BenBhoy Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 hi guys farm i work at has couple coveys of wild grey partridge knocking about. not much i can do to improve habitat for them e.g. planting cover etc. can put put hoppers to feed, anyone reccomend what to feed them? when to start? will carry out pest control. anything else i can do to encourage them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 I would start feeding now to get them into condition for spring, and keep feeding for as long as you can. Partridges also prefer to eat from face height, rather than pecking upwards at a spiral so tophats, pan feeders or letterbox are your best bet. The key things for partridge breeding success are predator control and areas to provide insect feed for chicks. Good luck, they need all the help they can get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted January 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 cheers for reply, didn't know that about their feeding prefrence. have got couple of spring hoppers, so guess they not much use? in terms of area to provide insects, we have 6m strips around all the fields that are tractor no go areas so fingers crossed that should help them. yeah, ever since my college days have wanted to do something to help the greys but never had chance before. thank again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 They will use hoppers as we see them round ours,but they like the springs to be lower than you would set for pheasants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Mine don`t have a problem with spring hoppers . Any feeders will be better than no feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Feeders down hedge backs are very helpful, but need to be low enough for the partridge, I have no problems with grey partridge using springs Also set up bait or trap points near each feeder for rats, otherwise you will undo all your good work feeding the birds by attracting a serious nest predator to just where you hope Mr and Mrs partridge will set up home. I did not like putting poison down but found it was the only way to deal with rats in any numbers, you will catch single transient rats easily enough in tunnel traps but a colony soon gets wise to the danger. The GWCT has some great advice on their website with regards Grey Partridge conservation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) thanks again for replies fellas. rats could well be a real problem as we already have tons, but hopefully they will stay where they are (around the feed silos). what do people reccomend to feed the partridge? as i'm doing this off my own back just for the conservation of them at the mo, i am trying to do it on a budget... what height from the ground should the spring be? Edited January 20, 2013 by BenBhoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Wheat, and just lower the feeders that you have bya couple of inch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 was hoping wheat would be the answer! thanks. will try take some pics and let ya know how they get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr pigeon Posted January 20, 2013 Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 Put a couple of bricks under your normal feeders mate that way pheasants and partridge can use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust have loads of information on grey partridges. They've produced many management factsheets which have a lot of useful information. Here is the page of management factsheets. Not all are for grey partridge. Here is another factsheet not included on that link. The main thing they need is food. The chicks are dependent on insects for the first few weeks and this can be a challenge sometimes. They also need good cover and protection from predators. That's the basics anyway. Edited January 21, 2013 by Reece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin g Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Join the partridge count scheme, and you will get all the advice you need. Its also free to join aswell.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciltalgarth Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 You need to think about the spring when your chicks will be your next generation. So start hitting the vermin hard now before the springs here so get killing, crows, magpies,stoats, weasels,rats foxes and so on. The cover and food can be a bit of longer term project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e2000e2000e Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 I've read log piles are useful to increase insect population, and in turn greys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted January 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 had first bash at the crows today - must try harder! can anyone reccomend a wheat/feed supplier in east mids/nottinghamshire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted January 26, 2013 Report Share Posted January 26, 2013 Most farms will sell you wheat it will depend how much you want each time and the price of it will go up. In your first post it says you work on a farm will they not sell you some? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted January 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 we not arable mate,dont grow any crops at all, just pigs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdix22 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Have a word with one of the reps that sells you your pig feed if you can't get any from a local source.He just might point you in the right direction to get some wheat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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