do birds really pull onions up?

[sewer rat]

When i was growing in my garden there was a blackie that used to pull out my sets, but no such problems in my field - maybe the sheer quantity confuses them !!!!

[moggssue]

The tops of my newly planted onions dont show above ground to be pulled up by anything .... are they too deep?? Or are they just safe!!

[sewer rat]

Some people say that you should plant them with tops just showing but I know that the commercial growers plant them so that the tops are covered over as this means they can spray for weeds immediately after planting without the herbicide affecting the growing tips

[moggssue]

O bums! Mine are about an inch deep - I'm sure thats what the packet said. Same for my shallots ... oh well, I'll call it an experiment

[momol]

Once in a while, the black bird pulled my bulbs out too (be it narcissus, onion,garlic,croccus or tulip). They seems to be looking for worms hiding between the roots. Last December, they pulled out my onion bulbs and the bulbs were laying on the ground for several days and get frosted .

[Two_Sheds]

I was right! Onion sets do push themselves out of the soil ! I've just heard Chris Beardshaw talking about it on Gardeners Question Time. Listen again here: BBC - Radio 4 - Gardeners' Question Time - Homepage

[brooklynodog]

Just to add my twopenneth.
I planted my autumn sets on Monday down the lottie. 6 rows under net and 4 in the open. Guess what, 6 sets pulled up and moved several inches. 3 from under the net and 3 from the open!! I am putting it down to mice or similar squeeky varmints. I reckon they pull them up to eat but realise they dont like onion, cos they`re not at all chewed!

[hawthorns]

ive netted my onions and they the odd one still get pulled up i think its mice.

[daylily]

Yes, they do. But all other sorts, too, onions tend to grow above the ground somewhat and also, changes of soil heat and moisture will have an affect to them moving, I really would have thought you knew that, Two Sheds.

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, Daylily, I should have knew that.

[SarzWix]

Yeah Two_Sheds, I think you should have knew that too
Mine definately get disturbed by the birds, but I think it's because they always come down and pick over a bed after I've cultivated it in some way, looking for worms etc. I put mesh/fleece over them when first planted until they start sprouting, and don't get any pulled up.