Gas Gun Bird Scarers

Signed.
I hate them. All my horses are desensitised to loud noises but I am sick fed up with a handful of farmers, in my area, who feel the need to put them next to roads, other side of hedgerows and stone dykes. Most of them are poorly serviced with a few having dodgy timers. They don't even scare the birds either, they take off about 2 ft into the air and land immediately. Deer graze almost next to them. They are a damn noise nuisance and a lazy way of pest control.
 
Ok, how do you suggest farmers move birds? New regulations require birds to be scared away before shooting is allowed as a last resort. So short of running around the field shouting I'm not sure what can be done.
We use gas guns occasionally, they work on a timer, start at dawn and go off 3 times over 3 minutes every hour, hardly excessive. Without them we could write off some crops.
If people want cheap food farmers should be allowed, with some restrictions, to control pests. We already have enough legislation to contend with, that along with poor farm gate prices, public access issues, the list could go on.
 
Say BOOOOO very loud, then shoot them. There that should do it :wink3:
I wouldn't have a problem with them if they were in the open and visible. I wouldn't have a problem if they were serviced properly and their timers actually work. Not all farmers do that. It's not hard, all it takes its a bit of common sense and courtesy
 
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Oh for god's sake. No one in their right mind uses gas guns 24/7 12 months of the year - that is silly.

If living in the countryside is making your life a misery then quite frankly - move. Bird scarers are the most effective way to protect crops at a vulnerable stage of their growth - I suspect you are ignorant to the fact that it assists efficient food production in this country?

If you can't be bothered to train your horses to a gas gun then more fool you. Honestly how do you expect us to protect emerging rape crops without audible equipment?
 
Totally agree, ours is set away from the road and footpath, it is serviced and works properly. One local farmer puts signs up too. Trouble is if you put to many signs it just advertises the fact there is a battery and gear all easily nickable.
There is nothing worse than ploughing, harrowing, drilling a crop, putting fertilizer on it, spraying it to find it is being totally trashed by pigeons. But I guess we should keep the countryside looking nice so that everyone can live, walk and ride around it without fear of loud noises, mud, animals and smells.
 
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I have always preferred gas guns to the spinning metal windmill type of scarecrows or the yellow eye spinning things, always had more issues with horses spooking at those!
 
HBB said:
Say BOOOOO very loud, then shoot them. There that should do it :wink3:
I wouldn't have a problem with them if they were in the open and visible. I wouldn't have a problem if they were serviced properly and their timers actually work. Not all farmers do that. It's not hard, all it takes its a bit of common sense and courtesy
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I do think they would benefit from more rigorous legislation as it isn't beneficial for any party to have gas guns sounding at 11pm. Having said that one of ours did go a bit wrong last year and was going well after dusk - all it took was a friendly neighbour within earshot to call us and make us aware of it, and it got demobilised.
 
We had a tragic incident resulting in the serious injury of a horse rider and the death of the horse that was being riding.
The horse was being ridden along a bridleway which had high and thick hedges when a gas gun bird scarer which was on the other side of the hedge went off three times in succession. The horse threw the rider and then the horse galloped off down the bridleway and on to the road at the end of the bridleway were it was hit by a passing vehicle. A vet was called but sadly had to destroy the horse.
The rider of the horse was un-aware or the presence of the gas gun bird scarer because it could not be seen from the bridleway.
 
I do agree that farmers have a very difficult job to do, when I think back to how my family farmed back in the day and now how the modern day farmer needs a degree in computer studies to manage all the paperwork! Would it be possible for a sign to be put on gates where a gas gun is in a field with public access, or within close proximity, similar to the "bull in field" and "cows with calves" signs I have seen used around our way. It wouldnt help those with very jumpy horses but at least we would have been warned, tbh they make me jump when they go off and I had no idea they were there, at least a warning would give you the option to go through or not. I too prefer them to the spinning things with scary faces and shiny bits.
 
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OWLIE185 said:
We had a tragic incident resulting in the serious injury of a horse rider and the death of the horse that was being riding.
The horse was being ridden along a bridleway which had high and thick hedges when a gas gun bird scarer which was on the other side of the hedge went off three times in succession. The horse threw the rider and then the horse galloped off down the bridleway and on to the road at the end of the bridleway were it was hit by a passing vehicle. A vet was called but sadly had to destroy the horse.
The rider of the horse was un-aware or the presence of the gas gun bird scarer because it could not be seen from the bridleway.
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I support gas guns being regulated for that exact reason. To be honest it is another tragic incident where a person's common sense has to be seriously called into question. I do think there should be regulation with regards to their proximity to PROWs and also their visibility. Very sorry to hear about the accident OP - what a horrible situation.
 
jrp204 said:
Ok, how do you suggest farmers move birds? New regulations require birds to be scared away before shooting is allowed as a last resort. So short of running around the field shouting I'm not sure what can be done.
We use gas guns occasionally, they work on a timer, start at dawn and go off 3 times over 3 minutes every hour, hardly excessive. Without them we could write off some crops.
If people want cheap food farmers should be allowed, with some restrictions, to control pests. We already have enough legislation to contend with, that along with poor farm gate prices, public access issues, the list could go on.
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You may only set it off to go off 3 times an hour but we are surrounded on all sides with several scarers per field and they are going off almost every second. It is no exaggeration. When used excessively like this they are abusive. They don't even work especially when used excessively like around us. That is why we need legislation. What if we ever want to sell? Who would buy our place when there is not quiet second in the day? Also, there is always one that will malfunction and go off all night too. It is almost impossible in the dark to locate which one it is so you can turn it off and report it to the land owner. There are lots of different bird deterrents that do not spoil the peace of the countryside and do not cause accidents on horses.
 
RunToEarth said:
Oh for god's sake. No one in their right mind uses gas guns 24/7 12 months of the year - that is silly.

If living in the countryside is making your life a misery then quite frankly - move. Bird scarers are the most effective way to protect crops at a vulnerable stage of their growth - I suspect you are ignorant to the fact that it assists efficient food production in this country?

If you can't be bothered to train your horses to a gas gun then more fool you. Honestly how do you expect us to protect emerging rape crops without audible equipment?
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Empathy not your strong point then...
 
Wagtail said:
You may only set it off to go off 3 times an hour but we are surrounded on all sides with several scarers per field and they are going off almost every second. It is no exaggeration. When used excessively like this they are abusive. They don't even work especially when used excessively like around us. That is why we need legislation. What if we ever want to sell? Who would buy our place when there is not quiet second in the day? Also, there is always one that will malfunction and go off all night too. It is almost impossible in the dark to locate which one it is so you can turn it off and report it to the land owner. There are lots of different bird deterrents that do not spoil the peace of the countryside and do not cause accidents on horses.
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Actually we are surrounded by them since our house is not on our land and is surrounded by fields of cauli, cabbage and corn. We don't notice them now, the horses became totally accustomed to them too. Maybe you could talk to the farmer, I'm sure he would appreciate it if you decided to run around the fields scaring the birds instead. Would save a bit of money on gas.
There is legislation in place, if you feel it is not being adhered to contact the NFU or whoever deals with it. Don't forget farmers are trying to make a living....god forbid.
 
RunToEarth said:
No - gas guns are invaluable to us at times of the year so not receptive of an outright ban of them.
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The petition asks for a ban OR proper regulation of them. Personally, I think that if used carefully and considerately, they have a place. But unfortunately not all users are that careful or considerate. They do not even attempt to abide by the code of practice.
 
jrp204 said:
Actually we are surrounded by them since our house is not on our land and is surrounded by fields of cauli, cabbage and corn. We don't notice them now, the horses became totally accustomed to them too. Maybe you could talk to the farmer, I'm sure he would appreciate it if you decided to run around the fields scaring the birds instead. Would save a bit of money on gas.
There is legislation in place, if you feel it is not being adhered to contact the NFU or whoever deals with it. Don't forget farmers are trying to make a living....god forbid.
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The tenant farmer who farms a small area next to us used to be quite happy not to use them because we were riding around the fields and he said we kept the birds away. But the landowner is not horse friendly and banned us from hacking on the land because he felt we disturbed the game, and now there are tens of bird scarers going off instead. The land owner has 6000 acres and lives miles away from the noise of course, as does the tenant farmer.

ETA is no legislation in place at all. It is a code of practice written by the NFU.
 
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RunToEarth said:
I support gas guns being regulated for that exact reason. To be honest it is another tragic incident where a person's common sense has to be seriously called into question. I do think there should be regulation with regards to their proximity to PROWs and also their visibility. Very sorry to hear about the accident OP - what a horrible situation.
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Oh Run to Earth, what an old fashioned girl you are …. why is that Farmers think they have the right to annoy all peasants in the vicinity. Those days are over my duck.

And the whole joke is that there is research to show that the guns actually attract the pigeons, they learn they mean tasty food. Just a pity the pigeons are clever than some of our farmers.

Those birds on strings are much much much more effective by the way - of course then the farmer doesn't have the joy of keeping the populace in their place, but if they really want to save their crop, thats what they use.
 
canteron said:
Oh Run to Earth, what an old fashioned girl you are …. why is that Farmers think they have the right to annoy all peasants in the vicinity. Those days are over my duck.

And the whole joke is that there is research to show that the guns actually attract the pigeons, they learn they mean tasty food. Just a pity the pigeons are clever than some of our farmers.

Those birds on strings are much much much more effective by the way - of course then the farmer doesn't have the joy of keeping the populace in their place, but if they really want to save their crop, thats what they use.
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To clarify - my reference to common sense was to the idiot who put a gas gun next to a bridleway, not the person riding along it...

Perhaps the pigeons in Lincolnshire have a considerably lower IQ than those in Suffolk because our gas guns actually keep them off the crop.
 
As a horse rider of over forty years, can I just say that I am fed up to the back teeth of threads and petitions that are demanding that the world had to stop because I choose to ride my horse on the highway.

If you wish to hack your horse out, YOU need to ensure that YOUR horse is safe to take out in this environment. Happy hackers do nit just happen - they take a lot of work to endure that they cope with sudden loud noises, dogs running up to them, lorries passing closer than YOU think is safe.

If you think there nay be an incident, then don't ride there.
 
Wagtail said:
The tenant farmer who farms a small area next to us used to be quite happy not to use them because we were riding around the fields and he said we kept the birds away. But the landowner is not horse friendly and banned us from hacking on the land because he felt we disturbed the game, and now there are tens of bird scarers going off instead. The land owner has 6000 acres and lives miles away from the noise of course, as does the tenant farmer.

ETA is no legislation in place at all. It is a code of practice written by the NFU.

Actually it is irrelevant that the land owner isn't a horse lover, he is the owner. He may also be concerned about cross compliance, riding on margins is not allowed as it disturbs nesting birds which may be what he is referring to. Maybe a polite letter to the tenant farmer may be the way to go, or to the farm manager.
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This year there has hardly been any need for pest copntrol as the pigeons have fed on the hedgerows, rape actually isn't their favourite food. We only put our bangers out last week.
No, we don't have a sign up as they would get nicked, they are in the middle of a field and pointing away from the nearest house. The kites don't work at all here, last year anyway the pigeons were so hungry they were ignoring everything. We hang fertiliser bags on sticks and in the hedge to keep them off aswell, surely they also spook your horses?
I HATE gas guns and they send me through the roof when I am riding and they go off but my horse is farily impervious, I suppose one year in three they are next to his paddockl.
 
Wagtail said:
The petition asks for a ban OR proper regulation of them. Personally, I think that if used carefully and considerately, they have a place. But unfortunately not all users are that careful or considerate. They do not even attempt to abide by the code of practice.
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More paperwork would not help, IMO.
 
Clodagh, we grow forage rape which the pigeons absolutely love and will strip a field bare pretty quickly. The gas gun does keep them off, OH would love to have the time to sit in the ditch with the gun but that ole thing called work gets in the way and our tenancy doesn't allow other guns on the farm.
 
We have these all around our field, never has it bothered any of ours! They dont bat an eyelid jst as they didnt bat an eyelid when there were actuall shooters, plastic strips on sticks waving in the wind that local farmers are also using are way more scary!
I feel sorry for farmers, this new legislation is daft, i dont see an issue with shooting the dam birds personally
 
Wagtail said:
the landowner is not horse friendly and banned us from hacking on the land because he felt we disturbed the game, and now there are tens of bird scarers going off instead.

.
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I doubt he has his bird scarers near his game plots.
And the fact that there are 6000 acres is irrelevant. Just because someone has a large amount of land, doesn't automatically mean you are entitled to share it.

EllenJay said:
As a horse rider of over forty years, can I just say that I am fed up to the back teeth of threads and petitions that are demanding that the world had to stop because I choose to ride my horse on the highway.
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Hear hear.

All this demanding does nothing for landowner/horse rider relations.
 
Run to Earth I would like to have the benefit of your experience in training my very noise sensititive mare to gas guns. Having had a horrible experience of being by a hedge out hunting, with a gas gun the other side which indeed went off 3 times my horse panicking big time, dumping me and taking off she is now very nervous when she hears these guns go off which is unfortunate as the farm I hack round does use them, what are your suggestions ?
 
EllenJay said:
As a horse rider of over forty years, can I just say that I am fed up to the back teeth of threads and petitions that are demanding that the world had to stop because I choose to ride my horse on the highway.

If you wish to hack your horse out, YOU need to ensure that YOUR horse is safe to take out in this environment. Happy hackers do nit just happen - they take a lot of work to endure that they cope with sudden loud noises, dogs running up to them, lorries passing closer than YOU think is safe.

If you think there nay be an incident, then don't ride there.
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agree wholeheartedly! horse riding is a hobby, one which some take very seriously but still a hobby, not a necessity, unlike food which the crops being protected by gas guns produce!
 
My 3 are stabled on a working farm, and can hear the gas guns from their fields, so don't overly take a lot of notice of them when we are hacking. I think they make us jump, which in turn sets them off. The ones dotted around the farm are always visible, and we do sort of make a game of trying to get our timing right.
 
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