Arghhhh! Pigeons!!!!!

[sweetcorn]

I have a great sense of foreboding. Where I am creating my new veggie plot, there is a trellis, separating it from the rest of the garden. Already two enormous (I swear they're from some alien breed) pigeons are constantly sitting eyeing up my plot, just waiting for the juicy seedlings to appear for their breakfast lunch and dinner, and snacks in between.

They also poop copiously on the soil underneath (is that good for the soil?).

What supertips has anyone got as to how I can, ahem, discourage the little darlings? I know netting is topmost, but is there anything else apart from netting everything? Our garden will look like a netting factory if I can only do that!!!

[Nicos]

And they are so heavy , they can land on the netting squashing it down to the height of the plant, and then tuck in!!
Chicken wire might be your answer for certain crops. A roll of it may seem expensive, but you'll be able to use it for years and years.
Fleece is useful for other crops.
Bright flappy, wizzy thinks might work too ( or CD's on a string)
but they do need moving about a bit.
Got a cat???
Or know someone who would 'dispose' of them for you?
Sounds like they are woodpigeons at that size?
It's all part of the fun of GYO- some of the Grapes have deer to fight off!!!!

[Tyto Alba]

I lash bamboo canes together into a box shape then cover with netting to go over the brassicas and seedlings. They don't look too ugly and they can be moved about easily.

I use knots and frapping techique that I got out of the gem collins mini-book on SAS survival! heheheh he who dares wins!


A dab of glue on the knots keeps them from slipping during the cold winter.

Basically, start with a wood hitch lash together and finish with a clove hitch. The netting can be secured by little bits of garden wire.

[muckdiva]

I lash bamboo canes together into a box shape then cover with netting to go over the brassicas and seedlings. They don't look too ugly and they can be moved about easily.

I use knots and frapping techique that I got out of the gem collins mini-book on SAS survival! heheheh he who dares wins!


A dab of glue on the knots keeps them from slipping during the cold winter.

Basically, start with a wood hitch lash together and finish with a clove hitch. The netting can be secured by little bits of garden wire.

That sounds interesting - any chance of posting a photo?

[Alice]

Hello Sweercorn, I use chickenwire on my raised bed. For taller plants I've just got it over like a cloche, But I've made some frames with wooden edges and ckicken wire lids for lower growing plants. That should keep the pigeons off and it doesn't look too bad.

[Madasafish]

We live on the edge of woods. About 20 + woodpigeons in adjoining field. When I plant brassicas I build a small wall of twigs about 15cm high and 4-8 cm apart round each plant, firmly stuck into ground. Works by making access difficult and pigeons appear afraid of sticking heads in holes (traps in pigeon English?:-)

[HeyWayne]

Find yourself an old car, park it on your plot and the pidgeons will inextricably aim for it! We seem to have nothing but Kamikaze pidgeons round by us!

[Flummery]

They don't like flappy things. I put up a framework of canes around crops and zig-zag string between. Then I get a supermarket carrier bag and cut it crosswise into strips. Tie these at intervals along the string so there's a long end to flap in the wind. Cheap and cheerful (unless you're a pigeon!)