Seems like a easy way to grow protein in small space with minimal feed, I may be wrong anybody got any experience in this.
White domestic doves are not wild though so I’d assume it would be legal it’s something I’m going to do my homework on thankyou.Given the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Doves may not be killed for any reason nor pigeons for food (although they may be eaten if killed for a lawful reason).
Given that the provision of the 2022 General Licence as applied to wood pigeon only allows killing to protect foodstuffs, it seems unlikely that housing them, encouraging them to breed and then killing them would be permitted
England
All the latest news and advice concerning general licences, in England, and how they affect you.basc.org.uk
Iv read 1 pair can provide 12 squab a year so 4 pairs is roughly 1 squab a week that’s 1 tiny box it’s pretty good yield off meat iff it’s permissable.I didn't know that. There you go, we learn something new every day. I didn't know that it wasn't legal to farm them.
I rather thought that rearing and keeping pigeons was like keeping hens or rabbits. Doocot's were such a common feature of big houses, and ferme toons (think big farm steadings with multi generational families) of the past up here because pigeons will breed right through the year so long as they have sufficient food. Meat and eggs in one tidy building kind of thing.
I know that in Scotland they are 'pest birds' and can be killed because they are considered a health hazard, etc.,
For instance....
Pigeon Control and Clearance – Andy Law Pest Control
www.andylawpestcontrol.co.uk
I didn't know that. There you go, we learn something new every day. I didn't know that it wasn't legal to farm them.
I rather thought that rearing and keeping pigeons was like keeping hens or rabbits. Doocot's were such a common feature of big houses, and ferme toons (think big farm steadings with multi generational families) of the past up here because pigeons will breed right through the year so long as they have sufficient food. Meat and eggs in one tidy building kind of thing.
I know that in Scotland they are 'pest birds' and can be killed because they are considered a health hazard, etc.,
For instance....
Pigeon Control and Clearance – Andy Law Pest Control
www.andylawpestcontrol.co.uk
The doves fly out n feed themselves though you can get 8 tier dove boxes that’s 40 pairs x12 young that’s lot meat .I suspect breeding rabbits is easier
Wood pigeons are not flying rats at all it’s one off the finest game you can eat comparable to red grouse.The fact farms help the woodpigions numbers is a blessing in disguise.But if they're foraging on a local farmer's land, they become the 'pest'.
If you're cropping them, they you ought to feed them.
One way and t'other there are a lot of pigeons shot around these parts.
They're called 'flying rats' and their behaviour is as destructive of crops, despite what the animal activists would like folks to believe.
I know that two woodpigeons stripped one of my blackcurrant bushes bare in a day. It was the one bush that I hadn't netted in time. Imagine that multiplied up on one of the fruit farms further up the valley where they have thousands of bushes, and a pigeon problem.
But if they're foraging on a local farmer's land, they become the 'pest'.
If you're cropping them, they you ought to feed them.
One way and t'other there are a lot of pigeons shot around these parts.
They're called 'flying rats' and their behaviour is as destructive of crops, despite what the animal activists would like folks to believe.
I know that two woodpigeons stripped one of my blackcurrant bushes bare in a day. It was the one bush that I hadn't netted in time. Imagine that multiplied up on one of the fruit farms further up the valley where they have thousands of bushes, and a pigeon problem.
LOL, just because I'm pointing out the detail of shooting law doesn't make me an 'Animal Activist'
Even Chris Packham wasn't saying you can't shoot farm pests (he was badly misquoted in the media); he was pointing out that people were not shooting in accordance with the general licences and were therefor breaking the law. There's no point having laws that are not enforced.
Believe it or not, woodpigeon are on the amber conservation list in the UK despite there being over 5 million breeding pairs!!
The system doesn’t make any form off alternative lifestyle easy does it .If they are kept as wild birds as has been suggested you wouldn't be able to cull for meat. If farmed then they may need to be kept under cover now due to bird flu restrictions. There's also other diseases to be aware of.
I'd also wonder about predation, our woods are full of tawny owls and they seem to be currently picking off the pigeon population. A tame dove would be easy prey.
The doves come home to rest when tawnys are just waking up .If they are kept as wild birds as has been suggested you wouldn't be able to cull for meat. If farmed then they may need to be kept under cover now due to bird flu restrictions. There's also other diseases to be aware of.
I'd also wonder about predation, our woods are full of tawny owls and they seem to be currently picking off the pigeon population. A tame dove would be easy prey.
Wood pigeons are not flying rats at all it’s one off the finest game you can eat comparable to red grouse.The fact farms help the woodpigions numbers is a blessing in disguise.
Beautifull to eatSorry @Broch that was not my intent to dismiss you as such.
Generally I'm very agin any form of animal cruelty, but I am very practical, and pigeons, and other bird and mammals, are very much pests to our agriculture. Their numbers have soared because of agriculture, and since we've taken out the predators that would have kept their numbers in check, it's up to us to keep them in check instead.
I think it's just part of farming/growing food.
I can't see how 5million breeding pairs gets a flying rat on a list like that though.
Someone's going, "Ah, but they're beautiful", well yes, but so are mice
M
There’s nothing we can do to stop nature eat them then u will like them lolYou're not the farmer losing expensive seed to the blighters. Their numbers have soared simply because they predate farm crops.
I can't see how 5million breeding pairs gets a flying rat on a list like that though.
Someone's going, "Ah, but they're beautiful", well yes, but so are mice
M