[heygrow]

I haves some young leak seedlings growing in a seedbed. When I checked the other day there seemed to be a few missing and then today a few more were gone! I'm sure they have not just keeled over as there is no sign of them and the gaps are all on one end. Must be some thieving pest  but what? A bird, squirrel or something else?

Now I wont have enough to plant out, so will have to buy some seedlings. Anyone else had leeks taken by a creature?

[mumofstig]

It's usually birds that pull things out 

[heygrow]

Yes I think there are a couple of blackbirds around regularly looking to get whatever is available. Also some of the spring onions in the same bed have gone! I like to see the blackbirds, but prefer them not to take my seedlings!

Don't know why I did not net them. I think probably because I have them under an open cold frame I didn't consider it. Also did not think that birds would be fond of onions for some reason. I guess I was wrong.

[JayG]

Never say 'never', but I'd be surprised if the blackbirds are actually eating them - just having a look underneath to see if there are any grubs or insects there (and then they forget to put them back!  )

My leeks don't get planted out until the early spuds are out, which is usually late enough for them to be over the worst of their baby-feeding frenzy (repeat, never say 'never'!  )

[heygrow]

The current suspect is our cat who I caught eating the early growth from my sweetcorn planted nearby. Both are in our garden veg patch, so I am suspecting she has eaten the leeks as well, as cats like to eat long grass for digestion reasons. She'll get indigestion if I catch her again! 

JayG, my leeks are in a seedbed waiting to mature and then plant in the allotment.

[Ema]

If they've disappeared completely I would suspect slugs

[JayG]

The current suspect is our cat who I caught eating the early growth from my sweetcorn planted nearby. Both are in our garden veg patch, so I am suspecting she has eaten the leeks as well, as cats like to eat long grass for digestion reasons. She'll get indigestion if I catch her again! 

A few years ago I quite by chance happened to look out of the window and spotted a neighbour's young cat having an experimental nibble at my newly-planted sweetcorn - both they and the cat survived! 

As for doing the same with young leeks, I did say 'never say never' (is your cat Welsh by any chance?    )

[madcat]

My cat eats chives (you can smell it on her breath sometimes) so leeks would probably be very acceptable.  Memo to self, put seedling leeks out of reach! Never thought of that ... out of reach of cat, netted for pigeon and blackbird ... How much were they on the market again?