BB gun for pestering pigeons?

Pigeonist – and proud. 😉

zilog6128
Full Member

AIUI a BB gun fires steel ball bearings, that’s what “BB” stands for.

@Cougar
actually no, although most people probably assume this is what it means as they do superficially resemble bearing balls (not “ball bearings” which is the complete bearing assembly including the races rather than just the balls, another very common error 😉)

It’s derived from the type of lead shot used for shotguns which it’s very similar in size to (there’s also B and BBB among many others!)… I’ve seen it suggested that it might stand for “bulleted breech” but there’s no consensus and I think what it really stands for has been long-forgotten, if it ever even stood for anything at all!

@zilog6128 good answer. In the US sizing system BB equates to approx 4.5mm or .177″. In the English system BB is smaller at around 4mm. Loads of other letter abbreviations for shot sizes, LG, SG, SSG, AAA etc. As with BB people think LG stands for ‘large game’, SG ‘small game’ etc. but these are also misconceptions. Its just an archaic code.

‘Bulleted breech’ is something different however. “Bulleted breech caps” were an early type of .22 rimfire ammunition in which a percussion cap had a rim formed and a .22 calibre ball inserted (see also CB caps – with a conical bullet). It was powered solely by the priming compound with no additional powder added. You can still get them and they are used as a very low power cartridge which can be fired from guns chambered for more powerful types of .22 rimfire round.

Yes, as you ask I AM an absolute hoot at parties! 😆

I got shot in the head with a BB gun once, plastic pellet. I had a massive egg-shaped bruise as a result. I was about seven and that was at point blank range, but I reckon it could **** a pigeon up pretty good.

Given the multiple blackbirds my various neighbours’ horrid cats have killed and left in my garden this year, I might get one and start picking those off 😉

Get a cocker spaniel, mine absolutely loves chasing pigeons

I had a discussion with two cub leaders on a hike and they ooohed and aaahed about how they don’t like crows because they ‘look sinister’.

I quite like crows they are clever buggers. We’ve got a hanging bird feeder for small birds. It hangs from a little wrought iron bracket. One crow used to lift it off and drop it on the ground to get to the feed. I loosely cabled tied it so when the crow lifted it off it would just hang from the cable tie. After a couple of days it figured it out and moved the cable tie before it moved the feeder so it would still fall to the ground.

Well good heavens. Every day is a school day, I had no idea.

Thank you both.

loads of options for feeding small birds and keeping the big ones off

https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/bird-feeders-boxes-tables/bird-feeders/ground-feeders/adjustable-ground-feeding-sanctuary.html

An upturned shopping basket would do the job!
You’ll keep the magpie’s off the bird table as well – but they they’re happiest just eating the baby birds out of other nests anyway…

Get a cocker spaniel, mine absolutely loves chasing pigeons

Our Cockapoo loved chasing the magpies and seagulls. The magpies sit on the fence and taunt him into jumping up at them. They all seem to enjoy it.

I got shot in the head with a BB gun once, plastic pellet. I had a massive egg-shaped bruise as a result.

There are some strangely satisfying clips on you tube of airsoft warriors squeezing plastic bb’s out of egg shaped mounds on their foreheads

You should get Harry the Spider to come round with his BB firing Tiger tank!😀

There are some strangely satisfying clips on you tube of airsoft warriors squeezing plastic bb’s out of egg shaped mounds on their foreheads

Must not Google. Must. Not. Google.

That’s a bawhair away from trypophobia.

Pigeons are cool, just think about your feeders and arrangement. My neighbour was always feeding the pigeons so we had more than our fare share. She’s recently moved. On the gruesome plus side we get sparrow hawks preying on them, it’s quite a sight to see the predators at work.

My mum has had to save a cat sliding down their conservatory roof

It’s mew was too low?

Fake mews?

Wait till the parakeets arrive. These are acrobatic seed hoovers. I quite like them.
We have a separate needed at the back of the gardens that is for the pigeons. They can feed on it from the fence and just line up and take their turn. They also eat of the floor for spilled seed of the other feeder. Until Henry the cocker puppy starts to get interested.

MY parents had issues with squirrels eating all the bird food. They got a squirrel proof feeder, hung it on a wire from a high tree branch. the following week they found it at the other end of the garden busted open. I suspect corvids ( or they had a super squirrel)

For nearly every post on this thread, I’m a little sad there’s no “…Parklife!” at the end.

The thing with magpies is they are nasty buggers but only for 3 months when eating chicks is easy.
Ive been very happy too see them shot in the past but this year I’ve been feeding them monkey nuts only the the magpies and the crows can open them and even opened the tub to help themselves. Because of this they left the nesting birds alone and we have more small birds including wren and goldfinch.
Then some arse down the road aprrently shot half of them because they chucked the moss out of his gutters.
If you want rid of pigeons get a falcon.

Make the feeders too ‘swing-y’ for a big pigeon.

Doesn’t work, they just see it as a bit more of a challenge. They go for the suet balls and the sunflower hearts, different types of feeder, and I’ve moved the feeders all over the tree to try to stop them hoovering up all the food, but there’s only certain branches to hang feeders on, and the pigeons will stretch out and almost overbalance while the feeder is swinging away from them, while they’re perched on another branch, and they’ll keep at it for ages.

Seems a bit uneco to be firing plastic pellets into the garden to sit until the end of time.

An upturned shopping basket would do the job!

And they only cost a quid at Tesco.

If you want rid of pigeons get a falcon.

Does a falcon specifically target pigeons? And what do you get when the falcons become a nuisance, it could escalate!

I’ve been shot in the bollocks with a bb gun, plastic ball though, so not all that painful.
Stung a bit.

Not sure we need to hear about your sexual activities.

If you go down the BB route, what happens if/when you get reported to the RSPCA?

Go on ebay and get a sekiden gun, load it with dried peas. Its not going to harm anything, its eco friendly and the other birds can eat the peas.
Or even a peashooter- channel your inner menace.

If you go down the BB route, what happens if/when you get reported to the RSPCA?

Never mind the RSPCA, if you have a particularly pissed off neighbour you might even get a visit from some nice policemen with guns of their own.

I’ll re-post this.
It doesn’t matter what you shoot at the it’s illegal under the general license.
You need a reason to need them away and proof you have tried non lethal methods before killing them
Firing plastic at them is illegal any way you look at it.
Breaks the wildlife and countryside act.

^ that.

Had a seagull chick marauding about the front garden earlier, not tempted to shoot it (I don’t know that I’ve ever shot a gun tbh) but I was tempted to dispatch it with a size 10.

Didn’t, obv, but still. Bastards. 🤣

it’s not illegal

https://basc.org.uk/gl/england/

Pigeons can be shot for a number of reasons. Inc nesting in the wrong spot

also, you don’t need to try and scare them first

Can I shoot or trap pest birds if I haven’t tried non-lethal methods?
Yes.

The general licences require that, before and alongside their use, reasonable endeavours are made to achieve the purpose in question using lawful methods not covered by the licences, unless such endeavours would be impractical, without effect or disproportionate in the circumstances.

However, I don’t think one of the reasons is ‘depriving other prettier birds of a bit of scran’

now, if you were to change the OP and say you slipped in poo, or they nibbled your peas, go for it. Nothing stopping you.

Umm you do realise you highlighted the exact bit that says you have to make reasonable efforts before shooting?

Brads isn’t a rookie, I’m sure he knows a hell of a lot more about the general licence and BASC interpretation than you or I.

As an air rifle holder I’m damn sure that would be a quick way to get my licence and guns taken off me, regardless of whether I used those or an airsoft gun. I also know that when shooting something you shoot to kill, instantly, or not at all, anything else is just cruelty and a wildlife crime.

reasonable….unless

there’s a catch. You don’t have to make reasonable efforts. I did highlight it

however, i will bow out. I’m not trying to start an argument. I’m just posting the actual

rules, rather than the guidance

You are not required to use alternative, lawful methods under condition 1(a) and 1(b) where the use of such methods would be impractical, without effect or disproportionate in the circumstances.

low powered airsoft spring pistol. like 30fps. You can see the bb fly. Get a small colt .38 auto replica. Harmless with such a short barrel. I harass the wood pigeons all the time who crap on the side of my parapet walk. Use biodegradable bbs.

Brads isn’t a rookie, I’m sure he knows a hell of a lot more about the general licence and BASC interpretation than you or I.

He might not be a rookie, and he can post as many times as he wants, but he clearly hasn’t read the thread.

Oh I have
It’s illegal and you don’t have to use other methods , you just have to justify why you cannot use other methods and prove it

I know what I’m talking about , trust me.
This thread is about illegally harming wild birds.
What more do I need to know

Brads knows his stuff on this.

you when yo have someone who works in a feild, knows their stuff its usually w=orth listening to them

Supersoakwer or nerf you might get away with. BB gun? Nope.

honestly – I’m not trying to start an argument. And I’m sure Brads knows his stuff. Pretend I’m a naif, reading the licence
The GL I linked to says I can kill pigeons over health concerns
I should try non lethal methods first, unless impractical

So two questions
1) I’ve tried non lethal methods. Didn’t work. So I can move onto shooting them (it does say ‘before using this licence’). Why is that illegal?
2) I’ve not tried non-lethal methods as impractical; they eat my crops when I’m asleep. I’ve proof over weeks I’ve been asleep. So I can shoot them. What’s illegal?

Honestly – I want to follow the law. The law to me says both examples are legal. You say not. Could you elaborate?

ETA – I’m not talking BB here. I’m talking air-rifle

Wait till the parakeets arrive. These are acrobatic seed hoovers. I quite like them

Occasionally have them turning up in my garden. Luckily its still occasional and only a handful since the localish winter roost site gets up to about 3-500 of them.
If they invited all their mates I would either have to abandon the bird feeder idea or try scaring the sods away. Its hard and costly enough feeding the starlings during the nesting season which seems to be dropping off now as the nibbles and fatballs seem to be lasting into a second day now.

@petec
First question
Why do you need to kill them ?

He might not be a rookie, and he can post as many times as he wants, but he clearly hasn’t read the thread.

You’re the OP
What have you learned and what makes you think I haven’t read the thread?
You’re the one planning to illegally hurt wild birds , so have you changed your mind?

You haven’t read it, have you.