The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Dizzycow on March 11, 2012, 02:22:05 pm
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As usual I went to look around the duck pond for eggs at 7.30 this morning, usually there aren't any, but this morning there were three which were all being eaten by crows. I went back round to the chicken shed to find lots more crows wandering about. Because I can't get the ducks off the pond at night I can't shut them up and keep the eggs safe, and don't know what to do. It's frustrating because the ducks eat a lot of corn and I'd like to be able to sell their eggs along with my chicken eggs. Any thoughts?
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you have the ideal location to shoot the crows i was tempted that day i was there to plug them on the wires but did not know what your reaction would be :farmer:
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Delighted. That's what. ;)
That's pretty much the conclusion I've reached. I need to get an air rifle. I can assure you that I wouldn't be in the least bit squeamish about it!
:)
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Unless you get a bird of prey or a crow scarer that makes that shooting noise!!!! We had a friend that had a job as a falconer and he could earn very good money!!!!
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theres nothing hotter than a woman with a gun!!! ;) ;)
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theres nothing hotter than a woman with a gun!!! ;) ;)
Ha ha ha! Probably nothing more dangerous than me with a gun.....! (Actually, I'm not too bad a shot.) Need to go and scrape around down the backs of sofas to find some pennies to buy one. :)
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Roberto, how wise is it to take pot shots at crows sitting on an electricity wire? Do you think it's ok? Because that's where they like hanging out and they do make excellent targets. Bit worried about damaging the cables, although they're probably armoured.....?
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Roberto, how wise is it to take pot shots at crows sitting on an electricity wire? Do you think it's ok? Because that's where they like hanging out and they do make excellent targets. Bit worried about damaging the cables, although they're probably armoured.....?
have no idea as to the correct answer to that one although it has just given me a giggle as all i can see in my head now are power lines coming down and crows getting electrocuted (i know not actually possible, just my imagination)
surely you can just bait them to the ground with an egg etc???
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Vikki,
no harm would come the electric line when taking pot shots with an air gun, just plug the crows
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dont worry about the wires, your main consideration should be firstly where the pellet will land if you miss, and secondly a clean kill. head shots for birds, with pointy tipped pellets.
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crows can get electrocuted there was a mass gathering on a main feed line and they must have arced out with there wings but it was one hell of a bang and not so many flew away
there is not that much difference betwean the pointy pellets and the traditional one
at dizzys there is not that much of a problem with backdrop different if it was a rifle total illegal to fire in the air
i was thinking more of shooting from the house windows that way the crows do not see you because after the first one you get you wont get many more with an air rifle :farmer:
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You'll need a very good rifle (HW97, 48mm mildot scope with 30mm tube, mag 4-16 for example, £600) and accurate shot with Crows. Pointy pellets are not accurate at the range you will be shooting. Need good quality pellets as well -evenly weighted and perfectly formed for sighting beforehand. Shooting in the air is illegal, even with an air rifle, I understand. Plus the sighting is different for the range as there isn't the pellet drop you have for horizontal shot.
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my £150 webley springer will take the head of a crow at 30yrds, pointy pellets or dumdums. id agree good quality pellets are important. but you dont need to spend 600 to kill a crow.
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my air rifle cost me £20 and that was with scope and carry bag
a shotgun you can fire in the air and it has a better kill range than an air rifle the high power air rifle that you need a firearms certificate is classed as a firearm and is subject to the laws governing them :farmer:
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i think the pheasent population woud be happier if shooting in the air was illegal.
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i think the pheasent population woud be happier if shooting in the air was illegal.
nah, they'd still find a way to get shot.
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We're right in the middle of the estate's shoot, I wouldn't be upset if we bagged the odd pheasant. In season, of course. OH suggested a .22 would be best. I appreciate the advice very much, however. Good to know if the power lines aren't affected! That's my main concern. No danger of me accidentally popping at a chicken, person or dog, as Lill and Roberto will testify!!
OH has a license and gun cabinet, legalities shouldn't be a problem.
Need to get this problem sorted ASAP as it's a terrible waste to have the crows eating the duck eggs. I thought there would be suggestions of Larson traps or similar, interesting that this hasn't been suggested. We do have a pair of magpies too. Do Larson traps work for crows?
Will get a gun though. The way forward, I think. :)
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when youve bagged the first one, hang it up in a tree, visible to its mates, as a warning. ;)
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My Dad used to do that. If it works, I'll definitely do it. At the least it will scare away unwanted visitors!
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My ducks are really annoying like that, and yes the crows of all descriptions eat the eggs given half a chance.
What I do is only feed at evening. They won't come in if its too dark, so I go late afternoon / just before dusk. Then give them plenty and some water, and leave them in till about 11 next morning. It working so far and its the first year I am getting any eggs though not many. I am not sure if that's because they are only just coming into lay or whether the crows are eating them through the pen netting like they did last year >:(
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DONT TALK TO ME ABOUT CROWS.... been there done it you will NEVER NEVER shoot enough crows, i have guns, larson traps for crows magpies , hung dead birds in trees, they roost next to them, etc etc, do what i did get rid of the ducks trust me thats the only solution, if the crows dont get the eggs first the rats will, T here is only one remedy you have to lock them in untill 10 am... i had a pen to overnight them covered with bird netting, that worked but didnt stop rats.
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I do not have ducks any more but although I did find them hard to catch I could con them, all you need is some tempting tood and take them to where you can lock them up, worms are good but a hand full of cooked spaghetti looks like worms, or just go with thier usual feed container and take no notice of them just go where you want them locked up. I noticed with my ducks, if they see you collecting thier eggs they lay somewhere else, for ages I thought our duck had stopped laying then found 44 hidden under a tree!!! We are lucky as our garden is enclosed, we only have a domestic back garden but the chickens and ducks keep the bit they are in weed free.
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I must be lucky with my ducks. As soon as they see me coming at dusk they file obediently into their house. All eggs are laid by eight a.m. at this time of year.
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Following this thread with interest, I now need to acquire some sort of gun and learn to shoot as the jackdaws are taking over and the only thing that seems to work is shooting them and hanging one on the fence every now and then.
The air rifle we used to have had a sight but was so heavy I couldn't hold it steady. Anyway, OH took it with him when he left.
So - what do you recommend for someone who can't yet shoot (well, a bow and arrow but maybe that's not so much use :D) to kill jackdaws?
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TRUST ME you are wasting your time.... there are millions of crows etc shoot one and they will see you 500 yards away and will land when youve gone, theyve got all day and they start early,,,kill some and more will move in, it cant be done, ive tried with a good rifle that you cant miss with but there are to many. i hung about 10 dead ones up they roosted next to them they werent bothered.a nice rich duck egg is to tempting.
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I keep my ducks in their inner pen till 10 am - four ducks four eggs every time. Old dog kennel is their shelter with a door into an old dog cage - great dane sized. Water and food in there if I need to keep them locked up for any reason.
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Poor Harry, you sound totally fed up! I'll try to work out a way to get them in at night, I agree that it's the only solution to this problem. Still gonna get a gun and shoot the bastards whenever I can, though!! ;D
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Hi DC. Our duck house has a small 2m x 1m run attached. The idea behind that is that you can feed the ducks in there in the evening, and then lock them in whilst they have their dinner. Once they've finished eating, you can shoo them into the house for the night.
Actually ours go to bed of their own accord (maybe because they were raised by a hen?), but I still think it's a good idea. Hope it's useful anyway.
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Breaking News..... There has been an astonishingly coincidental development. There is a duck house next to the pond (Too small to house all the ducks, and they won't go in or come off the pond at night, Womble. Feeding them into the chicken shed at night is the only solution.) which I leave open and full of hay in the hopes that they'll lay there. I check it every day - nothing. Checked it just now - AN EGG! A clever little runner has figured it out. I'd like to think that the others will follow her good example. There wasn't an egg there this morning, so she's laying later than I'd expect. Brilliant. :thumbsup:
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Ducks are very good at hidding thier eggs ::)
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I'm torn between wishing they'd hide them so that the crows (and 2 magpies, need to get the larson trap out) can't get them, at the moment they're laying in the wide open. Twits.
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thats ducks...not fed up with crows i got rid of all the ducks got pigs now.... know what ime getting and when ime getting it ie sausages ...no crow rat problem with pigs.... might get some hens at least they dont drop eggs as they are walking...... air gun BSA SUPER 10 you cannot miss every time...also have a 410 not as loud as a 12 bore and cheapish to buy
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harry if you had rats when you had hens you will have them with your pigs especially with feeding the mash
you are more than likely in a state of denial with them :farmer:
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yes not been a problem up till now as there is no leftover feed left after 15-30 mins for the rats, so will have to see its all eaten after 30 mins not like a feeder full of poultry feed especialy as ducks geese etc shovel it out of the feeder onto the floor. i did have a major rat problem with poultry also eating the duck eggs, but i can say i havent noticed any since the pigs came, even if they are there they are not eating eggs.
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the rats just need a source of food they even rake through the pig s**t to get grains as they know it is not poisoned and they breed well like rats hundreds of them they send the young out to case the joint before the breeders come out oh i love a good rat hunt :farmer:
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I don't want to shoot jackdaws cos they steal eggs, I want to shoot them cos they steal poulty food and actually peck my call ducks to stop them eating. Bloody things descend 50 at a time.
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Oooh, the duck pecking makes me cross. I'd shoot them just for that.
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We had a Magpie used to bully the bantams off their corn treat. Had the cheek to sit on the wall waiting for me to feed them. I shot it with my .22 air rifle from 30 yards, the pellet passing between the branches of two trees, and was 10mm off point of aim. My best shot ever.
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Excellent. Loving your work.
Magpies are bloody awful. We have a pair that just hang around the duck pond, obviously waiting for them to lay. On my morning rounds I spot an egg lying on the ground, only to discover a little hole in it and it's empty. Heartbreaking. I hate the nasty things.
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we had a pair of Maggie's last year shot the male while copulating and the female a few hours latter a new pair has taken over but i will get them :farmer:
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How very rude of you.
Womble came to take one of my Cream Legbars cockerels last year, and hoiked it off a lady bird on whom he was forcing his affections at the time. Poor chap, bet he pecks Womble every time he sees him. ;D
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I've never tried it, but I'm told that a blown egg filled with clear bathroom sealant and left out for them can also work as a deterrant. I'm not recommending this of course since it does seem a little cruel.
The other thing though DC, if you live right near a pheasant shoot, can't you persuade the keeper to put out some Larsen traps on his side of the fence to get rid of them? You could offer to pay him a proportion of the eggs that would otherwise have been eaten!
Oh, and Mr 'Foghorn Legover' as he became known wasn't even slightly bothered by his coitus interruptus once he spied our flock of lovelies! Unfortunately the increased testosterone went to his head, and he had to go in a casserole, as it was like living with a foot high ninja all over again. However, 'Roger' the RIR is still going strong, and has sired some lovely Welsummer x RIR hens who are now laying loads of beautiful mid brown eggs. What a guy eh? :thumbsup:
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Pot eggs work for us with egg eating but the crows carry them off and they are not cheap.
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hmm perhaps its time to invent the corvine electrocuting egg. one peck and your toast.
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Now that's a good idea !!!
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Womble, I forgot you took a RIR too. The Great Roberto & Lovely Lill kindly despatched his brother for me last week. He was very handsome. Great that your boy is doing the necessary! Glad Senor Legover didn't go to waste!
DITW, I got very overexcited a few months ago when (bored at work and thinking about mice infestations) I invented the electric mouse trap. Thought I'd be a millionaire overnight. Turns out some bugger has already invented it. Gutted.
A duck egg sized dummy could fit 2 AA batteries inside, give a nasty shock to a greedy bird. Would it kill? (It would have to be accessible to rats, crows and magpies, but not poultry or pets. I'm loving this idea. Get yourself on to the Dragon's Den immediately.
I'll get a larson trap from the keeper when I return his mink traps which I borrowed for a nearby friend who had her call ducks eaten by mink. It's a constant battle. I'll also look into ceramic eggs, although I think the flabrador will steal them....
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im a bit busy at the minute, patenting my battery powered slug fence, its like a miniature electric fence for raised beds. ;)
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Fabulous. While you're at it I wouldn't mind some sort of No Fly Zone arrangement for greenfly, if that isn't too much bother. Perhaps teeny weeny little tanks with teeny weeny homing missiles? Something like that? Thanks a million, you're a star.
:bouquet:
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hmmm greenfly are a bit trickier, im currently assessing using toxic radio frequencies to confuse and bewilder them, based on my own experiments its a toss up between radio 1 and kiss fm. hope that helps. :trophy:
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Thanks. You're a huge help. Not.
I'm a Radio 2 listener, and now I'm at a loss for what to do as I the aforementioned toxic frequencies also confuse and bewilder the addled smallholder.
Tsk.
I wonder what station would deter midges? The flight of the bumblebee on Classic FM?
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we bought the electric rat traps they never killed a rat try getting anything into a dark one trip hole laced with tasters
now our electric fence can kill slugs no problem for beds you could rig up two wires close to each other one positive the feed wire and the other wire the earth wire when they cross them its curtains for them
the same principal could be applied to an electric rat trap a person will only last 20 minutes then heart failure if caught on the wire :farmer:
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I'm telling you, there's money to be made in them thar inventions.
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i think the clue is in the word 'addled' maybe a sleeping tablet laced bait egg would slow the crows down a bit?
literally 'stone the crows' :D
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You're a genius. They'd be staggering around the lawn, squaking 'I love you, man, I'm not just saying that, I bloody love you.' While I took pot shots. Pot shots! Hahahaha! ;D
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;D
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Wow, what a thread! ;D
im a bit busy at the minute, patenting my battery powered slug fence, its like a miniature electric fence for raised beds. ;)
Sorry DITW, somebody else beat you to it (http://www.electricfencingsolutions.co.uk/SnailAway/)!
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Crap. There goes another Get Rich Quick scheme.
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Back to being sensible :-)
we have a larson trap, I believe a decoy magpie will catch another magpie or crow, but a crow wil only catch a crow, or is it the other way round? anyway, I hate it, having to kill the trapped one, having to feed and water the decoy, and they smell, however, a necessary evil, and it's time I was setting it again, I'm sure the geese should be laying now, and the call ducks, only seen 2 call eggs and they were in the polytunnel.
I once read that filling an egg with mustard would deter future pilfering, or plaster of paris. I found a rubber egg down the field only a few days ago, fox or badger?
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Wow, what a thread! ;D
im a bit busy at the minute, patenting my battery powered slug fence, its like a miniature electric fence for raised beds. ;)
Sorry DITW, somebody else beat you to it (http://www.electricfencingsolutions.co.uk/SnailAway/)!
cheers for the plug ;) :D (geddit?)
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I read a piece of copper wire gives slugs an electric shock on its own if you put it round the perimeter of the beds. You don't need batteries apparently ;D
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You can get a potato to power a lightbulb. How much more of a smallholders fantasy can you get than a potato powered slug electric fence?
I agree, Penninehillbilly, a horrible job to capture, feed and water the bait. Yuck. Then there's the dealing with them. Think I'll stick to shooting the bastards.
Another bit of excellent news, however...... My two Khaki Campbells were obviously hanging out at the chicken shed this morning, because they laid their eggs there, and they were untouched by evil crows, magpies or rats. And the clever little runner who laid in the duck house yesterday did so again today, so I got THREE WHOLE DUCK EGGS! Brilliant result and I'm delighted. Problem not solved, but feel that I'm getting somewhere. There should be six laying, fingers crossed. :thumbsup:
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my thought was that you should get those ducks off that pond during the day and keep them off until you find a solution how to get them to bed ( a large badminton net 2 folks can pull from each side at bedtime maybe)? until they get the meaning of bedtime!
Crows and magpies are hard to control, they are around here a lot as well now. I was thinking of searching for a good old catapult kids used to use to shoot birds in the olden days - as I can't run it would come in handy. It speaks volumes that the only duck egg (or any egg since the hens discovered the world beyond the fence) we had was in the nesting box of the duck with the hurt foot...interesting.... ::) ;D
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Don't know if anyone's said this or not but you will probably only need to shoot one crow. They learn incredibly quickly that it's not safe in an area and go elsewhere, as I was told when I bought an air rifle to shoot Jackdaws, the guy in the shop said you'll only shoot one so it's going to be an expensive gun. Also a TV prog. the other night showed a chap who had done research on crows and had to net them to weigh, measure etc. He had to wear a mask when he went to the park where he had done the work because the crows recognised him - and that was 5, yes five years later.
Here if I shoot a jackdaw they come from nowhere and circle round shouting and then we don't see one for months.