pheasant pen

Alchemist2

Looking opinions on growing some form of game crop in a pen before putting birds in, good idea or not

wildfowler94

Alchemist2 wrote: »

Looking opinions on growing some form of game crop in a pen before putting birds in, good idea or not

GOOD IDEA!!

moloney

bad idea lad done it for the last two years with johns delight the trouble is when they have it eaten they have no cover in the pen and then they start to fight when the pen gets bare and if its like last year weather wise it wont be a fretty sight unless yours is a release pen then i would say it would be a good idea thats my experience anyway hope it helps

moloney

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Stevegeraghty

Where do you get game crop?

moloney

find out from ure game developemeant officer in ure county federation its usually subusised by them or i can put u in contact with some one if any good

Terrier

@ Moloney - whats the crop in the pen photo?

garyc007

Terrier wrote: »

@ Moloney - whats the crop in the pen photo?

its johns delight i think Terrier

moloney

correct garycooy but i also add kale with it

Alchemist2

Wont be a release pen... so what keeps them from fighting if there's no cover in the pen? i thought the GC would at least occupy them for the few weeks the will be in there

dermot218

ye might get this hard to believe but i put a few old footballs in my pen keeps them from picking each other it realy works

wildfowler94

I found throwing in cuttings of trees and hanging cabbages from the roof for them to pick at works, no pecking last year when I did it.

terminator2

nettles and thistles the best job , nettles grow to 5 ft great cover

moloney

terminator is right the more nettles and weeds u have in it the better with the game crop they flatten it fairly quick it really depends on how long u keep them in it also keep mine for at least till they are sixteen weeks

Double Barrel

Good looking setup Mr Moloney.

Plus 2 on a bumper crop of weeds.

greylag

i sowed kale in 3/4 of my pen worked very well, gave birds plenty of shelter and protection from each other.

Alchemist2

greylag wrote: »

i sowed kale in 3/4 of my pen worked very well, gave birds plenty of shelter and protection from each other.

Looks good greylag, did it last the duration the birds were in the pen?

greylag

yes and its still there. it will grow again this year as well.

sikastag

terminator2 wrote: »

nettles and thistles the best job , nettles grow to 5 ft great cover

+1 on that.

Did you ever see the birds 'play' with the seed head of thistles once they flatten the main stem or pull it off? When they have it loose its almost like a game of rugby!