Mixed bird seed and missing pigeons

[LRM]

Two topics here really, but they are linked. The mixed bird seed contains alot of wheat grains, which most of our birds don't seem to eat. I think they have a lot of food left and when I look there is only wheat left. In the past I throw it down for the pigeons and the doves to eat it. But now to come to the second topic, our pigeons have disappeared. We had 1 pair for years and 1 pair of doves. This year a second pair (possibly one of their offspring) moved into the Leylandii tree with the doves. The doves haven't raised chicks for years since the magpies moved in next door. The 2nd pair of pigeons had a chick this year but the sparrowhawk got it. Just after Christmas I noticed only 1 dove and 1 pigeon feeding and alot of wheat left over. A 2nd dove appeared yesterday but the last pigeon has also gone.

I fear that they may have been shot Boxing day when all the gun mad go out shooting everything that moves. I had hoped that if I put down lots of food down they would stay safe here but they must have gone off with a flock, but its bad luck to lose 3 in one go. And strange that the 4th should have disappeared as well unless it has gone off to seek company.


With all the snow I have been putting food under the shrubs on the clear ground, for all the extra visitors but with no pigeons, alot of wheat is left uneaten.

Does anyone else find that alot of mixed bird seed is being left uneaten? Our birds do seem a bit fussy, they won't eat wet food either. I have to empty the wet food (seed, peanuts, sunflower) onto the tarmac for the rooks and magpies (and pigeons) and put dry food out. Perhaps I am pampering them too much.

[Jenny W]

Yeah, thye definitely do have preferences when it comes to food - all to do with size of bird, bill size and shape, nutritional value, ease of handling, de-husking method.

Wheat always seems to be left, I guess because it's so big and hard to get into, most birds will discard it for easier pickings.

You can buy mixes with varying amount of wheat in them depending on where you get it from, some have less than others and you can buy individual seed types from some birdfood suppliers and feed them singly or make up your own mixes

[SheffieldLass]

When they have got choice they are picky. My feral pigeons were picky too, left the wheat, always went for the sunflower. Even turned their beaks up at prime racing pigeon mix Woodpigeons were picky too, and the collared doves did like eating niger seed. They don't seem to like wet food, particularly if there is dry nearby. It isn't so easy for them to dehusk. It may also possibly be a sensible avoidance as wet seed will go mouldy quickly, and damp does seem to let pathogens proliferate.

I don't know why you've lost your pigeons and doves, maybe a neighbour is supplying them with tastier food as it is snowy. You should see the feasts that some on WAB are providing! So they may return when the neighbour stops feeding them, or when they want your trees for nesting in. Possibly also a cold weather movement for the wood pigeons.

It may turn out cheaper in the long-run to get a more expensive no-wheat mix, as less is wasted. Or to get single seeds rather than a mix.

I hope your pigeons and doves return. I like them, but many don't and try to discourage them.

[LRM]

Thanks for your replies. I have checked at the Garden Centre where I buy the bags of food, and have tried the cheap, middle and most expensive but they all contain alot of wheat.

I noticed recently that when they threw the food out of the tray onto the ground, in the mild weather in autumn it germinated and when the weather worsened the blackbirds pulled up all the shoots and ate the grain at the bottom, so no grass in the flowerbed. Maybe I'll have to collect the wheat and germinate it in doors and put it out for them and see if they still eat it when the weather improves a bit or if its only in very cold conditions that they will do this.

[spanielpup]

Each to his own I suppose but I don't like the feral pigeons coming to our feeding area. An odd one or two was never a problem but they seem to have proliferated to a regular group of around 14 birds which eat their fill and then sit on the roof all day waiting for the next time I restock the Table. Frankly they make so much mess I would prefer it if we could deter them from coming. They seem to cling on to any feeders or tables and always seem to gorge themselves on whatever is there. The smaller birds seem to get very little chance when they are around. How can we discourage the pigeons without losing the other species.
Incidentally, we used to feed nyger seed all the time for our goldies but they seemed to go off it and now won't take anything other than sunflower hearts. This is good as there has been a rise in the number of house sparrows returning which also seem to prefer the s/f hearts (even though they will take the mixed seed) The collared doves and woodpigeons hardly get a look in for anything on the table as the ferals have had it all within minutes. We have tried all sorts of ruses to give all the other birds a chance but the pigeons are a real headache. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can set up to discourage ferals?

[Paul mabbott]

I tend to buy the seeds which I know will be eaten - sunflower/peanut for the tits, small seeds/mealy-bugs/fat for the ground feeders - individually. Put them out as they are eaten rather than in a big mass. However, it depends very much what you get in the area. What I always avoid is maize/wheat seed - I do not need pigeons and pheasants in the garden!

[LRM]

My pigeons are Wood pigeons not feral and also collared doves. There are 2 doves again but still only one pigeon. They are a nuisance on the bird trays as they knock them over, but they were useful at eating up seed the others didn't want.

When I was a kid I adopted a baby feral farm pigeon (still fluffy) that kept falling of the ledge in the barn. The next year, it brought its mate and offspring and friends for food, grain bought for the chickens. Eventually everytime I went out the door about 30 feral pigeons would swoop off the barn roof and chase me up the garden path. We had to stop feeding them.

However, 'Potty Pige' would walk indoors and we would feed him indoors secretly. A wild one followed him once but got scared and flew around the room. Potty Pige would also beat up the cats and most of them would avoid him. But he would pinch their supper.

Now that the snow has gone there is alot of seed - wheat left on the tarmac also some small seeds that I supposed got hidden in the snow. I had to sweep up alot of seed. Don't now why the rooks didn't eat it. I thought they used to eat it. Also miss the slugs, I think they cleared up bits that the birds left. Didn't think I would miss slugs!!

Now the snow has gone I will be able to keep better tabs on their food again, I didn't want to underfeed them in the cold.