[Growster...]

This is the first year we've ever had to net broad beans, and it's an odd one to ponder!

It seems that probably a pigeon, has just stalked up, grabbed a pod, and systematically pecked out every bean!

I don't think it's the pheasants, because they're so thick and stupid, but as only the lower pods have been taken, I have to assume it's the blasted pigeons again!

We're beginning to run out of nets this year, which is another first!

[azubah]

It's squirrels that eat ours. I haven't noticed pigeons doing it...yet. Squirrels eat our beetroot too.

[lettice]

I have a pole bird feeding station right next to my broad beans and along with many birds regularly have pigeons on there and they have never been anywhere near my broad beans.

[allotmentann]

That is very odd. At least they are eating the beans, I hate it more when they destroy something but don't eat it. I have never heard of anything actually taking the beans. Strange that you have had to use so much extra netting this year too, it makes me wonder if something different altogether has moved into the vicinity. I don't know what damage pheasants do, we have them on our site, but on the whole I think they are just pretty good at scaring other birds away.
If any birds are disturbed as I walk round the site it is generally pigeons, but I never actually see them causing damage and wonder if I am blaming them unfairly at times. I would be by interested to know what is eating your beans, I hope you find out.

[Amilo]

Dare I suggest that you do what the farmers do. if there is an animal that is eating their crops then eat the animal instead! especially if it's a "woody" that coursing the problem

[Growster...]

I hope I'm not slandering the pigeons though, it just may be mice, but one particular pod had had five beans taken out at each 'bulge', leaving the pod complete between the bean station!

I'm suddenly feeling a bit forgiving about wild life, as I just hurt a toad with my tiller. He got away, but looked a bit fed up, so I hope he gets better soon!

I'll try and get a pic of the beans, as it seems we all think something different here so thanks for your replies!

[seaside]

I'm suddenly feeling a bit forgiving about wild life, as I just hurt a toad with my tiller. He got away, but looked a bit fed up, so I hope he gets better soon!

I know how you feel Growster.
Wildlife eh ? can't live with 'em,  can't live without 'em. We even end up feeling guilty if they get trapped in our netting whilst trying to filch our hard worked for dinner. But then I suppose the ants aren't best pleased when we get rid of their blackfly that they've laboured over on my broad beans. Squirrel Nutkin is on the up on our site this year, learning even more new tricks, and I did see one attacking the last of my Spring broad beans one morning.
It's an emotional minefield out there.

[devonbarmygardener]

Our pigeons have had too much fun eating my plot neighbours loganberries to bother with broad beans!

[Salmo]

Could be pheasants but probably the crow family, especially jackdaws.

[Growster...]

It's a bit of a roller-coaster, isn't it!

As Seaside says, you can get a bit emotional about nature pretty quickly, when small creatures get in the way of allotmenteering, and like last year, I was devastated when I hit a beautiful grass snake with a fork, (she was just trying to get away, and I didn't see her, which made matters worse), and now this.

I can even get a bit emotional about big beetles too, one got away, the other got a bit hurt, and was not enjoying life, even though I popped him in with the savoys...