Ferals

[jim_whitson]

I've been wondering for ages whether feral pigeons are edible. I know they're covered

with horrible mites &c., and you're not supposed to touch them, so that makes me think they might not be that good to eat. But, on the other hand, maybe they're all the same inside?

[waddy]

I presume I am correct in assuming that the ferel pigeon's diet is somewhat varied from their woody friends.

 

I believe the meat will tast quite a bit different due to the **** that they eat (and i'm not talking seed at tuppence a bag !!)

 

I would stay well away from them personally.

 

I may be wrong though ?

[markbivvy]

you can eat em, like rats. but why would you want to. you must be able to shoot something a little better for the table.

[pete evans]

my ferrets dont complain. i wouldnt eat a ferral, i believe they are good for starting a dog to retrieve feather as they have much tighter feathers than a woodie and this doesnt put the dog off like a loose feathered woodie.

[new to the flock]

Over here we do not have woodies. The only pigeons we do have are barn, (ferel), or fanciers escapies. Now I am not sure how woodies compare in taste, but I do know that there is nothing wrong with the flavour of the birds that I shoot over here. Many a ferel, and lost racer has fallen to the gun and gone into the pot. Personally I only breast my birds. Stand on the outstretched wings with the head pointing towards you, and pull straight up on the legs. The body will pull away leaving you with a clean breast with 2 wings attatched. Clip off wings, give a good wash and you are ready to cook......give them a try you may find you start appriechiating them alot more.

[coney hunter]

Couldn’t eat one myself but I think it’s a head thing more than anything.

 

Happy hunting

[old rooster]

my ferrets dont complain. i wouldnt eat a ferral, i believe they are good for starting a dog to retrieve feather as they have much tighter feathers than a woodie and this doesnt put the dog off like a loose feathered woodie.

Be careful, my mate fed a feral to his ferret and it was inexplicably dead the next day !. Could be coincidence but not really worth the risk IMHO.

[mel b3]

i think ive posted this before.i used to work with a guy that lived in a block of flats and he would regularly catch the ferals that used to land on his balcony and eat them.as far as i know he never came to any harm however he was a little strange as he used to remove the leg rings from the racers and wear them in his dreadlocked hair

[jim_whitson]

As far as i know, most of the horrible diseases that ferals carry are parasites and things in their feathers; like rats, you're not supposed to touch them. But I'm slightly encouraged by Cranfield and mel... Especially mel; I also have dreadlocks, so maybe some leg rings would be nice... ;-P

 

In which case, you're all invited to mine for pigeon pie! hehehehe.

[Paul in North Lincs.]

A pest controller once told me that the ferel pigeon, germ for germ carry more nasties that the brown rat.

 

I personally give my fereals to the owner of a commercial fishery, who freezes them, and in the summer, thaws them out to make the biggest maggots you ever seen!!!!!

 

 

Paul in North Lincs

[jim_whitson]

Re. the maggots: mmmmmmmm. lovely. I can see how flying rats would make excellent maggots... I might have to try that, although her indoors might not like it... ;-)

 

Re. diseases: I've heard similar things, but I can't find any real science yet... Still looking though; I'm not going to take any chances!