Guest rimotu66 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I have always thought/been told that Teal feed on greens under the water line ad up to now when I have prepped them there crops seem to suggest this but last week I cleaned one and it was full of corn that we have put down for Mallard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 As far as I know they will eat barley & wheat, I have heard that they are particularly partial to rape seed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I'm sure I've seen them stuffed with small snails. This was off the shore. Feed a pond and I'm sure they are going to be full of barley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edenman Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I'm sure I've seen them stuffed with small snails. This was off the shore. Feed a pond and I'm sure they are going to be full of barley Think the snails are called hydrobia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Think the snails are called hydrobia Google images..yeah that's the ones I meant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Staple diet of the Shelduck. Think the snails are called hydrobia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangford wildfowler Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Staple diet of the Shelduck. But apparently shelduck taste like **** but teal are delicious why I wonder would they taste different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Because Hydrobia are a staple for Shellies and an occasional food source for Teal (hard weather?), perhaps. But apparently shelduck taste like **** but teal are delicious why I wonder would they taste different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Haven't eaten a shoveler yet but by the sounds of it, it's going in a curry. Try and mask all the flavor tbh wigeon aren't great half the time either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 The five i had at the weekend were full of cereal.........and now I'm full of them!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Duck feed on what they can when they can but prefer that which they have evolved to specialise in. The teal has evolved to be a shallow water dabbler, same as the mallard and Pintail but exploits the slightly shallower water (its niche). Just like these other larger dabbling duck it will take advantage of what is available at the time. As such it will taste of what it has been eating most recent. Mallard shot near public park might taste of mothers pride, Pintail before the marsh plants seed mostly taste of snail etc. Teal shot on a fed pond can be expected to taste of duck feed and Widgeon shot near a sewage farm taste of- Well I suppose you can guess! Not very nice anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double four Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 One of my ponds attracts big numbers of Teal which will eat most things, they readily take wheat or barley but iv found their favourite seems to be rape seed.or better still is the waste from a drier i bagged 40 sacks after harvest of rape/fat hen/dock seed with bits of barley broken wheat beans you name it all mixed up. They go mad for it and best of all its just a waste product so comes free ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Don't realy know what they eat but this one was tagged in Portugal recorded as seen in the Baltic and then recovered on th south coast So it must be a energy food I recon it flew a few 1000 miles All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Like a lot of ducks Teal are opportunist feeders and will pick away at most things Mallard feed on.This season we have seen big numbers of Teal and all coming to the barley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 One of my ponds attracts big numbers of Teal which will eat most things, they readily take wheat or barley but iv found their favourite seems to be rape seed.or better still is the waste from a drier i bagged 40 sacks after harvest of rape/fat hen/dock seed with bits of barley broken wheat beans you name it all mixed up. They go mad for it and best of all its just a waste product so comes free ! The teal I have been feeding into a pond seemed to eat the dried dog food I put in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 What teal feed on will depend on whats available and the time of year. In winter mainly a seed eater , but will turn to invertbrates ( snails ) in cold weather or when avalable in large quanties. In the breeding season insects become more important as they provide a rich source of protein that the females need to develope eggs. In late summer and when moulting water plants are favoured , but once flying again in late summer and autumn seeds again become their main diet. These be can be natural or wheat\barley from flight ponds. On the Wash large numbers of teal can turn to stubble fields. I remember back in the 1970s having a hell of a bag of teal (30) comming into drink having just come of a stubble. Every bird was stuffed with burnt barley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusticola Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 Don't realy know what they eat but this one was tagged in Portugal recorded as seen in the Baltic and then recovered on th south coast So it must be a energy food I recon it flew a few 1000 miles All the best My mate shot one tagged in exactly the same manner in October. I emailed the Portugese crowd who tagged it but received no reply. I still have the duck in the freezer. Who did you contact to retrieve the info from yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 My mate shot one tagged in exactly the same manner in October. I emailed the Portugese crowd who tagged it but received no reply. I still have the duck in the freezer. Who did you contact to retrieve the info from yours?A freinds son writes for shooting times He sorted it for me If you have a back issue he put contact numbers in his column (perdix) Game conservancy council All were very grateful for the returned birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 The easy way to find imformation on any ringed bird it to contact the British Trust for Ornithology in Thetford. Just google it for the address. It may take a litttle while for ringed birds from abroad , but they should be able to get the information you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusticola Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 A freinds son writes for shooting times He sorted it for me If you have a back issue he put contact numbers in his column (perdix) Game conservancy council All were very grateful for the returned birds The easy way to find imformation on any ringed bird it to contact the British Trust for Ornithology in Thetford. Just google it for the address. It may take a litttle while for ringed birds from abroad , but they should be able to get the information you want. Thanks folks! Hadn't thought on the BTO with it not being ringed by them, but I'll give them a shout today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Sorry wasent very clear perdix works at game conservancy council ring them there very helpfull My apologies for not being clear all the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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