The Sniper Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 This may be a rural myth, but twice recently I have heard farmers telling me that there are certain varieties of rape that pigeons do not like to eat. I can't agree with them after seeing two fields that have been razed to the ground by hungry pigeons, and the farmer tells me they don't like that variety !! Anyone else heard of this myth ? Anyone have any comments about this ? Ah yes, I don't think they were winding me up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Ive heard this also, but not for some time. I have a friend who supplies and drills seed on a contract basis for many farmers. I shall contact him and ask the question. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 I have spoken to my farmer friend and he has not heard of a "pigeon proof" variety of rape. He did mention that some rape seed is "dressed", which the pigeons don,t like, but that is only apparent at the drilling stage, not when the crop is growing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 yes it is true but I don't think it works we grow winner which is suposed to be not liked buy pigeon but if there is nothing else they will not go hungry. cheers John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddeer 40 Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 yes it seems to be true, last week we were shooting in Rutland and the farmer there told us about certain fields with a new kind of rapeseed. On these fields he didn't have to put bangers out, and a few fields further were completely eaten. from what he was telling us, we understand that they are doing certain tests to find out witch anti materie has an effect on the pigeons. He was very satisfied with it, and next year all his rapefields will be like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sniper Posted February 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Thanks for the replies everyone. Is there anyone out there, with farming experience, who can shed any light on this question ?? Webber, did you get any further with your mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Sniper Sorry, not yet, but I am on it NOW! webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Rape Variety and Damage by Pigeons I have spoken to my man; this problem is extremeley complicated, yet quite simple. There are numerous varieties of oil seed rape, some hybrid, some double hybrid etc. They all have differing growth patterns or stages at which time changes to the plants growth development occur. When a pigeon eats the leaf, it makes the plant have to work harder to produce more leaf and therefore reduces the eventual yield of the crop. If pigeon take out the bud of the plant it is basically ********. The timing of the application of the nitrogen dressing is also critical, different variety, different timing. Pigeons will obviously eat seed that has either been spilt or broad cast. Dressed seed is distasteful to most if not all birds, but that is not the purpose of the dressing. In short; pigeons will eat ALL rape. However because at any given time there will be different varieties being grown in any one area, the plants will be at slightly differnt stages of their growth pattern, and therefore some will be more or less attractive to pigeons at that time; but the pigeons will catch up with the other varieties as they become more attractive. Thats it chaps, I have summarised a very detailed converstion to the best of my ability, please remember that I am an engineer, not a botanist. Regards webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tody27 Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Answers a lot of complications!-- Thanx very much webber it was very interesting Tody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 An excellent post that webber, i think you have explained a lot to us with that. This explains why one week the pigeons are on your fields and a couple of weeks later they don't want to know and are feeding on the farm down the road. Certainly blows the myth that most of us had, ie that there is just winter and spring rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 I shall be attending a wedding in a couple of months time; my man will also be in attendance, weve both been appointed as bouncers for the day. I shall therfore have ample oppertunity to discuss the finer points of rape seed and try to get some specific detail. I am not however certain as to how much use it may be as farmers are not renowned for planting sticks in their fields prounouncing variety type, and I doubt that they would appreciate shooters telephoning them to enquire as to the variety of rape that they had planted, and merits or otherwise trying to decoy pigeon. I once read in a book; that for every decent pigeon shooting trip, you will endure 10 bad ones, so far I agree! webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 I shall be attending a wedding in a couple of months time; my man will also be in attendance, weve both been appointed as bouncers for the day. Sounds as if it could be a lively wedding, all the ones i have attended have had ushers. Look forward to hearing what you can manage to find out about rape types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sniper Posted February 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Yes, as Ernyha says, thanks a lot webber . It makes it a lot clearer now. But what I need to know now is the latin names for all these varities of rape so I can go round all the fields with my new piece of kit......a magnifying glass !! . Seriously, thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Sniper I'm on the job mate . I'll get you all the info you need from our seed salesman ... lol all the best yis yp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 Sniper I'm on the job mate . I'll get you all the info you need from our seed salesman ... lol YP as it is your full time job planting and cultivating the stuff, we would have thought that perhaps you were already in possession of the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 ernyha ushers at the wedding, bouncers at the reception! It should be liveley, the bride is from Haydock, the groom is from Earlstown, punch up vitrually guaranteed. Im from Parr so thats supposed to be hard!; at least Ill be impartial. My man came out with so much stuff yesterday that I could have written a book. If we get into studdying the various varieties of rape, soil types etc; pigeon shooting will become an even greater "black art" than it already is! webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 But what I need to know now is the latin names for all these varities of rape Just for U sniper 1. Brassicus distastefulus 2. Brassicus squitius arseholeous 3. Brassicus palumbus farticus 4. Brassicus muppetus et magifyicus glassius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sniper Posted February 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 Fisherman Mike, I like your sense of humour ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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