Rutlandwilly Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Just bought a new Wessex salt spreader ( pheasant feeder), the question I want to know is, if I am spinning corn in the covers, can I reduce the number of feeders? And if so do I need any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Only my opinion but would keep the feeders as well, if spinning is feeding enough they will stay full, if it comes cold or as you build up to find a correct spinning amount they will always have food. Nothing worse than having birds and them having no feed. I look after a couple of covers on our shoot, have what I consider enough feeders and loose feed too, if the feeders are only half empty end of the so be it my birds always have food available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Yes you can, if your spinner can put sufficient on the ground, then no feeders are required. We, like many others, successfully spin for many thousands of birds without the need to resort to feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerman59 Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 What do you do if it's ******* down for a couple of days, just carry on spinning? Just wondered as birds don't seem to bother with damp pellets/grain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 Start spinning when they go onto wheat. As long as the wheat on the ground does not go sour we have no problems. It's a fairly high rainfall area here and never seen or had any problems with them eating rained on wheat. If you think about it, they will be picking up spilt corn of stubbles all winter long, so a little bit of fresh, rained on wheat poses no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I'd imagine u are spinning/feeding everyday thou Charlie? If ur spinning every day u can feed pellets as ur probably feeding the birds 2,3 or 4 times a day when first on the whistle so never be lying on the ground long enough to go mushy. Depending how u use it, most larger shoots will be using spinners but have birds on the 'whistle' so only feeding the ammount it takes to keep the birds slightly hungry, but u have to feed every day. If ur spinning every day on the whistle u would have no hoppers as all feed spun, but it depends how often u will be there to spin feed. U could cut down on hoppers but if u leave them means u'll always have food if u can't get for a few days longer than usual and all the feed is gone. If ur just spinning a bit once a week or so make sure onto a lot of straw to keep birds scratching about all week, but u will get far more wastage and more waste to other animals too Unless ur feeding every day or have big numbers of birds might be as well just hand feeding odd straw rides with buckets for added interest and still have the hopers there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Now there's a man that understands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Exactly what I do, have hoppers and then the fortnight before we shoot, hand feed straw rides every other day with wheat and chopped maize just to give them a bit of interest and hopefully keep them Hanging round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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