Aniseed advice

[Stalker62]

Not one on retro sweets this time.



I Keeper on a very modest knockabout shoot. It is so small that I know all my birds by name.
We only had four dates this season - two in November and two in December - and the November dates have been sacked off.

Now to the point.
Aniseed. The Farmer has OK'd my request for some, so will order some in on Monday.
Any recommendations for any particular type and any recommendations for application?

Also, does it really work and if so, why?

Thanks awfully.

 

[old keeper]

I tried it a couple of times in the past and as far as I was concerned results were inconclusive. I've known some keepers who swear by others that say it's a waste of time.

Probably doesn't do any harm to try it but it's no substitute for regular feeding.

 

[Lace1978]

I personally think it doesn't make any difference I used to get cracked maize with aniseed oil on but now don't bother and just use maize without I think the only thing the aniseed attracts is the person buying it because it does smell great

 

[Tim.243]

A farm local to me the keeper was all smug about his secret mix " keeps them close"
There was a constant line of them streaming out of one wood heading to a rape field where they picked away until
bed time.....
They will go where they want, usually into the sun in the morning, last year I got a load of the dressing fines, hand fed it under the brambles/hedge and onto straw. They scrapped around for hrs on it.

 

[countrryboy]

Like the others I've experimented with it, some keepers really do swear by it and some very tall stories about returns, Tobe fair probably got better habitat or just ga good keeper even without aniseed.

If it really was that good everyone would be using it.

I only tried it to keep some syndicate members happy,
I only used it it the centre drives ( ie woods in middle of shoot and hoppers at flushing points where I want them to be) and filled half hoppers with wheat and half with aniseed mix.
Some weeks the aniseed hoopers would be low other weeks pure wheat.
Never noticed any difference in returns

Used it for a few years like that as couldn't do amy harm, and if u stopped that would be blamed no matter wot other problems I've had.
Personally I found the powder easier to mix in than the liquid types

I'd say normal old-fashioned keepering, putting straw down, bit of wheat hand fed in cover, adding maize ( u also get other seed mixes sorgham etc, basically a wildbird mix designs for pheasants, think Marsden feeds make it, deer thou) and digging in if u have the time.

 

[bogtrotter]

Like the others I've experimented with it, some keepers really do swear by it and some very tall stories about returns, Tobe fair probably got better habitat or just ga good keeper even without aniseed.

If it really was that good everyone would be using it.

I only tried it to keep some syndicate members happy,
I only used it it the centre drives ( ie woods in middle of shoot and hoppers at flushing points where I want them to be) and filled half hoppers with wheat and half with aniseed mix.
Some weeks the aniseed hoopers would be low other weeks pure wheat.
Never noticed any difference in returns

Used it for a few years like that as couldn't do amy harm, and if u stopped that would be blamed no matter wot other problems I've had.
Personally I found the powder easier to mix in than the liquid types

I'd say normal old-fashioned keepering, putting straw down, bit of wheat hand fed in cover, adding maize ( u also get other seed mixes sorgham etc, basically a wildbird mix designs for pheasants, think Marsden feeds make it, deer thou) and digging in if u have the time.

Thats keepering! If you want to.hold birds you can't beat hand feeding on straw and doing it every day, the straw makes them work for their food keeps them occupied and helps stop wandering.
Difficult for a part time keeper to do though
On the downside while birds whistled up every day to a straw feed wil! hold better they are not as wild as hopper fed
birds.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Adding to other keepers comments,tried it for one season by request of the boss. Returns to within 2 per cent of normal. Not worth it IMO.
However,flip side, found that aniseed treated wheat draws every bloody squirrel in the parish! Plastic hoppers get damaged. So now I specifically make a bag or two of treated wheat to bait fenns with.
Also noticed that deer seemed more attracted to hoppers than usual.
To save few bob, mix aniseed oil with vegetable cooking oil, only tiny amount to the oil. Then mix into feed, works a treat.
Best regards Jess

 

[milner]

On our little syndicate we use “gamekeeper bird puller powder” not sure if it actually helps but our view is it can’t hurt. It’s easy to use just a scoop or two in the wheat and mix it all around.
Like said above the squirrel do like it but our feeders are cut down metal 45 gallon drums so doesn’t really affect us too much.

I think if pheasants want to wander they will, we have a problem with having a large vineyard bordering us which they find particularly alluring.

 

[willowbank]

Like the others I've experimented with it, some keepers really do swear by it and some very tall stories about returns, Tobe fair probably got better habitat or just ga good keeper even without aniseed.

If it really was that good everyone would be using it.

I only tried it to keep some syndicate members happy,
I only used it it the centre drives ( ie woods in middle of shoot and hoppers at flushing points where I want them to be) and filled half hoppers with wheat and half with aniseed mix.
Some weeks the aniseed hoopers would be low other weeks pure wheat.
Never noticed any difference in returns

Used it for a few years like that as couldn't do amy harm, and if u stopped that would be blamed no matter wot other problems I've had.
Personally I found the powder easier to mix in than the liquid types

I'd say normal old-fashioned keepering, putting straw down, bit of wheat hand fed in cover, adding maize ( u also get other seed mixes sorgham etc, basically a wildbird mix designs for pheasants, think Marsden feeds make it, deer thou) and digging in if u have the time.

“Putting straw down” if you can get Barley straw it stands up to the weather and lasts twice as long as Wheat straw.

WB

 

[countrryboy]

As a DIY shoot like many others also with severe deer problems just couldn't use straw rides like u normally would.

I built straw 'hammocks' , pig netting ( the hexagonal stuff) strung up on 4 posts with a tin lid on it. ( I put posts in to suit tin lid, slightly smaller with some fall so supported, 4" nails not hammered home as hinges and other side just tied down with baler twine to keep lid closed
Strung at hopper hieght so pheasants can peak away at it, layer it with straw wheat ( I put my expensive wheat/maize/seed mixes in it) all fenced off from deer.
Birds peck away for ages at it and the lid keeps straw and wheat nice and dry so keeps for a while ideal for DIY keepers
Also keeps the ground below nice and dry so birds dust in it, quite rare on my shoot, about as dry as an otters pocket

Just to add too late for this year but I built them in release pens to get birds used to them, would put wheat in at quite a young age to get poults used to it and they would be pecking away long before should be on wheat.

 

[Stalker62]

I built straw 'hammocks' , pig netting ( the hexagonal stuff) strung up on 4 posts with a tin lid on it. ( I put posts in to suit tin lid, slightly smaller with some fall so supported, 4" nails not hammered home as hinges and other side just tied down with baler twine to keep lid closed

Thanks for this.
If you could post a photo, I will have a go at knocking one up for next season.

 

[willowbank]

Thanks for this.
If you could post a photo, I will have a go at knocking one up for next season.

Then if you raked the dry ground underneath the shelter the birds would greatly enjoy the dustbath, keeps them occupied for hours.

WB

 

[countrryboy]

Thanks for this.
If you could post a photo, I will have a go at knocking one up for next season.

I'll take a photo next time I pass, althou not sure I know how to post it on here thou.

It is quite simple, just 4 stabs/posts as legs smaller than ur tin size.
Then steeple bodge some pig net on so hanging down like a hammock.
Then attach ur tin sheet, handy if it folds quite open so easy for u to fill up with straw/wheat.
Must admit mine are quite ruff looking, 2nd hand posts tin and wire but it does work.
Dare say u could make a tidier model if u used rails between the posts so more like a wire netting shelf or raised box with netting floor than a hammock.

All u want to do is to create a nice dry place to store the wheat/straw that birds can peck at

 

[Goingback]

Good wheat is good feed and birds eat it without the need for additives.
If you have moldy/fousty wheat then aniseed or another strong-smelling or tasting mixture will give it more palatability such as fish oil or a sugar solution
It makes you stink to high heaven as well

 

[User00025]

Thats keepering! If you want to.hold birds you can't beat hand feeding on straw and doing it every day, the straw makes them work for their food keeps them occupied and helps stop wandering.
Difficult for a part time keeper to do though
On the downside while birds whistled up every day to a straw feed wil! hold better they are not as wild as hopper fed
birds.

Hi Boggy, I used to feed on straw to a lot of my outside drives at night. No good if you're a scardycat though. Always taught walk and feed by my original HK.

 

[User00025]

On the aniseed front it does tend to draw foxes.

 

[bogtrotter]

Hi Boggy, I used to feed on straw to a lot of my outside drives at night. No good if you're a scardycat though. Always taught walk and feed by my original HK.

Yes me too.

 

[ruger 243]

i use bird puller its a powder aniseed one scoop to feed bin . fk knows if it works but im feard not to lol

 

[Stalker62]

It makes you stink to high heaven as well

I have smelt of worse...

 

[Stalker62]

Just a follow on question if I may.

The goods arrived a day or so ago and I will be at the farm today to continue with the Great Aniseed Experiment of 2020.

My daft question is this:-

"Am I only spraying the wheat that is in the feeders?"

It strikes me to mix the aniseed with wheat and then throw it on the ground, would defeat the object if the aniseed is then washed away by the weather.