Pigeons in lodged barley

[Sonoftheheir]

we’ve got several pigeons dropping into the patches where the barley has lodged. I was thinking of getting the Portek bangers out, but no doubt the batteries will all be flat and the guns playing up.

My question is - Is there really any point messing about with the bangers, will the pigeons do that much damage?

 

[neilo]

Depends how many are there. If it's a few, they will be doing the same as decoys, bringing hundreds of their mates in.

Got the same starting to happen here, but only a handful as yet. Tempted to spray Winter Barley off for the first time ever, just so I can chase the pigeons out of the field with a combine.

 

[bobk]

we’ve got several pigeons dropping into the patches where the barley has lodged. I was thinking of getting the Portek bangers out, but no doubt the batteries will all be flat and the guns playing up.

My question is - Is there really any point messing about with the bangers, will the pigeons do that much damage?

Shoot them , once they're in a crop their mates will be along to help out , they tread the crop down as they move up the field

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Yes I guess any disruption is good.

In regard to round up, I’m afraid we may have to use it due to a lot of re growth coming from the bottom in those patches.

 

[richard hammond]

we’ve got several pigeons dropping into the patches where the barley has lodged. I was thinking of getting the Portek bangers out, but no doubt the batteries will all be flat and the guns playing up.

My question is - Is there really any point messing about with the bangers, will the pigeons do that much damage?

Shoot the bloody things, not quite PC but PC does not protect your margin/profit!

 

[Green oak]

Had to get the shooters in. 310 in 6 hours.

 

[Brisel]

Shoot them. The activity will help keep the corvids away too. As above, they will push more down.

 

[teslacoils]

They are all over the place. You can't beat them. Just spray the stuff off so it will all be in in the shed in a fortnight. Few days time and they will all be in shed osr that has been dessicated anyway.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

I reckon our barley is 3-4 wks off being ready

 

[spin cycle]

I reckon our barley is 3-4 wks off being ready

winter barleys round here seem a long way.....all gone bright orange

 

[teslacoils]

I thought mine would be ages but there was next to no flag leaf left a week ago. Went away for the weekend but fully expect it will be ready for some chem soon, then the combine 14 days later.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Had two chaps down yesterday, they set up in two different fields. They got 94 between them. That should have thinned them out a bit!

 

[Still Farming]

Crows are rife and walking it down around here!

 

[robs1]

Crows are rife and walking it down around here!

Gave up WB because of rooks knocking it down

 

[teslacoils]

None today. I think they have found the osr shook out by sprayers dessicating it.

 

[Woodlander]

we’ve got several pigeons dropping into the patches where the barley has lodged. I was thinking of getting the Portek bangers out, but no doubt the batteries will all be flat and the guns playing up.

My question is - Is there really any point messing about with the bangers, will the pigeons do that much damage?

Pigeons will do massive damage in lodged barley. They might not eat all the seed but they nip the ear off and it drops to the ground. I was cutting lodged barley last year spot yielding 10-12t/ha in the standing areas, dropping to just 2t/ha in the lodged areas, and that was going steady, and leaving a clean stubble.

 

[MrNoo]

Chatting to a friend and his father/brother both went up to lincs on a day, they shot 315 between them and apparently the group they were in, six of them, shot in total over 1500 in the one day!! I would be worn out after a day like that.

 

[Still Farming]

Send bill to Mr Packham possibly.