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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

o get a gun and shoot the bastard gready pigeons?

28 replies

AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 09:56

They are eating all the bird food and chasing away my dear little finchy type birds.

they are nice fat wood pigeons about the size of a small goose and look quite tasty.

it's bird discrimination i know, why should a small pretty birdy be more entitled to the lovingly mixed bread/seeds/worms than a big fat bastard? But I can't help it. I'm prejudiced.

AIBU to shoot the feckers?

OP posts:
Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 09:59

and excitingly I've seen a coal tit this morning.

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 18/02/2011 09:59

like one of those gas air rifles?

Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 10:00

was thinking a crossbow would be more stealthy.

OP posts:
LadyThumb · 18/02/2011 10:31

And then can I have whatever you choose so I can shoot the bloody Starlings that invade every time I try to feed my little birds?

Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 10:34

i have a couple of starlings too but they're not as bloody greedy as the pigeons.
i know it's dull but i'm channeling bill oddie and geting excited.

OP posts:
Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 10:35

ooh maybe i could get chris packham round to watch with me Grin [drool]

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JarethTheGoblinKing · 18/02/2011 10:42

Only if I can shoot the bastard starlings that seem to be living in the space between our loft conversion and the floor below

melikalikimaka · 18/02/2011 10:44

NOOOO! I love them all, I call them my airbuses, they are so fat.

GrimmaTheNome · 18/02/2011 10:51

I've never seen a woodpigeon able to feed from a hanging seed feeder, which is the best thing for finches and tits. The pigeons just clear up what drops below. Starlings can use feeders, but they can be quite entertaining if you study them - bags of character unlike stolid woodpigeons.

Also woodpigeons are usually too big to get onto a covered bird table.

The other option is a 'cage' with holes small enough for finches, tits, sparrows and robins but too small for starlings. If you do that be sure to put out apples for the blackbirds though if you want good birdsong.

We have several feeders under the bird table, mostly mixed seed but also one nyjer for the goldfinches, one peanut, and one seed with suction cups stuck to patio window for close up blue & coal tits and robins Smile

The woodpigeons and collared doves (also pheasant and partridges) clear up whats dropped underneath.

Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 10:56

the finchy ones are liking the hanging seed things. also have a tray thingy on a pole which the pigeons are hogging. but they put the finches off.

also the robin likes the tray thing.

can i put meal worms in a cage thig?

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 18/02/2011 11:00

I'm sure you can put mealworms in a cage. Or
this sort of contraption - the RSPB has loads of different feeders which discriminate in favour of small birds!

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 18/02/2011 11:01

Pigeon pie for supper?

GrimmaTheNome · 18/02/2011 11:03

cage - probably protects from cats too.

Cheaper than buying a shotgun...

PaperView · 18/02/2011 11:04

Wood pigeons are like a draft idea for a pigeon/goose hybrid that never got passed the planning stage.

Or like a man - fat lazy and greedy Grin

Hullygully · 18/02/2011 11:07

But wood pigeons have the loveliest call.

Save the Wood Pigeon Six

GrimmaTheNome · 18/02/2011 11:07

I like the cooing of woodpigeons though. They have regional accents.

Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 11:10

i do love them because they are cuddly looking and a bit clumsy. but they also explode if caught by a murderous cat. you wouldn't believe how many feathers they have.

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Hullygully · 18/02/2011 11:13

When I were a wee lassie I used to spend weekends at my grandparents (a refuge and place of greater safety), and every sunday morning I'd hear the lovelies coo-ing in the garden and know I was peaceful and safe.

So don't fucking shoot them, they are my mates.

systemsaddict · 18/02/2011 11:14

My brother does actually shoot woodpigeons off the bird table from the spare room with an air rifle for food ... so it can be done, but not sure I would want to eat them! He takes them into work and one of his boys in the yard, who is good with gutting etc, prepares them for him. (Very rural area, shooting / hunting family background - I fear it would horrify the urban vegetarians I normally hang out with if they knew!)

Teenybitsad · 18/02/2011 11:15

Twitcher.

Hullygully · 18/02/2011 11:15

Be careful, they often have an odd worm thing in their gut that can be very dangerous to humans.

LeonardNimoy · 18/02/2011 11:18

Starlings are on the Red List! Please give them lots of food :) They are also amazing mimics and can be very entertaining.

GrimmaTheNome · 18/02/2011 11:18

but they also explode if caught by a murderous cat. you wouldn't believe how many feathers they have.

Talk about blaming the victim! Grin

If you're capable of shooting a pigeon you should be able to supersoak a cat

systemsaddict · 18/02/2011 11:18

Thanks Hully, will pass that on to him!

Original poster
AtYourCervix · 18/02/2011 11:20

cooing wood pigeon also reminds me of my grandmothers house - Hully are you one of my many sisters?

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