Blackcurrant branches breaking

[Gman]

I’ve just found a branch/stick of my blackcurrant (Big Ben) on the ground. Plant is quite new (planted last year) and this is the 2nd time that a fairly major branch has come off. 1st time, 1 of 2 stems coming out of ground snapped off. This time it was the 1st and biggest branch from the remaining stem.

Both times there had been some wind and some rain but it’s only about 2 foot tall and pretty sheltered by a hedge and shed.

This happen to anyone else? Is it just wind? Should I be putting some kind of stakes in to tie it into? Or is it those wretched wood pigeons?

I will try to attach photos if I remember how..

[veggiechicken]

I've had some branches snapped too - and I'm sure its the woodpigeons as one flew away as I approached.
I shall treat the branches as cuttings and stick them in the ground for next year.

[bramble]

Wood pigeons, they have caused quite a bit of damage in my garden.
The latest, I have a bird bath with an owl sitting on top.
Last week they knocked the owl over and it's now broken, even though it was made of solid material.
Them wood pigeons are a real pain.

[Scarlet]

Same here - I know it was wood pigeons as they've stripped all the bushes but I think the lack of rain last year hasn't helped the health of the bushes and some of the stems were quite brittle when I last pruned.

[Gman]

I hate those pigeons with a burning passion

[nickdub]

Some sort of pest, pigeons seem a likely suspect. Best advice take some twine and tie it round the branches to form a loop round the bush when the fruit starts forming in the early Summer.

[Gman]

Thanks nick. Will try that.