Pigeons & Peas

[pipkins]

I need help!

How can I protect my climbing peas from the Pigeons?

The said pea's are meant to be climbing up cane wigwams, I only planted them on Sunday and last night there was just the stems left.

I really do not want to have to cage the whole plot.

What techniques work for you?

Thanks.

[Two_Sheds]

Start them at home, then plant out when they are bigger & tougher (about 5" or so tall).

Plant lots: some for you, some for wildlife

Plant closely together, and don't leave bare ground, so that the pigeons have nowhere to land (I have mine up chickenwire which is closer together than a pigeon's wings will stretch ... about 18" apart ... with lettuce planted in between.

You could also construct a cat's cradle of black cotton: they can't see it and it gives them a fright if they touch it.

I still lose a few leaves to the sparrows, but hey ho

[Flummery]

Black cotton works a treat - wind it around your wigwam and plant the peas inside the cotton layer. Quilters always have loads of cotton!

[LolaLou]

Mine are nestled between the hacked off branches of what was my christmas tree (it was my ingenious recyling effort this year - we use the trunk as a washing line prop - much to the amusement of our friends!). But as I found out this weekend - as soon as they reach the top....the pigeons strip 'em!! I'm just planting some later croppers and I will be covering these completely if I want to get any peas this year.

[Glutton4...]

I have 2 Litre plastic bottle cloches, with lids on, on the tops of long bamboo canes, stuck in the ground at regular intervals. I also have plastic bags on canes in amongst them too. We are inundated with Pigeons, and they seem to dislike the noise the bottles and bags make.

[pipkins]

Thanks for your idea's

There is also this new product

Buy Grazers Online for £12.95 | Deter Rabbits, Pigeons, Deer

Which I am very tempted to try

[Two_Sheds]

That's a fairly expensive way to prevent pigeon damage. I've looked and found the active ingredient is calcium chloride, which is the salt used to grit the roads in winter...?