[plot103]

This damage was done overnight to 3-4 of my brassica plants on each of the past few nights. They have been under bird netting and I can't believe slugs and snails have done that. Also, only the larger plants have been touched so far.
I'm guessing that it must be mice or other small rodents that have done it but I wondered if anyone had any other ideas and if it is mice, then apart from setting traps, are there other ways of protecting the plants from them?

[mumofstig]

 tbh It looks to me as if the stalks have been picked or cut off, rather than nibbled 

[fatcat1955]

Look's like rabbit damage to me.

[plot103]

tbh It looks to me as if the stalks have been picked or cut off, rather than nibbled 

Yes it does look rather like that but there are no signs of any human disturbance and it would be incredibly petty for someone to break in and pick a few leaves on several nights running.

Look's like rabbit damage to me.

I would have thought rabbits if they weren't completely enclosed in bird netting.

Mice and the like are the only things I can think of that are small enough.

[firsttime_veg]

my brussel sprout plants look exactly like your photo today. All 3 have been taken by something. I assumed rabbits as we do get wild rabbits but a friend today said about woodpigeons and we do get them too. So I don't know now. I planted them in a raised bed. My peas that I planted out at the same time seem to have been untouched.  I have CDs on strings in the hope of deterring the birds from my peas that are near the brussel sprouts that have been eaten. So far my peas are still OK.

[AnneB]

I would have said pigeons too, but the original post from first time says they were netted.  How securely I wonder?  I have seen pigeons lift up netting for a partner in crime to crawl in underneath.  If the netting is secure, I have no idea I am afraid.

[DD.]

my brussel sprout plants look exactly like your photo today. All 3 have been taken by something. I assumed rabbits as we do get wild rabbits but a friend today said about woodpigeons and we do get them too. So I don't know now. I planted them in a raised bed. My peas that I planted out at the same time seem to have been untouched.  I have CDs on strings in the hope of deterring the birds from my peas that are near the brussel sprouts that have been eaten. So far my peas are still OK.

Please, please, please don't rely on CD's. A physical barrier is the only protection against pigeons.

They may leave peas alone at this stage, but brassicas are always fair game for them.

[BabbyAnn]

I would have said pigeons too, but the original post from first time says they were netted.  How securely I wonder?  I have seen pigeons lift up netting for a partner in crime to crawl in underneath.  If the netting is secure, I have no idea I am afraid.

I have concluded pigeons are more clever than you think - my brassica cages are quite robust so I was a bit perplexed to find damage to some of the cabbage plants at one end until I saw a tiny gap where the netting was not securely pinned down