Ferretboy111 Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 As many of you know i have my own shoot in suffolk and gamekeeper for this. Whilst feeding today i notcied that on my main cover strip/ surrounding areas i counted around 10 cock birds and 1 hen, 3 of which were melanistic, they have begun to confront one another aswell. Need some advice, should i thin the numbers out or leave them? im thinking of just leaving them as they know the grounds and have survived well so far even though they out number the hens, maybe 1 cock to 1 hen around this strip. Any advice appreciated. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Leave them mate, they will spread out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Its a tough one too many and they will displace birds but at this stage in the year I'd leave it especially if its only a small number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 Yeah, i think ill leave them. Its a gamble really, too many and it may disrupt the amount of wild chicks that survive/ are bred, however thin them out and i may not get any wild birds bred and wont have any cocks either, which i must add fly bloody cracking. Alex Im hoping to reach atleast 80 bag total next year if all goes well, with my base number of around 30 odd still doing well on my shoot+ the 180 birds put down. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 If your ratio is really 1:10 then your hens will die. They'll literally get trampled into the ground. Fortunately I suspect you've probably got more hens on your patch than you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pelt man Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 As many of you know i have my own shoot in suffolk and gamekeeper for this. Whilst feeding today i notcied that on my main cover strip/ surrounding areas i counted around 10 cock birds and 1 hen, 3 of which were melanistic, they have begun to confront one another aswell. Need some advice, should i thin the numbers out or leave them? im thinking of just leaving them as they know the grounds and have survived well so far even though they out number the hens, maybe 1 cock to 1 hen around this strip. Any advice appreciated. Alex How would you thin them out the season has finnished PELTMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 At this time of year cocks are very evident and hens are not, that may be why you are seeing so many. If you have anything like a 10 : 1 ratio, I would certainly persuade some to move on to pastures new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 Thin them out by catching them up and moving them. I definately have more than 1 hen around, just not as many as cock birds. Ill keep assessing the situation then decide, the hens were no way near the cocks yesterday. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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