Farmboy91 Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 Afternoon all, Has anyone out there got an effective way of keeping the black birds off the soft fruit come summer time? Legal suggestions only of course lol. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 Go to your local rehoming centre and get a load of cats P.s sorry I'm no help with your question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted February 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 1 minute ago, 12gauge82 said: Go to your local rehoming centre and get a load of cats It's a definite option lol Pity their not covered under the general licence really, while I'm sure some appreciate the presence in the garden the toll they take on the cherries and raspberries is ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 Only way seems to be to net the area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 What about a raptor dummy of some sort, hawk or owl? Nothing to do with your summer berry problem, but I've been noticing a lot of blackbirds around at the moment and in little flocks of 8 or more. Not good news for berry growers I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 I built a frame net for our soft fruit beds and brassicas, which keeps the birds off. Now I have to find a way of stopping our Scottie bitch from scoffing the carrots this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted February 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 2 hours ago, getthegat said: What about a raptor dummy of some sort, hawk or owl? Nothing to do with your summer berry problem, but I've been noticing a lot of blackbirds around at the moment and in little flocks of 8 or more. Not good news for berry growers I guess. I think the dummy is worth a go, 2 hours ago, amateur said: I built a frame net for our soft fruit beds and brassicas, which keeps the birds off. Now I have to find a way of stopping our Scottie bitch from scoffing the carrots this year Ideally Id like to net it as it would be properly bird proof but the area is just too big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benthejockey Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 9mm garden gun ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted February 11, 2018 Report Share Posted February 11, 2018 Net it off. It' the only way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 (edited) My grandad used to have a fruit cage, basically a pen for them. Using chicken wire. Kept most things out. And was able to grow his berries knowing they were safe from blackbirds. We net ours and have in the past draped net curtains over them, doesnt danage the plants and lets light and water through. Edited February 12, 2018 by ShootingEgg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 You can get some quite light but strong nylon netting in garden centres etc.which are OK for fruit on bushes and having a low wind drag works OK on light canes. However, it is difficult to net a large tree like a cherry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 We've had a dummy hawk on our terrace fence, not had barely a bird near it in 8 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted February 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 4 hours ago, ShootingEgg said: My grandad used to have a fruit cage, basically a pen for them. Using chicken wire. Kept most things out. And was able to grow his berries knowing they were safe from blackbirds. We net ours and have in the past draped net curtains over them, doesnt danage the plants and lets light and water through. 3 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: You can get some quite light but strong nylon netting in garden centres etc.which are OK for fruit on bushes and having a low wind drag works OK on light canes. However, it is difficult to net a large tree like a cherry. Thanks for all the suggestions, definitely think a raptor dummy is the best shot as I'm not sure id physically be able to net both areas 3 minutes ago, getthegat said: We've had a dummy hawk on our terrace fence, not had barely a bird near it in 8 years. Was it a particularly expensive or detailed one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 We have had our cherry netted for about 8 years. It started off as a small tree, and I do have to prune it each year to keep it within the bounds of the netting. I extended our netted area to cover the brassicas, raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants this year using proprietary aluminium tubing so that my wife can walk in and garden and the birds keep out. I have now improved the door catches so that our scottie bitch cannot nose her way through the gates and snaffle the carrots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 Got it from a garden shop. Quite detailed. About twenty quid if I remember right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benbaikal Posted February 12, 2018 Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 i have got a load of netting free to anny body who wants it and will collect from leicester approx 30 nets 10x8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted February 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2018 30 minutes ago, getthegat said: Got it from a garden shop. Quite detailed. About twenty quid if I remember right. Thanks, shooting show this weekend so I'll have a look into next weekend 8 minutes ago, benbaikal said: i have got a load of netting free to anny body who wants it and will collect from leicester approx 30 nets 10x8 Shame I'm not coming that far up, thanks anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted February 13, 2018 Report Share Posted February 13, 2018 Set up a hide! It seems to work on wood pigeons every time I put one up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted February 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2018 14 hours ago, Lord Geordie said: Set up a hide! It seems to work on wood pigeons every time I put one up Lol tell me about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getthegat Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Pigeons are colour blind. Camouflage looks red and white to them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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