Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Pigeons. To Feed or not to Feed?

februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
in Wildlife gardening
I put some squirrel proof feeders up the other day which has had a few visits from blue tits and robins. It's also getting visits from pigeons who keep trying to get at the peanuts and seeing them do it is making me feel like a terrible person. Should I put some food out for them as well or am I just asking for trouble? I feel bad seeing them trying to eat the peanuts but I don't want my garden to turn into pigeon fest 2020 :D
«13

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Our woodies wander around the garden hoovering up the pieces of sunflower seed dropped by the goldfinches. It suits us and seems to suit them too. 
    I wouldn’t give them their own food ... they’ll be a nuisance. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Difficult one, I think it depends a lot on your local situation as to whether it will be a couple of appreciative pigeons or a starving hoard turning up.

    For years we've had wood pigeons and collared doves visit, but it is only usually a pair of each and they are not too much trouble.

    It's quite funny that when I finish in the garden for the day, they get their turn to use it for a while before they roost. They seem to prefer picking over any open soil to eating my seedlings too, which is helpful.


  • OmoriOmori Posts: 1,674
    Same as Dovefromabove. They clean up fallen seed which is great, no need to feed separately. 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Woodies are a good alternative to rats. They clean up the scraps that the rats would be attracted to around here so I let them stay. Plus if lockdown gets any worse they might come in handy...
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm with @wild edges
    I have one who's a bit of a reject. He's quite tame - although thick as sh*t  :D


    Yeh - why use the little flat, shallow bits when I can do a Tom Daley...
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Fairygirl said:
    I'm with @wild edges
    I have one who's a bit of a reject. He's quite tame - although thick as sh*t  :D


    Yeh - why use the little flat, shallow bits when I can do a Tom Daley...
     :D 
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    I wouldn't encourage them but then again they don't need encouragement, they turn up anyway. They will hoover up anything they can find. We get flocks of thirty or more in good beech mast years so they do come in handy keeping beech seedlings down. I am not so happy when they strip the fruit trees of new leaves and buds though.
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    I had a feeling the consensus would be not to!

    @Fairygirl Gotta love your pigeon :D
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If you live near me, feed them and then they'll take themselves off to your place :D
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited May 2020
    .https://vimeo.com/102836500
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.