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Argggg Birds!

X

Xtensity

Member
What do you all do to combat birds? I don't see many people having issues with birds, mostly deer. I had camouflage fence around my plant, but what's the use in that against an animal who comes into the area the same way the sun comes in?

I've had 4 of my seedlings ravaged by birds. At first I didn't know what ate my freshly popped seedlings, but upon further inspection today I noticed several feathers in all my outdoor pots.


About 2 months ago, 2 of my 30 day old vegging plants were literally ripped out of the ground by birds. At least I figure they were birds. Back then I had no clue what could have done it(I thought it was a squire or some other small animal squeezing through the fence), because everytime I went back to my spot it looked as if something had tore up the soil around the base of the plant and seemingly pulled it up. 2 of those plants died, after about 4-5 days of me replanting them back in the soil. Everytime I replanted them they kept getting reuprooted in the same fashion. Though for some reason, birds never touch some of my plants. You would think if they're going to continually fuck with some plants they would fuck with all of the plants.


I had about 4 empty pots outside filled with soil but no plant.. They all apparently had 1 or 2 small bird feathers in them.
 
Bush Dr

Bush Dr

Painting the picture of Dorian Gray
Veteran
Netting .... it's usually green so it doesn't show up as being obvious and it's cheap

The birds won't like it as they'll see it and it'll mess with their flying abilities .... it's what people use for soft fruit, etc .... no harm done using it

The only real problem apart from picking at seedlings is the Jamaican 'ganja parrot' which specialises in ripping seeds out of buds when the seed is ripe .... they used to be a real problem but the hurricanes destroyed lots of the Islands birds recently

Little fuckers can spot a few ripe seeds at 1000 yds and a small flock will destroy a field of buds looking for more in a couple of minutes ....... last time I was at a farm where they appeared there were people running everywhere making lots of noise .... a partial success as they'd 'only' shredded a dozen mature plants
 
X

Xtensity

Member
Well the netting will work for seedlings, but how do you propose putting netting on a 2 foot tall vegging plant?
 
Bush Dr

Bush Dr

Painting the picture of Dorian Gray
Veteran
Make a frame up and put the plants in it, netting over job done until they grow

You could try using a predator decoy ..... big owls like the one Amazon do for $10 work well
 
X

Xtensity

Member
SmokeyTheBear said:
there's no way birds are eating your seedlings. seeds? yeah. seedlings? no
Click to expand...

Not sure if this post was sarcastic or not. Went out there again today. They uncovered the soil and ripped up 6 of my starter plugs of 6 sprouted seedlings. I know it is birds because there's feathers EVERYWHERE.

I've looked up the 'Snake Wire' that is mentioned in the 'striking your seedlings outside' thread... and I can't find any caging that is snake wire. All the snake wire that comes up is just...wire, single wire.

any tips?
 
C

CitrusHigh

Member
Sure prob is birds

Sure prob is birds

Birds are unlikely to go for established seedlings but freshly sprouted seedlings are a different matter altogether.

If I were you what I would do is to cut out the shape of a hawk in flight, life sized and hang it from a branch overlooking your patch(es). An owl or hawk statue is a good idea too, like someone mentioned above. However when choosing a hawk silouette I'd choose a bird eating hawk from your area. For example a red tailed hawk here doesn't get treated nearly the same as a bird eating sharp shinned hawk, by the birds. When a red tailed comes in to the area it usually will have a few larger birds mobbing it, but when a sharp shinned hawk comes through, every bird in the area pays attention and all they want is for that hawk to leave the area, because they can't do anything else (like eating, sleeping, mating, preening, etc) while there's a killer nearby.

Netting is also a good idea.

You should also find bird tracks if there's bare soil where they were stealing from you and feces as well, bird defecate often so there's usually some when they feed in one spot. repeatedly.

Also did the thief take the whole seedling/sprout or did they chew them up and leave pieces around, that will help you determine the culprit even more surely.
 
X

Xtensity

Member
CitrusHigh said:
Birds are unlikely to go for established seedlings but freshly sprouted seedlings are a different matter altogether.

If I were you what I would do is to cut out the shape of a hawk in flight, life sized and hang it from a branch overlooking your patch(es). An owl or hawk statue is a good idea too, like someone mentioned above. However when choosing a hawk silouette I'd choose a bird eating hawk from your area. For example a red tailed hawk here doesn't get treated nearly the same as a bird eating sharp shinned hawk, by the birds. When a red tailed comes in to the area it usually will have a few larger birds mobbing it, but when a sharp shinned hawk comes through, every bird in the area pays attention and all they want is for that hawk to leave the area, because they can't do anything else (like eating, sleeping, mating, preening, etc) while there's a killer nearby.

Netting is also a good idea.

You should also find bird tracks if there's bare soil where they were stealing from you and feces as well, bird defecate often so there's usually some when they feed in one spot. repeatedly.

Also did the thief take the whole seedling/sprout or did they chew them up and leave pieces around, that will help you determine the culprit even more surely.
Click to expand...


Chew them up? The sprouted seedling was the size of 1 bite. It was literally the cotyledons. Some unfolded, some folded still just sprouted.

The freshly sprouted ones just like it got chomped off at the top, and all there is, is a 1cm tall stem with a rotting brown tip on it, as if something bit it off.

The others, the plugs got ripped up and the cotyledons ripped off too. I know it's birds because the same feathers are everywhere.
 
Kalicokitty

Kalicokitty

The cat that loves cannabis
Veteran
Few free hours, camo clothes, lawn chair, BB gun.
It won't take care of all of them, but at least you can get the satisfaction of plugging a few.
 
SmokeyTheBear

SmokeyTheBear

Pot Farmer
ICMag Donor
Veteran
growing them indoors until they're at least 6 inches tall is the best way to go because until the plants are hardened offs many animals will want to get at those little things. i had some 4 inchers out there, fenced off, and deer or something still got in and ate them. if they want them bad enough. they will get to them.
 
X

Xtensity

Member
SmokeyTheBear said:
growing them indoors until they're at least 6 inches tall is the best way to go because until the plants are hardened offs many animals will want to get at those little things. i had some 4 inchers out there, fenced off, and deer or something still got in and ate them. if they want them bad enough. they will get to them.
Click to expand...

By the time they're 6 inches tall they're be more then halfway finished growing. (AF's)
 
D

DiiZZii3

Problem Solved

picture.php
 
M

Molson

Member
Xtensity said:
By the time they're 6 inches tall they're be more then halfway finished growing. (AF's)
Click to expand...

No they won't. Far from it.

How about chicken wire? It's like 10 bucks for a 24" x 25ft roll from a hardware store. Instead of leaving the tops open, bend them inwards so that nothing can get in. If you have problems with deer or other animals stake them down also. Otherwise, you risk them knocking them over.

And I also highly suggest starting them indoors. Gives them a much better chance of survival.
 
S

shrpshooter

Member
dizzie plz dont post pictures of my old lady on these sites!!! exp when shes about to kill something.... shes 1 bad bitch shrpshooter
 
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