Pidgeons on sugar beet

[gm69]

What can be done to stop them eating first leaves, first time we've had problems so recommendations . thanks

 

[Flat 10]

Just the usual stuff. Bangers etc.

 

[Exfarmer]

Its a problem which happens occasionally. Once pigeons start on a crop they will continue, but if they dont start, no issue.
One year they stripped my apple trees in the garden, not had it since, touch wood

 

[Ruston3w]

Interested to hear what others say, they are more trouble in beet than ever before here. yes there is less osr but we are light land and never grew it here, I don't think there are more pigeons about but just have developed a sweet tooth.
I have a cunning plan but am signed in for next year so we have to suffer first!

 

[Laggard]

Pb

 

[Wilksy]

Pigeons around us have melted into the woods on buds, plenty of peas showing and osr but no sight of pigeons, can’t think it will be long before they find the peas though, not much any beet around me but worth knowing to watch for it!

 

[Exfarmer]

Pigeons around us have melted into the woods on buds, plenty of peas showing and osr but no sight of pigeons, can’t think it will be long before they find the peas though, not much any beet around me but worth knowing to watch for it!

20 odd years of growing beet I only ever experienced problems once, perhaps @DrWazzock has more experience

 

[DrWazzock]

20 odd years of growing beet I only ever experienced problems once, perhaps @DrWazzock has more experience

Have never seen any significant damage caused by pigeons ..... so far. The odd pigeon might have a peck in the corner of the field but I’ve not seen damage worth worrying about. It’s a bit concerning if they are getting a taste for first leaves as I’d imagine they can clear a fair area. Partridges, deer, hares and allegedly skylarks do a it, but no significant losses. Lost a few seedlings to frost but they were completely blackened. Hail chopped the leaves up a bit on Sunday, but it will recover. It looked a bit like pigeon damage but with the sheared off bits still lying round the plant.

 

[quattro]

I’ve never known pigeons hang around so long
also been bad on a lot of new sown crops

 

[Exfarmer]

I’ve never known pigeons hang around so long
also been bad on a lot of new sown crops

Cold weather has probably delayed start of nesting

 

[Neddy flanders]

anyone noticed massive flocks of pigeons about at the moment ?

 

[Fish]

Yes, starting to hit the rape now, before they were on ex beans.
Guys shooting here are getting some big bags, 80+ days.

 

[Forkdriver]

Here in Carmarthenshire we have seen more pigeons this back end than since we came. I just wondered what they eat with no arable crops.

 

[Hindsight]

Here in Carmarthenshire we have seen more pigeons this back end than since we came. I just wondered what they eat with no arable crops.

clover

 

[Forkdriver]

clover

Precious little clover in our pastures

 

[bobk]

My man shoots 1200 -1500 a year , doesn't give them time to make a decision

 

[Forkdriver]

My man shoots 1200 -1500 a year , doesn't give them time to make a decision

I hope you tried alternative methods to discourage them first

 

[bobk]

I hope you tried alternative methods to discourage them first

Of course ,

 

[Denim92]

I had problems with them on my house roof some decade ago,since roof is fairly complicated in design ,there is several good places for them to make nests.Long story short,i've seen best results from killing one and hang him on string somewhere on roof to hang,i know funny but ....I did this 2 or 3 times and now i don't have problems with them at all.Btw on crops i've never seen them making problems,well nobody actually plant sugar beet in my area so idk.But ,common starling (i've checked on internet for name,dunno if its right) tends to make large issues on sunflower fields ,which here we have allot.

 

[bobk]

2010 when it got seriously cold , we had 500 ferals in the cattle sheds , took weeks to get shut , top Stoke lads stuck at it .