Neilsmith Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 Hi all, Our 2000 poults are doing well with some flying out during the day then we walk them in before dusk to roost, the problem we have is some of the old cock birds from last year keep walking away from pens with lots of poults following like he is the pied piper until they are a long way from the pens and could be prey to Ginger who we keep down fairly well but you cant get them all, any ideas? Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinj Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 It's a common problem and this is why we have two "beaters days" at the end of the season in attempt to reduce the numbers of Cock birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 (edited) Air rifle ?? Ooops probably shouldn't say that. Edited August 12, 2020 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 Take the positive out of it As well as taking birds away - these wise old birds keep watch for predators - show the poults how to use feeders and where the drinkers are around the shoot- Not all bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted August 12, 2020 Report Share Posted August 12, 2020 24 minutes ago, jall25 said: Take the positive out of it As well as taking birds away - these wise old birds keep watch for predators - show the poults how to use feeders and where the drinkers are around the shoot- Not all bad I know a very good old keeper who was headhunted by some big Estates. He was firmly against the killing of large amounts of cock birds at the end of the season. His arguments were not only are they your October pheasants to shoot but the losses attributed to them are vastly overestimated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) 23 hours ago, Walker570 said: Air rifle ?? Ooops probably shouldn't say that. Yep, an old keeper I knew would drive around in the land rover and shoot the adult cock birds with his 22lr. 13 hours ago, jall25 said: Take the positive out of it As well as taking birds away - these wise old birds keep watch for predators - show the poults how to use feeders and where the drinkers are around the shoot- Not all bad yep, and they are also likely to-be runners and not flyers. Edited August 13, 2020 by old'un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 According to Gwct they reckon hens wander more than cocks, thing is u notice the cocks far more, probably a load of hens hiding in cover beside the cock that u noticed. The problem will be the cocks will be hanging around different areas than where u want them, rough field corners, hedges rather than woodlands. Really trying to hold nice nesting cover on their own away from other birds Where the cocks are taking them are they still on ur shoot or towards a boundry? And is it an area u want the birds from that pen to be in? Or will it spoil the drive as flying wrong way 'home'. Are poults going back at night on there own? All u can really do is straw rides, possibly hand scatter some maize, water drinkers, and good old dogging in. Or some straw hammocks with feed in. I know a decent keeper who would add barley to his wheat/maize mix his idea was the maize)wheat will be are quickly after whistling but he wanted a wee bit feed left for birds to scratch about at later in day if still hungry. Gives them something to do and getting a wee bit feed value too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 On 12/08/2020 at 11:07, martinj said: It's a common problem and this is why we have two "beaters days" at the end of the season in attempt to reduce the numbers of Cock birds Yes. On one shoot I was a member of on the least few days each season when pheasants could lawfully still be shot the keeper went out with a 'scoped .22LR rifle and shot them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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