters, they know what should be done when but powers that be don't and won't listen to those that do and annoy the shoot because of it.......better stop there as I can feel my blood pressure rising Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 You should be ok this year other than the smell but pig **** is worse, I have the remains from the local sewer beds being emptied near one of my pens at present, that hums more than a bit I can tell you. Next summer you MIGHT have a disease issue caused by disease in the muck. Friend of mine lost 40% of his birds 2 years ago when a similar thing happened, birds on the pens were fine, once they were out a week or two they were dropping like flies from Hexamiter. Hen muck was 1 field away from his pen. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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