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Author Topic: Vegetable Gardens and Birds  (Read 2816 times)

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Offline IassaFTots

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Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« on: September 29, 2010, 10:43:04 AM »
So, I am planning out my vegetable garden and will be developing the beds until planting season.  This year I had good results from my herb garden, and I would like to add vegetables to my selection.  I have pecan trees that the squirrels ransack, and I will be getting a nifty air gun to take care of those muthas.   :innocent:

However, I live in a neighborhood of retired people.  And apparently retired people LOVE birds.  Every friggin house surrounding me has at minimum 3 bird feeders, and several bird houses.  I have heard all sorts of ideas about repelling birds, and wanted to know if anyone out there had tried anything that actually worked.  I am thinking of getting one of those plastic owls, and moving it around.  I also read somewhere that I should hang some red plastic Christmas ornaments around, if I am planting tomatoes, to get them trained not to go for them. 

I know I can put bird netting over everything, but that seems like such a PITA. 

Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Advise?

Any and all is appreciated. 
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Offline Thor

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2010, 12:37:29 PM »
The owls don't work very well unless you move them around daily. I've heard of the Christmas ornament thing. Also, those metallic pinwheels help. The MOST effective things are a.) cats- outdoor types & b.) the netting material.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2010, 12:40:36 PM »
You could use chicken wire in place of the netting.  It's probably sturdier and easier to set up and support (wooden stakes and dowels).

If the chicken wire doesn't work, you can always use it for 9/11 re-creations.
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2010, 12:41:32 PM »
I've also seen people string foil pie pans together, but don't know if it's the noise or the sun reflecting off them that is supposed to scare birds.
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Offline Odin's Hand

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2010, 12:54:53 PM »
Shoot the birds and the squirrels.
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Offline debk

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2010, 01:06:17 PM »
Quote from: Odin's Hand on September 29, 2010, 12:54:53 PM
Shoot the birds and the squirrels.

I'd opt for this solution too, as I don't like birds.

If your neighbors are elderly, they probably like the squirrels too.

Once the Halloween things go on sale, at Big Lots....go buy a couple of the Halloween scare crows and put them in your garden. They are made to go outside, and wouldn't be too much of an investment if they don't work.

We had a big problem with box turtles too....they will eat out the bottoms of any tomato they can reach.  Who knew?  :(
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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2010, 01:10:39 PM »
Quote from: Odin's Hand on September 29, 2010, 12:54:53 PM
Shoot the birds and the squirrels.

I thought about that.   :-)  But I am not going to be there every day.  I had heard about moving the owl as well. 

I'll pick up some scare crows, And some red ornaments.  Once I get those, and maybe some pie tins, cd's and pinwheels, my yard should look all blinged out.   :thatsright:

I will probably get some bird netting too. 
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Offline Carl

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2010, 07:14:59 PM »
I have been told that plastic grocery bags tied on a string between two posts will keep many birds away.
Never have had any real problems with birds here,just woodchucks and a .223 has helped with that dilemma.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2010, 12:39:32 AM »
Quote from: IassaFTots on September 29, 2010, 01:10:39 PM
I thought about that.   :-)  But I am not going to be there every day.   
As kids my cousin and I spent a week at my grandparent's house, the pigeons and other birds loved to sit on the power lines that ran down the back property line. We had 2 bb guns, after a week, the birds stayed well away from that section of line for quite a while. There is also, this:http://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp2/product/scarecrow-sprinkler-motion-activated-animal-repeller/bird-animal-repeller/1187/1187.aspx?source=GoogleBase which, would also be great on the front lawn, say, Halloweenish...
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Offline LC EFA

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2010, 03:28:22 AM »
Quote from: chris_ on September 29, 2010, 12:40:36 PM
You could use chicken wire in place of the netting.  It's probably sturdier and easier to set up and support (wooden stakes and dowels).

If the chicken wire doesn't work, you can always use it for 9/11 re-creations.

It also conducts electricity rather well ....  :whistling:
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Offline catsmtrods

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2010, 05:02:36 AM »
I feed birds and squirrels and have a big garden. In the fall I eat the squirrels! The birds never bother anything in the garden except the berries which I cover with netting to protect them.
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Offline bijou

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2010, 10:28:13 AM »
How about a fruit cage? You can buy them or buiild your own.  You could just have it over the areas where the most tempting fruit is grown.

http://www.makingyourown.co.uk/make-your-own-fruit-cage.html
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Offline bijou

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2010, 01:32:50 PM »
Quote from: bijou on December 04, 2010, 10:28:13 AM
How about a fruit cage? You can buy them or buiild your own.  You could just have it over the areas where the most tempting fruit is grown.

http://www.makingyourown.co.uk/make-your-own-fruit-cage.html

Or you could make one of these

[youtube=425,350]pLXn--oxvAk&feature[/youtube]

 :lmao:
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Offline thundley4

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2010, 01:52:51 PM »
Quote from: bijou on December 05, 2010, 01:32:50 PM
Or you could make one of these

[youtube=425,350]pLXn--oxvAk&feature[/youtube]

 :lmao:

The neighbors would love that.  :cheersmate:
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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: Vegetable Gardens and Birds
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2010, 02:07:25 PM »
I like Bijou's suggestion best!
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“Political Correctness is about turning a blind eye to painful reality because your comfortable feelings are more important to you than saving lives and providing quality of life to people who work their ass off to be productive and are a benefit to this great American Dream"  ~Ted Nugent
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