henry_o Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 Hi guys, This isn't very orthodox, but does anyone ever scatter raisins or sultanas in their drives to entice the birds in and hold them? I know poachers used to use them but is it worth scattering any one our straw feeding areas? Heard of a keeper not too far away swearing by feeding them. Any opinions or experiences out there? Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decoy1979 Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 I know a keeper that used to feed raisins, had to be chocolate coated though. He also reckoned that pheasants loved Brazil nuts, he always found his birds under the trees scratching about after them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les*1066 Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 Ordinary shelled, unsalted peanuts of the garden bird variety go down very well with pheasants etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted November 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 I know a keeper that used to feed raisins, had to be chocolate coated though. He also reckoned that pheasants loved Brazil nuts, he always found his birds under the trees scratching about after them.Oh god the raisin stories get even more unorthodox! Chocolate coated?!? I'd love to see a pheasant attempting to eat a Brazil nut. My budget won't stretch that far though. I'll see if my budget sultanas do anything then report back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 That's where all the purple quality street go then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 NAH, You suck the Chocolate off first, at Christmas, Then if the wife won`t eat them, then give them to the Phess`ys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 I can only imagine the pheasants eating and filling up on the raisins then wandering off to look for more of the tasty treats? Not sure our budget can stretch to 200 weight of raisins, but I bet they would love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 I can only imagine the pheasants eating and filling up on the raisins then wandering off to look for more of the tasty treats? Not sure our budget can stretch to 200 weight of raisins, but I bet they would love them. My budget stretches to a kg from aldi! Think I'll be sticking to my wheat and maize Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Both rasins and sultanas work very well once soaked in Vodka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 If you want to feed something different, I buy the big sacks of wildbird feed. It has wheat, sunflower seeds, chopped peanuts, millet, peas and all sorts of other seed. I figure that the smaller seeds will keep them busy on the straw, and the peanut and sunflower seeds will provide the protein to keep them coming back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studley Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Sounds like someone has been reading Danny the Champion of the World! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Maybe not a great idea, even if affordable due to their toxicity to dogs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Maybe not a great idea, even if affordable due to their toxicity to dogs? I was just thinking the same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 The only way I've seen raisins work is when poachers have soaked the raisins in brandy and then scattered them in the evening. The phesants then eat them, go up to roost a little worse for wear and fall out of the tree and break their necks. The old poachers could then walk round the woods and pick the birds up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 What a waste of good Brandy, would it work with Buckfast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodach Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Another way of using raisins was to punch holes into snow banks with a bottle and put a trail of raisins in to the hole birds will eat into the hole but can't get back out, just pull them out like corks out of a bottle. Also use peanuts as ear defenders, coat the nut in chocolate to make the seal and pop them in to you lug holes, when finished after shooting, just remove them, they come out a treat! B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffin Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 You jest but years ago we got sweepings up from dried fruit factory very good for pheasants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Maize does the trick for me, why pay more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timd999 Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Not sure about the effectiveness of raisins holding pheasants, but it's said they can be fatal to dogs - even if eaten in relatively small numbers. Apparently it causes acute renal failure. I'd be careful about scattering them around in areas they could be picked up by a canine friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filzee Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 We get a lot of raisins and Xmas cake from a big bakery. All the stuff they can't use in the cakes plus the off cuts. We feed that onto straw and it does seem to work very well as the birds scratch round for hours. As previously stated keep dogs away as my mates lab ate a couple of raisins and got a bad case of the slops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_o Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 We have a lot of dogs in the beating line so not looking at these as an option. Interesting to see how others use them though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 If I had access to lots I think I would only feed them in the pens away from any dogs if at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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