Gamekeeper

There is great uncertainty hanging over game shooting and stalking businesses at the moment, but many are pressing on with their plans

SAlex Keeble

ince the lockdown started, this estate has been bombarded with walkers, cyclists and horse riders. One would have speculated that nature would have been given a break during this crisis but, from speaking to other keepers across the country, everyone is in the same boat.

The general public have come out in force, walking where they wish, parking where they wish and generally ignoring all aspects of the Countryside Code. We are continuing in our game-shooting plans; game covers will soon be drilled and poults are on order. However, I worry how I will be able to keep game content with the hundreds of unruly dogs and owners walking around fields and through woodland.

There are many local shoots that have decided not to go ahead this year. A welcome break I am sure, but rest assured that many of these shoots are still maintaining their estates and investing money in conservation.

The game covers that are usually planted with maize are being drilled with wild bird seed mixes. Predator control and supplementary feeding are ongoing, with the main focus on improving the habitat within the woodlands, which ordinarily would have to fit in with the shooting season.

I wonder what the percentage returns will be this year, especially for those of you who rely on feeding birds away from the neighbouring larger shoot, which is now closed. Maybe time to put some down?

There is no doubt that this season is going to prove challenging. Will there be demand for shoot days? Will the shot game have a market? Not only will game shooting be uncertain, but so will the deerstalking business run here. Taking deerstalking clients out will not be too much of an issue. My main concern will be where to sell the carcass at the end of the stalk.

One noticeable encouraging change that I have witnessed recently is the huge surge of people wanting to pursue the traditional method of hatching gamebirds — mainly grey partridges — via bantams. I have been sent many messages asking for advice. It can be a rewarding method, but it can also be frustrating when things go wrong.

I have two broods of grey partridges with hens, with various other colours of pheasants due in the next few weeks. Though you can purchase a variety of hatching eggs from online suppliers such as ebay, please be aware that sending eggs via the postal service is extremely hit and miss, so if you can find a local supplier, you will have a much better success rate.

Eggs sent via courier are usually given a rough time, regardless of how well they have been packed. Damaged air sacs are the main worry, which affects the ability to hatch them, regardless of whether they are fertile.

Chicken breeds

The chicken breeds I keep are Silkie, Light Sussex and their crosses, which produce Goldtops. This is from either a white or gold Silkie cockerel over Light Sussex bantam hens; the offspring produced are either gold for hens or white for cockerels.

Never set more eggs under a chicken than it can cope with, as you may end up losing a lot of eggs. This also is the case with chicks, as they can only cover so many. Gamebirds are notoriously challenging to rear in comparison with chickens. They will definitely try to find a way to escape or die. When dealing with small numbers, a few losses soon mount up.

All of my broody coops have bricks around the bottom to stop them getting out, the water drinker has a piece of 8mm black pipe along the trough to stop any drowning and the feeder has a lid to stop them jumping into it. Keeping the pens as clean as possible is also vital. My broody coops are situated in a 3m by 3m netted pen section. The hen and chicks are kept in the smaller run until they are large enough to cope with the extra space without getting lost.

Hopefully, all being well, the two broods of English partridges I am rearing will be able to be released on the estate as part of a reintroduction programme. Unfortunately, the first covey I released last year failed to establish, disappearing after a few months on the estate. I am hopeful that these birds have just moved on to neighbouring ground.

I believe that the constant disturbance they receive from kites and dog walkers may have pushed the birds off the estate. This will be the last year that I try to reintroduce them, but I am hoping that, by changing their release sites to quieter parts of the estate, they should settle.

“Gamebirds are notoriously challenging to rear. A few losses soon mount up”

A Light Sussex/silkie cross is a good breed choice, but never set too many eggs under a chicken