[RichardA]

My polytunnel is now about 6 months old and I have just noticed some small puncture holes near the ridge. Several holes noted along the length, all as if stabbed from outsied inwards with soemthing a few millimeters in size. Also noticed some dipple like marks as if a puncture was attempted but did not penetrate. No marks leading upto ridge from ground so not cats and no reason to suspect anyone throwing stones or firing an  air gun. No overhanging branches. I suspect birds sitting on the ridge and pecking at insects crawling underneath the poly cover. Obviously I cant eliminate the insects as many are beneficial. Anyone else had this problem and can anyone suggest a solution please?
R

[RichardA]

must be a record -- nearly 24 hours and no responses. Someone out there must have some ideas please ?
R

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Richard, sorry I didn't see this post yesterday!   Sounds like birds to me too.  The rips I had in my polytunnel were nearer to ground height and it was from when I let the chickens run in there when we had a particular wet winter!  They kept pecking at the polythene getting the condensation drops off!!!! 

Some of the repair tape you can get is pretty good, lasts quite a while too!

[RichardA]

many thanks, have just been given another tip from another source ---- run some netting over the top -- will cut down light sadly but should also deter birds as it will be a loose surface underfoot and will obscure and make less accessible the insects. Bit worried the birds will get caught up in it so will keep a good watch for any such casualties.
I do take the point about the chooks though so thanks for that -- I did think at one stage I would let the ducks free roam my top garden but instead fenced out a large area for them mainly out of fear for the polytunnel.
R

[GrannieAnnie]

Mmm I agree with you about the netting Richard, you'd have to keep a close eye on it so any birds don't get caught up in it.  You know what birds are like!!!

Strange, I've never had any birds on top of my polytunnel, just inside it!!!   

[pushrod]

Try stringing half a dozen cds between two tall canes above the length of the ridge. Might deter any birds from landing on it.

[GrannieAnnie]

Ooooh that'll look pretty pushrod!!!!   

[Ourveggiepatch]

On the local news last year nearly all the cars parked on the street down a particlar road had their wing mirrors damaged quite badly with scratches, this kept happening, the police were called   No-one was found guilty.  In the end some of the residents chipped together to buy a camera to catch the person or persons doing the damage.

It turned out that a male robbin was to blame, he kept seeing himself in the wing mirrors and was attacking himself thinking it was another male robbin.  He was just defending his terroritory.  The answer - the car owners put plastic bags over their wing mirrors during the breeding season.

Not related at all to your topic but I thought it intesting  :happy:

OVP

[pushrod]

Ooooh that'll look pretty pushrod!!!!   

Nothing if not artistic  

[GrannieAnnie]

 

[peterjf]

crows magpies crows magpies

[peterjf]

maybe a male robin deffending his territory

[RichardA]

I have put a net over the top of the tunnel and so far no damage and no trapped birds so hopefully that is one problem solved.
R

[kentish_ginger]

I've got exactly the same problem!  Little holes, all along the tops of the end spans and here and there along the ridge.  My tunnel was only covered in July so I was incredibly annoyed, to put it politely.  We've just been over to take a look at it and put repair tape over the damage today, after minute inspection decided it must be birds though had never heard of such a thing before.

All the damage seemed to happen over the last couple of weeks - I wonder if it's some sort of migratory bird on its way out?  Hope so, as that'd mean nothing to worry about until spring at least.

I'll try the net option, I think, maybe just over the ends (tunnel is 56 x 22 ft so that's quite a lot of net).

[8doubles]

The Eden project had the same sort of problem with seagulls , i cannot remember the cure though.