[juvenal]

For the second year running the unripe fruit has almost totally gone from my gooseberry bush.

Anyone know if pigeons could be the culprits? Do they take unripe berries?

[Middlesexbloke]

Yes, wood pigeons will eat plenty. Blackbirds are a bigger nightmare. Robins and hedge sparrows too. Basically, net any bushes otherwise you won't get a crop. It's the only way here anyway.

[Trikidiki]

Pigeons certainly do.

In my experience blackbirds tend to wait until they are ripe and generally prefer red berries. I am happy for the robins to take the few that they do as they consume huge amounts of bugs too.

Middlesexbloke's advice re netting is essential.

[Middlesexbloke]

Forgot to say that when you net your bushes, make sure it's held well away above the tops of the plants otherwise the pigeons especially will just sit on top of the net pecking away happily. I use canes with empty plastic bottles to lay the net over.

[wighty]

You could also do what I've done this year and not get around to weeding around them!    It's working a treat as I appear to have a lot of fruit on the gooseberries and blackcurrants (three of each).  Was planning to do it soon but may well leave it until nearer harvest.

[Trikidiki]

I spent the afternoon weeding and pruning my fan and espalier gooseberries.