Cranfield Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Most of us will be seeing some volunteer wheat and rape showing on the old stubbles. What intrigues me is that the birds show little interest in it, but as soon as the new sown crop shows through, they will feed on it. Does anyone have any good theories (or facts) ? I have heard that volunteer rape is bitter, but when you think its only spilled rape seed growing I can't think why that should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 They say that we have two types of rape commercial and industrial(this has a red tinge to the leaves). whenever I find birds on a crop I taste a leaf, some rapes are sweet like cabbage others are bitter, like some clovers. It may be the volunteer rape has not absorbed enough sun to produce sugars and is bitter. This may be acceptable in the depth of winter but not in the summer??? Good Shooting Pigeon Controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 That makes sense . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 I am still of the opinion that rape is a secondry feed for pigeons when there is plenty of other food about and a survival food for the birds when there is less food about in the winter months . To much rape scours thier digestive system and is not good for them . I believe that the pigeons have over the last few years,since rape has been popular taken advantage of an agricultural system in this country that lays out thousands of acres of rape for them to eat . I am still not convinced that pigeons even like rape that much as a food and would still prefer seeds nuts and berries to rape . They will certinly have a go at the rape when hungry or there is shortage of thier natural diet . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 They say that we have two types of rape commercial and industrial(this has a red tinge to the leaves). whenever I find birds on a crop I taste a leaf, some rapes are sweet like cabbage others are bitter, like some clovers. It may be the volunteer rape has not absorbed enough sun to produce sugars and is bitter. This may be acceptable in the depth of winter but not in the summer??? Good Shooting Pigeon Controller For gods sake don't let the farmer see you eating his crops aswell..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordofthewings Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 I beliave I have an opposite view to Harnser, I believe that late hatched squabs are on rape as soon as they leave the nest and that they are on rape for probbably the next ten months. A factor in this is the efficiency of modern drilling technec,s where little or nothing is left behind. I find it difficult to believe that a bird as adaptable as a pigeon fells forced to eat something it does,nt like, afterall, if we are to believe that bad weather will push birds south, would,nt the lack of food they like also move them on. I use the point about drilling only as an illistration because how many of us have seen birds stick to the rape right the way through the drilling season as if it was,nt happening. LOTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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