When to feed? (Seasonal feeding)

[dc2009]

Hi everyone, just wondered when would be a good time to start winter feeding?

Had to stop feeding during the summer after becoming inundated with pigeons and their mess! Am going to try and compromise by feeding for part of the year only - so as to avoid the pigeon problem and aggravating local residents when people are trying to enjoy their gardens in the summer! Any suggestions as to when would be a good time to start feeding again and when till? Was wondering if October or November might be a good time (know it's a bit of a premature question but have seen Magpies pecking on the lawn today which got me thinking...)

Thanks :-)

[big bill]

I fed all year round and had pigeon problems too what i did was take away the tray feeders and got dishes smaller to catch seed coming from feeders but not big enough to enable them to land on,also kept feeding area clean most of the day by sweeping the concrete area and discinfecting also a few small stones to throw at pigeon to scare them away , pigeons no problems no more .
In answer to your question I would start now and see what happens

[Tringa]

There is lots of natural food around now - insects, nuts, berries so the birds will be fine for, I reckon, six weeks to two months or so, but it does depend on the autumn weather.

However, I think the pigeons may be back when you start feeding again.

You could always go for -

4-5 pigeons, drawn
salt and pepper
250g/8oz stewing beef
250g/8oz shortcrust pastry
beaten egg to glaze
2 tsp cornflour
300ml/10fl oz stock

[bobbarber]

You could always go for -

4-5 pigeons, drawn
salt and pepper
250g/8oz stewing beef
250g/8oz shortcrust pastry
beaten egg to glaze
2 tsp cornflour
300ml/10fl oz stock

I read somewhere that you shouldn`t eat pigeon two days running as it takes more than 24 hours to digest. Is this true, or just a rumour put about by disgruntled pigeons? ...Bob

[dc2009]

My first year of feeding suggests to me that from November/ December onwards is the most important time to feed, or at least juding by my visitors and their sudden increase in numbers/ frequency... :-)

[Jenny W]

Originally Posted by dc2009

My first year of feeding suggests to me that from November/ December onwards is the most important time to feed, or at least juding by my visitors and their sudden increase in numbers/ frequency... :-)

True, winter is an importamt time to feed, especially the later it gets into winter (Jan/Feb/March), as natural food sources deplete throughout the winter. It's also important though, to feed throughout the spring, summer and autumn too. In spring it's important in the run up to the breeding season to enable breeders to get into good breeding condition. Then throughout the summer as, although chick food is predominantly invertebrates, the adult birds still need to remain in good condition and supplementary food in gardens can be important for this. Then in autumn, for birds feeding up before the winter.