smcgreg1 Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 I have been looking forward to some pigeon shooting tomorrow on my permission but I went out today to do another bit of flight line spotting only to find the farmer out with his tractor spreading muck over the rape. There was not a pigeon in site. Nothing along the normal flight lines. I did notice that there were pigeons in the fields next door but they were just sitting in the trees in the afternoon sun. The little rascals would not move whilst I was there so I could not see their flight line into the trees. So my questions are:- Does the farm machinery that is spreading muck push the pigeons away (My guess is yes but I only spent about an hour out doing a reccy) and if it does will they return to their normal flight lines again once the tractors have moved away? Will the pigeons still go on the rape if there is a load of muck over it? I wondering if tomorrow might be a bit of a failure now Can any one help or offer some advice? Thanks Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radio1ham Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 well with him spreading muck maybe you will get a good few hours on the crows as they like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 The pigeons will also be keeping an eye out as they learn that muck spread will kick off weed seeds early and that means protein packed sprouts for lunch !! Get out there ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 The pigeons will also be keeping an eye out as they learn that muck spread will kick off weed seeds early and that means protein packed sprouts for lunch !! Get out there ! Now that's the kind of answer I was hoping for Thanks henry d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Well it was a strange morning. Nothing about at all. I guess the farmer in his tractor must have been keeping them away. Had a chat with him and he told me that it was strange because he has not seen any pigeons on any of his fields for the last couple of days. At least he confirmed my flight lines so not a total loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Here are some pice i took today with the mobile phone camera, so not the best quality. The hide Some of my decoys. I was using a group with a tail coming off to one side like a colon shape (colon as in grammar and not colon as a**e ) And as I don't have a rotary I was trying a pair of Hypa Flappers on bouncers. I think they looked very good and moved around a load in the wind. Just wish there were some pigeons about to see if it would bring them in and the other one I'm open to comments about my hide and decoys if anyone has any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrol_head29 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 look good to me, nice hide wear did you get it from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) look good to me, nice hide wear did you get it from? It's the stealth camo net. It is very good. I think you can find them on most of the shooting sites for about £35. If you can't find one then let me know and i'll pm you the link. Edited February 22, 2009 by smcgreg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 The hide and decoys look great mate. :yp: I have never hered of farmers spreading mug on the rape, that seems strange to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I have never hered of farmers spreading mug on the rape, that seems strange to me. I think it was muck but wouldn't like to say 100% for sure. Next time I speak to him I'll ask :yp:. What ever it was it was not to the pigeons liking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 At that height it may have been just fertilizer pellets, they look like small white bits of grit. On a personal level I would have put the deeks, in the same pattern but placed so the birds would have to pass the hide giving a L to R shot, other than that top banana. I`m sure a bit of a reccy will tell you where the birds are, perhaps chopped maize/stubbles etc. and when that is gone you may be on to a winner :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) Good point about maybe trying to have the hide setup for L-R. There is a flight line (or at least there was a few days ago lol) along a line of trees that would allow me to do that so I'll try that next time The stuff that was being put on the ground was almost like mulch you would get in a garden centre but much darker brown. It almost looked black and from the smell there was defo some manure of some type in it. I wish i took a pic of it as I guess one of you guys would be able to tell me what it is. I'll try again next weekend and see if they have gone back to their normal flight lines Edited February 23, 2009 by smcgreg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 At that height it may have been just fertilizer pellets, they look like small white bits of grit. On a personal level I would have put the deeks, in the same pattern but placed so the birds would have to pass the hide giving a L to R shot, other than that top banana. I`m sure a bit of a reccy will tell you where the birds are, perhaps chopped maize/stubbles etc. and when that is gone you may be on to a winner This is what the fertilizer looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 It wasn't little white pellets. Just done a google image search and i think this looks like the closest. It was a much darker brown though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 i was head tractor driver on a big estate,years ago and never put muck on rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK38 Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Was he muck spreading prior to ploughing and re-seeding ? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseaDavid Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 In the few years I have have been farming I have not hered of people spreading muck on rape. We normally spread it on a field before we plough it in. I am sure he has his reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beater Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 On one of my permissions its an organic farm and the farmer has been spreading slurry on the winter wheat last week to get it going as its the cheapest fertilizer for him to use. On another permission sometimes they spread pig **** slurry on winter corn to keep rabbits off. You do get hand full of pigeons on it then feeding on the un-split/un-rolled corn thats gone straight through pigs. Spreading slurry on rape wont do it any harm, they'll just put less nitrogen (bag muck) (white pellets) on next month when ground warms up. d Was he spreading with Vaccy tank or barrel spreader ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 The farmer was using something like this It was all coming out of the back and was loaded by one of these I'm definitely going to ask next time I see the farmer just to confirm it was muck and not something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 I think it was muck but wouldn't like to say 100% for sure. Next time I speak to him I'll ask . What ever it was it was not to the pigeons liking In the few years I have have been farming I have not hered of people spreading muck on rape. We normally spread it on a field before we plough it in. I am sure he has his reasons. Gentlemen, in answer to your question Your farmer was spreading muck in a way...... It is the by product of filtered effulent from sewage farms from the silt beds. It is very dark in colour and resembles dark peat.The water companies in certain parts of the country give it away to farmers for this purpose as it has a high nitrogen content, which is ideal for rape. They drop and use hundreds of tonnes of it around here and you will see the heaps beside field entrances etc. To be sure, What I suggest you do is pick up a handful and roll it around in your hands.... If it sticks then its effulent, If it breaks up and crumbles then it manure..... Let us know how you get on. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 To be sure, What I suggest you do is pick up a handful and roll it around in your hands.... If it sticks then its effulent,If it breaks up and crumbles then it manure..... Let us know how you get on. I'll give it a go and let you guys know. I thought I was going mad lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Managed to get over the field and it does indeed stick together when rolled so I think it is effulent. Thanks for advice and help guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 now wash you hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEREALTHRILLER Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Maybe it tastes different or has a different texture on the tongue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcgreg1 Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 now wash you hands lol I did not have any sandwiches afterwards that's for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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