Keeping birdies away!

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londonteatime Abilene, TX(Zone 7b) Mar 04, 2007

Hi y'all!!! I'm new here and about to begin a small vegetable and herb patch! BUT, I have a whole lot of birdy friends, due to a feeder I've had in my yard. I love watching the birds but I certainly don't want them to destroy my plants! Should I get rid of the feeder, or is there a way to keep the birds away from my veggie patch? I've heard stories about tying red ribbons around the plants or a tinfoil pie pan to a stake so it would make noise. Do they really work? Any other suggestions?

Thanks so much!
Julie

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Mar 04, 2007

I have birdfeeders in my garden and have never had a problem with birds eating anything, but corn. That was my fault as I did not treat for earworms. The birds (Grackles and Bluejays) would open the ear to get the earworms and mess up the ears of corn. I stopped the earworms and no more bird damage. I do keep the birdbaths filled and there is one near every feeder.

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Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Mar 04, 2007

I have had problems with birds eating all of my strawberries. I put some bird netting around them, but it is a pain to work around!

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fourx Nth Coast NSW, Australia Mar 05, 2007

Farmerdill, a quick question at the risk of straying off-topic slightly..? I have a big problem with earworms, to the extent that I have not bothered growing corn over the last few summers. What have you found is the best way to overcome the problem?

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Mar 05, 2007

I use carbaryl, but a well timed application of agricultural oil will work. Some backyard gardeners use mineral oil applied with a medicine dropper. Too labor intensive for any number of plants. I try to apply just as the silks began to brown. The moth lays its eggs in the silk and the oil or a contact insecticide kills the eggs.

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sallyg Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b) Mar 05, 2007

Strawberries and especially blueberries the only thing I have to fight birdsfor. I like cheap netting from the fabric store, because it doesn't get caught on the twigs the way the black bird netting does.
Veg and herbs have never had bird problems.

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londonteatime Abilene, TX(Zone 7b) Mar 05, 2007

Thanks, y'all!!! Yes, when I lived further south, grackles would eat my fledgling citrus. Guess the birds have a sweet tooth! Fingers crossed for my veggies and herbs!

Julie

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Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Mar 05, 2007

I tried putting out birdseed in feeders, hoping the birds would prefer that, over my strawberries. Then I found out my dog was eating all the bird seed - not great for the digestion and now I have sprouts of millet all over! So I can't really tell if worked or not.

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