Duds Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Anybody else suffering from buzzards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BattleFieldRelics Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Every pen on my permission has a nest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 We lost a few poults in the first couple of weeks, but once the poults get to a certain size, the buzzards lose interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo86 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Not so far. Last year they were all over the poults and partridges, but this year i think the nests hatched earlier so they are not so hungry at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Our poults are now 16 weeks and they're still taking them!, and, like every year, as September approaches Buzzard numbers start increasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Yep, we build conifer tepees for the birds to shelter under. Neighbouring keeper really suffered last year when the Buzzards sat on his pens which stressed the birds and kept them away from the feeders and drinkers. It's ok for these groups who are hell-bent on reintroducing all sorts of species but who takes responsibility when they start causing problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 Just been to check Rabbit traps on one of our covers. There was one Rabbit in a trap and there was four Buzzards and two Red Kites hovering over the cover. I know it's possible that they were attracted by the Rabbit in the trap but the Rabbits are chewing off the cover crop so it's a catch22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 Lost a few early on but poults quite big now. Loads buzzards on shoot now and as said numbers increasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 buzzards are increasing big time..leave them out shot rabbits/pigeons,they do seem to take the easiest meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Went to a partridge pen this morning, off flys a buzzard and there lay a dead partridge, still hot and defo killed by buzzard, that's 4 partridge and 6 pheasants I know off.... Not happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordripon Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 hawks have taken 5% of my poults this year ! mainly from one pen, strangely this is the only pen that has been badly affected by hexamita the vet agrees this was brought on by hawk predation stress. I like to see the hawks about, but 12-15 of them is a bit too many Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadge-it Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 buzzards are increasing big time..leave them out shot rabbits/pigeons,they do seem to take the easiest meal. Don't forget they like rats too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 They usually only take carrion or sick prey are definatly one for the easiest option. OH has a pair that follow him when on his permission and he throws them any crows and squirrels he bags and any rabbits that look iffy when gutted. They will also fly to him when being mobbed by crows and jink out of the way at the last minute leaving the crows for him. They have done it a few times, so it is a deliberate ploy. They come back once he has shot some for lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 We have had buzzards around the area for years but they have never seemed very interested in our poults - Until this year! Now one sits in a half dead oak tree all the time eying the birds around the release pen. I haven't seen him strike yet but think it is inevitable. The temptation will prove too much I fear. We shall see... Seems to many more of them about this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Had a family of 5 buzzards around one pen. What they killed was nothing compared to a single red kite in another pen, bloody thing has killed at least 140. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Walking the hedgerows with dog on our rough shoot the other evening I spooked an adult Buzzard and moments later put my gun up to something large which dropped from a thick hedgerow before realising it was a young Buzzard. On investigating under the hedge found a very young very dead rabbit, still warm. As I walked up a gulley only another 50 yards further, another adult and youngster dropped from a tall Ash. So that's 4 we have. As a kid it wasn't often you saw Buzzards, now they seem to be everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washman Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I feel terribly sorry for you lads but think yourselves lucky you havent got goshawks chasing your poults around the pen like a lurcher on a rabbit, and believe me the poults dont outgrow them, and with a famous north yorkshire forest with a release program over the next few years and birdy boys under every tuft of grass =HEADSTRESS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Had a gos come through last season and you are correct about them! Feel for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I know of one big commercial shoot who has decided not to do early season partridges as buzzards caused havoke by pushing birds off drives. On our syndicate they are a nuisance although this season they were not evident early season but they are back now. Spotted a buzzard taking lumps out of a hen pheasant quite close to the road near Bintry in mid-Norfolk. Thought they only ate slugs and worms Mr Packham?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I know of one big commercial shoot who has decided not to do early season partridges as buzzards caused havoke by pushing birds off drives. On our syndicate they are a nuisance although this season they were not evident early season but they are back now. Spotted a buzzard taking lumps out of a hen pheasant quite close to the road near Bintry in mid-Norfolk. Thought they only ate slugs and worms Mr Packham?? Maybe he can,t tell the difference between buzzards and thrushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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