Are pigeons eating ferric phosphate.

[ganderman]

Noticed last year on spuds there were pigeons sitting about after we had applied fp and there was blue poo about .Notice today pigeons in the neighbours spuds and think it's not something they usually do just wondered if they have found out it's ok to eat. Might just be paranoid.

 

[moretimeforgolf]

Noticed last year on spuds there were pigeons sitting about after we had applied fp and there was blue poo about .Notice today pigeons in the neighbours spuds and think it's not something they usually do just wondered if they have found out it's ok to eat. Might just be paranoid.

I have noticed the blue poo too following ferric phosphate application. I guessed it was either pigeons or pheasants. The pellets really shouldn’t be palatable to birds in my eyes.

 

[tw15]

Please no that pr*ck Packham will want ferric banded next if he hears it you can see the headlines already farmers can't shoot them they turned to ferric phosphate to see if they could poison them with it. Not that it would but we all know how things get twisted.

 

[fudge]

Please no that plonker Packham will want ferric banded next if he hears it you can see the headlines already farmers can't shoot them they turned to ferric phosphate to see if they could poison them with it. Not that it would but we all know how things get twisted.

Calm down! Turning pigeon crap blue isn’t a problem. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-034903_01-Mar-01.pdf

 

[ganderman]

Yes but if the pigeons there first it's not going to get the slugs!

 

[JCfarmer]

Has anyone seen blue flea beetle poo? I think I have.

 

[shakerator]

The irony is it’s worse than metaldyhyde .
Perhaps we’ll get pigeon control this way rather than general licences (don’t shoot me I’ve been making the case for metaldyhyde over Ferric for years)

 

[Brisel]

If the pigeons get addicted, put a big magnet on some tin then sprinkle some ferric pellets on top... Lead free pigeon meat! Buyer collects...

 

[yellow belly]

Pigeons here have coloured mess in the garden not slug pellets

Just because an bird has coloured mess does not prove they eat slug pellets

 

[rob1]

The irony is it’s worse than metaldyhyde .
Perhaps we’ll get pigeon control this way rather than general licences (don’t shoot me I’ve been making the case for metaldyhyde over Ferric for years)

Why is it worse than Met?

 

[Brisel]

The EDTA carrier for the ferric is allegedly worse for earthworms than metaldehyde.

 

[Exfarmer]

Mods, i think this thread should be banished to the neverworld, who knows who, is reading it

 

[Bogweevil]

I don't think ferric phosphate pellets approved for use in the EU use EDTA but use another less potentially harmful chelating agent, usually ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS).

 

[Al R]

I don't think ferric phosphate pellets approved for use in the EU use EDTA but use another less potentially harmful chelating agent, usually ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS).

I can see why they use EDDS

 

[Bogweevil]

I can see why they use EDDS

To be fair EDDS is not much less toxic than EDTA but research has shown that neither are a significant problem at levels found in the field. This EDTA business is promoted by people are against any sort of pesticides, even ones approved under organic protocols.

 

[Clive]

Is it actually harmful ?

I take an iron tablet daily !

 

[Clive]

Mods, i think this thread should be banished to the neverworld, who knows who, is reading it

Burying our heads in the ground hasn’t exactly done Uk ag any favours to date

If there is a problem it’s best we find out and act upon it surely ?

Do we want to harm wildlife or ecosystems ? ....... I certainly don’t and would like to think no farmer would do

Suggesting we ignore issues simply confirms what the Packham’s of this world like to think about us

 

[Right-arm fast]

Burying our heads in the ground hasn’t exactly done Uk ag any favours to date

If there is a problem it’s best we find out and act upon it surely ?

Do we want to harm wildlife or ecosystems ? ....... I certainly don’t and would like to think no farmer would do

Suggesting we ignore issues simply confirms what the Packham’s of this world like to think about us

Trouble is they ban things without confirming if they are a problem or not don't they. We aren't dealing with rational people unfortunately.

 

[Clive]

Trouble is they ban things without confirming if they are a problem or not don't they. We aren't dealing with rational people unfortunately.

the same "rational people l" argument could often be aimed at us as farmers however

We don't KNOW that pigeons eating Ferric is ok or that glyphosate or neonics etc is ok but we all defend regardless

I am playing devils advocate here of course but if we want to move forward with our relationship to customers we have to start considering these issues from their point of view - blue bird poo is not what they want to see !

 

[Exfarmer]

Simples , change the pellets to the same colour as the garden ones, white
Why are garden pellets white?