THE PRETEND KEEPER

[stavross]

We lent him a couple of birds for the picture (only kidding, he did forget that he had a double trigger though)
And if you are thinking Stav is massive, it’s just that I’m a full size man and Ben isn’t

 

[Smellydog]

Do you think you might see some wild chicks Stav?

 

[Scotty99]

Your shoot looks similar to our little DIY woodland shoot. Ours is a lot smaller, in about 110 acres of woodland. We have really struggled to hold birds over that last two seasons. We have lost a lot of cover due we believe to be deer browsing damage. We are working the deer problem. What are you doing to hold your birds?

 

[foxhunter]

We lent him a couple of birds for the picture (only kidding, he did forget that he had a double trigger though)
And if you are thinking Stav is massive, it’s just that I’m a full size man and Ben isn’t

Can you give him some foxing lessons

 

[stavross]

Do you think you might see some wild chicks Stav?

I’m hoping so, I had quite a lot last year, in July last year I went to the back of the piggeries drive and there was over 20 of all different sizes sunning themselves along the edge of the rape, who knows how many make it to the start of the season but I’ve no doubt a few do, and as you know I always have next doors to fall back on

 

[stavross]

Your shoot looks similar to our little DIY woodland shoot. Ours is a lot smaller, in about 110 acres of woodland. We have really struggled to hold birds over that last two seasons. We have lost a lot of cover due we believe to be deer browsing damage. We are working the deer problem. What are you doing to hold your birds?

The 2 main thing I do to hold the birds is I don’t feed away from the pens until a few weeks before we start shooting and up where we are water is a problem so I make sure there is a lot of water around the pens as they will literally travel miles in search of water, previously people would chase them with feeders just pushing them further out and there was only one water supply in each pen, also walking them in on an evening for the first couple of weeks so they know where they live, don’t take this a gospel as I just play at this and there’s people with far more knowledge than me, but this is what works for me

 

[BenBhoy]

I just play at this and there’s people with far more knowledge than me

He's downplaying himself there. Stav has turned it into a very successful little shoot.

 

[Scotty99]

The 2 main thing I do to hold the birds is I don’t feed away from the pens until a few weeks before we start shooting and up where we are water is a problem so I make sure there is a lot of water around the pens as they will literally travel miles in search of water, previously people would chase them with feeders just pushing them further out and there was only one water supply in each pen, also walking them in on an evening for the first couple of weeks so they know where they live, don’t take this a gospel as I just play at this and there’s people with far more knowledge than me, but this is what works for me

Thanks that useful. We are playing at this as well but we want to improve year on year.

 

[jall55]

Thanks that useful. We are playing at this as well but we want to improve year on year.

The transformational way to hold birds - on our shoot and indeed many - is to get a few little ponds about
The birds love the water

Then look at coppicing and thinning / wild bird covers / creating wide sunlit rides - birds also love banks to stand on and keep watch from - so beetle banks serve multi purposes.

Its hard work to really make it work - but good fun too

 

[stavross]

Thanks that useful. We are playing at this as well but we want to improve year on year.

I have a mate who is a keeper on a commercial and he always says you only get out what you put in and a lot of small things become a big thing in the end, if you can create enclosed feed areas that the sun can get to ( but surrounded by cover ) they love that, it gives them food, water, sun and cover for safety
Another thing that works really well for us is feeding on straw, they love scratting about for feed and it keeps the entertained, feeders are ok, but as they get older they will just fill their crops and go for a wander, I also have tin shelters dotted about giving them areas to dust themselves and chicken grit in the pens, and I do 2 cycles of medicated pellet when they are young, Jesus, I could bore you to death

 

[stavross]

Can you give him some foxing lessons

He’s welcome here anytime as are you, maybe one day we’ll get that fallow buck, it’s not for the want of trying mind, I remember telling you we don’t have many roe up there but that’s all we managed to shoot

 

[foxhunter]

He’s welcome here anytime as are you, maybe one day we’ll get that fallow buck, it’s not for the want of trying mind, I remember telling you we don’t have many roe up there but that’s all we managed to shoot

Be easier to win the lottery mate

 

[Scotty99]

The transformational way to hold birds - on our shoot and indeed many - is to get a few little ponds about
The birds love the water

Then look at coppicing and thinning / wild bird covers / creating wide sunlit rides - birds also love banks to stand on and keep watch from - so beetle banks serve multi purposes.

Its hard work to really make it work - but good fun too

Thanks for that, some good suggestions there.

 

[Scotty99]

I have a mate who is a keeper on a commercial and he always says you only get out what you put in and a lot of small things become a big thing in the end, if you can create enclosed feed areas that the sun can get to ( but surrounded by cover ) they love that, it gives them food, water, sun and cover for safety
Another thing that works really well for us is feeding on straw, they love scratting about for feed and it keeps the entertained, feeders are ok, but as they get older they will just fill their crops and go for a wander, I also have tin shelters dotted about giving them areas to dust themselves and chicken grit in the pens, and I do 2 cycles of medicated pellet when they are young, Jesus, I could bore you to death

Thanks. Yes we are putting in more scratchers this summer, with plenty of straw and regular spread of feed hopefully this will hold them better.

 

[foxhunter]

Just remember the 3 legged stool :

1 Food and water
2 Habitat
3 Predator Control

You wont go far wrong

 

[ASHCROFT9491]

Welcome, i used to have a small deer permission not far from there, if I am thinking of the same place the FC have a larder in the wood close by and plenty of a fallow & Roe about to make havoc with your feeders

 

[stavross]

Welcome, i used to have a small deer permission not far from there, if I am thinking of the same place the FC have a larder in the wood close by and plenty of a fallow & Roe about to make havoc with your feeders

If you are talking about my shoot area, the FC’s larder is directly opposite one of my pens, that’s why it’s called “ Forestry Pen” I get on really well with one of the rangers who will often ring to say if he’s seen a fox, the only downside is he’s young and keen and absolutely batters the deer, which I suppose is his job, but as you will know there’s no deer management with forestry, everything must die, I was watching something on the idiot box the other week where a forestry ranger was explaining how he has cull targets and manages the deer for the benefit of the heard, it did make me laugh because killing as many as you see doesn’t benefit the deer

 

[User00053]

Out of interest what set ups are they using rifle, cal, and scopes?

 

[Smellydog]

If you are talking about my shoot area, the FC’s larder is directly opposite one of my pens, that’s why it’s called “ Forestry Pen” I get on really well with one of the rangers who will often ring to say if he’s seen a fox, the only downside is he’s young and keen and absolutely batters the deer, which I suppose is his job, but as you will know there’s no deer management with forestry, everything must die, I was watching something on the idiot box the other week where a forestry ranger was explaining how he has cull targets and manages the deer for the benefit of the heard, it did make me laugh because killing as many as you see doesn’t benefit the deer

Forestry has always been full of bullshiters Stav. Law unto themselves.

 

[foxhunter]

Waiting to see if any bucks show ?