When is pigeon time?

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When is pigeon time?

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Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 6:05 am Post subject: When is pigeon time?
I suppose pigeons are being shot all year round, but when is the butcher most likely to have them for sale? I have some recipes I want to publish in my monthly food/health blog (pigeon meat = better for you and for the cows/chickens etc!) and wonder when is the best month to put it in. Love, thanks! Annemieke

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 8:05 am Post subject:
I think you're more likely to see them for sale in the autumn. They can be shot all year round though.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 9:01 am Post subject:
You see more for sale post harvest when the guns can decoy them over the stubble. A lot of estates shoot pigeon Feb March to cut their numbers before pheasant breeding time but I wouldn't eat a pigeon shot now. The vast majority of their diet now is ivy berries & the taste gets into the meat. Corn fed in the summer or brassica/pea fed in the spring are best IMHO.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 9:03 am Post subject:
Thanks! I shall save my recipe for an autumn issue then. Love A.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 9:06 am Post subject:
I had some delicious pigeon last week, the crops were full of something green/leafy - looked like brassica but it's still too early I think? What crops are just sprouting now?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 9:13 am Post subject:
Kale probably. Pigeons are also shot in spring, before nesting, as they'll attack young kale and spring sown crop seeds. I'd agree with the others though, I'd rather eat them in late summer/autumn when they've fed on the harvest.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 15 1:26 pm Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

I had some delicious pigeon last week, the crops were full of something green/leafy - looked like brassica but it's still too early I think? What crops are just sprouting now?

Autumn sown rape?

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15993

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 15 9:28 am Post subject:
They are a severe pest on winter sown rape round here.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 15 9:59 am Post subject:
They're appreciating the last of my over-wintered cabbages.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46245
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 15 10:25 pm Post subject:
the local suburban woodies are eating new growth daisy and dandelion and other such greenery at the mo (observation rather than autopsy ) edit for ps they have "bird table food" all year round so a nice salad is probably rather popular

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