Broad beans and pigeons

[cheerfulness]

Will pigeons eat my broads beans? They're only about 6" tall and really healthy so I'm determined to protect them from two pigeons the size of turkeys that seem to be hovering like vultures near them.

I've nipped down the garden twice but no damage so far, tho I've learnt to my cost that with brassicas they'll gobble them down in moments almost.

[snuffer]

I have never had my broad beans attacked by pigeons but don't doubt they would have a go if nothing else was available.

I always put a rod or bamboo cane in the ground at each end of the row. These stick out of the ground by about one metre. I tie a string between the two canes and then hang CD's from the string. Just the crappy CD's that you seem to get free with every newspaper that comes through the door. I use the same system to protect other crops from bird damage and (so far) it seems to work.

Give it a go, it can't do any harm and the CD's look quite nice when the sun shines on them and they are being blown about by the breeze.

[cheerfulness]

Thanks snuffer, I'll give that a go. My mum was telling me recently to do the same with cds to deter the birds as they've been pecking at my spinach.
I remember strings of silver milk bottle tops jingling in the veg patch when I was a little girl. Never knew why at the time but always thought it looked pretty.

[selfraising]

Hi I'm afraid they will have a go given half the chance. They tried to have a go at mine last year. So I did the same as Snuffer with string and canes and tho they seemed quite determined they weren't able to get at the plants then.

[Two_Sheds]

More effective than CDs, is just black sewing thread strung cat's cradle style between canes.

Birds can't see it, and it gives them a heck of a scare if their wings touch it.

It will keep sparrows off your early beetroot and peas too.

[Creemteez]

I have my young peas protected by halved mineral water bottles which I prevent blowing away by sliding them over a green garden cane stuck in the groind next to each plant...But then if you've got a LOT of braod beans maybe finding enough bottles may be a prob.

[janeyo]

The pigeons like mine

[Snadger]

I thought this thread title was a recipe!

[sewer rat]

I've never had a problem with pigeons attacking my broadies - but maybe that's because they aretoo busy eating young pea shoots or brassicas to bother with them !

[Flummery]

They will devour cabbages and broccoli here but not broadies or peas. They - and the caterpillars - leave chard alone so I grow lots of that!

[Spiderling]

In my experience, pigeons will and do, eat anything! We protect our new stuff with 24" wire netting folded in half like a tent,over the full row, held down with green sticks. Works a treat.