[3759allen]

i've just moved to a new house which will have a large vegy patch, when i finally finish all the digging and weeding.

the whole area seems to be infested with pigeons. i will be trying to discourage them as much as pos, but i know i'll never get rid of them all.

any way back to the point which plants will be more likely to get destroyed by the feathered vermin?

will it only be the young plants they like? if so what sorf of size will the plants have to be before they get left alone?

thanks.

[maxie]

They love brassicas,i have to net loads of stuff nowadays against pigeons and jackdaws,i even had a rabbit attack last year.

[devon]

They adore gooseberries  part of the country, My old net curtains look lovely blowing in the wind to protect them from their attacks. Can strip them in hours if left uncovered
 

[DD.]

I have to net peas and brassicas at all stages of growth.

[Trillium]

And most young shoots as well - pigeons mistake even garlic shoots for tender greens.

They also love lettuce and chard, and other birds will swoop in on any red fruits and gooseberries, blueberries too.

It almost seems easier to just net every darned thing against something that will go after it.

[yaxley]

If there wood pigeons  brassicas ,peas .and any green shoots that they can get at will strip or swallow them can only net them and a few bird scarers ..And strawberries and other berries pigeons and blackbirds adore them ....

[3759allen]

thanks for the response's.

so pretty much everything is on the menu for the blooming things.

i might think about netting the whole patch using a timber frame and large sheet of net, must be worth it in the end.

[yaxley]

What with bugs and slugs birds and bunnies there still seems to be enough for us humans left to eat netting and scarers help ...

[mobilekat]

Pigeons are not known as 'Flying rats' for nothing.....

Plus being quite heavy they will often trash defenses that will keep smaller birds off, just by landing on them.

We have BFP and v.BFP that visit our bird feeders (Big Fat Pigeon). they dispose of the dropped food, but mean I erect very strong 'bird proofing'....

[JohnB47]

They adore gooseberries  part of the country, My old net curtains look lovely blowing in the wind to protect them from their attacks. Can strip them in hours if left uncovered
 

And they damage the bushes too. If I forget to net mine, pigeons walk all over them and break the branches. 

[Stree]

If you keep chickens they will scoff all the chicken food too.
I give them the occasional Desmond to keep them away.

[8doubles]

Unripe Victoria plums !

[bigben]

And most young shoots as well - pigeons mistake even garlic shoots for tender greens.

Dead right Trillium! Last year they trashed my onion bed. I often only get on a weekend and found my 350 onions of a coupld of inches growth reduced to about 100. where the flying rats had pecked the new growth down to the ground. Those on the outside of the bed got off lightly and some of the others recovered but only produced small onions. I have given up trying to grow cabbage and peas for just the same reason but never thought they would go for onions. My neighbour saw them early on a morning as they roost in the trees overlooking the plot and come down to peck at anything green.