Any good anti-pigeon ideas?

[Helgalush]

This probably wont go down very well with a lot of you so may be going out on a limb here, but as an animal lover I find it quite sad that several people are talking of shooting the pigeons. Fair enough that they are pests and eating your veggies but surely there are other, less drastic means...

Although I'd prefer it not to happen at all, I agree with Flighty1 that it should be humane and quick.

Ok, ready for the onslaught....

[flighty1]

hi helgalush, firstly may i say that whilst I am one of those who agrees with shooting wood pigeons I would support your right to having your own opinion & would be the last person to give you any stick. My one comment however is that just because people shoot doesnt mean they are all non animal lovers

[Snadger]

The only surefire way is to cover your brasicas with netting. Shooting isn't feasible in a built up area and the damage is usually done at dawn or dusk anyway.
I've tried used cds strung on twine which they soon get used to. The shimering of old video tape puts them off a bit also

I garden on a windy site and quite by accident I found a method that can sometimes work. Wherever I put a cane support I stick a plastic pop bottle on top so that I don't poke my eye out. A side effect of this is that they 'rattle' a lot in the wind. The noise does deter the flying rats!

[Helgalush]

hi helgalush, firstly may i say that whilst I am one of those who agrees with shooting wood pigeons I would support your right to having your own opinion & would be the last person to give you any stick. My one comment however is that just because people shoot doesnt mean they are all non animal lovers

Thank you. That is fair comment.

[penny]

as I was checking the fruit cage netting today I came to a bit behind some long grass and there was a dead hedgehog caught up in the bottom of the net. I dont have a fruit cage now.

[greasyfire]

I heard giving beard uncooked rice will make there interns explode or something like that, well it kills them somehow... KFC

[Bigmallly]

The only surefire way is to cover your brasicas with netting. Shooting isn't feasible in a built up area and the damage is usually done at dawn or dusk anyway.
I've tried used cds strung on twine which they soon get used to. The shimering of old video tape puts them off a bit also

I garden on a windy site and quite by accident I found a method that can sometimes work. Wherever I put a cane support I stick a plastic pop bottle on top so that I don't poke my eye out. A side effect of this is that they 'rattle' a lot in the wind. The noise does deter the flying rats!

I think Snadge has been peeping over the fence, you've described my garden plot to a tee. Cd's, Video Tape & plastic bottles on canes.

[organic]

as I was checking the fruit cage netting today I came to a bit behind some long grass and there was a dead hedgehog caught up in the bottom of the net. I dont have a fruit cage now.

Thanks for posting that, Penny.

I'm more than likely going to have a fruit cage on my allotment and that post has just changed the design. I'll be including a board (about 6 inches tall) at the bottom to make sure the local hedgehogs won't go and get tangled in the netting.

I'm the sort of daft sod who'll pull over, stop the traffic and walk into the road to pick up a hedgehog who's wandered out, got scared and rolled up.
It hurts - but it's worth it. They are lovely little things, really cute, and I'd be really upset if a fruit cage that I had built ended up killing one.

Truth be told, I don't have any problem with pigeons either - I just see them as a pest on the plot and as food for those so inclined. I've never eaten pigeon, but wouldn't mind doing so either.