Veg patch decimated - Can you identify these droppings ??

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Burko

That's bird not mammal. That's about as much as I can tell you.

Seem to have duplicate threads - I've commented on the other one but, again, yes, I agree - birds, most likely pigeons: the leaves are shredded off the stalks rather than the whole shebang being eaten as by rabbits or deer. Molluscs would leave some plantlets totally denuded and others stripped.

Pigeons are a bigger nuisance than many people know! In the colder mnths of the year they will descend en masse and strip sprout, broccoli or cabbage plants - that's why many horticulturalists grow their brassicas in net frames.

For future reference, I always sow seeds under old filing trays as well as keeping grazers off it stops cats using the seed beds as a public convenience. You sometimes see the filing trays in secondhand office furnishers.

[cyberstretch]

Originally Posted by Siskin

Hi

The pictures of your veg looks similar of what has happened to mine, but I just assumed it was the work of slugs and/or snails. If you look closely at the leaves (or what's left of them, sorry ) can you see any tell-tale "snail-trails" as I call them.

No trails of any kind , just the droppings. Its a lot of damage in a short space of time and like i said in my thread they have not touched my beans or peas or toms which are off the floor in containers ??

[cyberstretch]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Seem to have duplicate threads - I've commented on the other one but, again, yes, I agree - birds, most likely pigeons: the leaves are shredded off the stalks rather than the whole shebang being eaten as by rabbits or deer. Molluscs would leave some plantlets totally denuded and others stripped.

Pigeons are a bigger nuisance than many people know! In the colder mnths of the year they will descend en masse and strip sprout, broccoli or cabbage plants - that's why many horticulturalists grow their brassicas in net frames.

For future reference, I always sow seeds under old filing trays as well as keeping grazers off it stops cats using the seed beds as a public convenience. You sometimes see the filing trays in secondhand office furnishers.

thanks for the info Paul - very helpful indeed ! I was getting around to building a net as i had built the frame myself, but the hungry varmits beat me to it - a job for this weekend i think ! will they recover or should i replace ? they have devoured my cabbage,broccoli and all my salads

[cyberstretch]

Thanks for all the help so far - I will have a net up this weekend and also a shotgun purely as a precautionary measure ! haha

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by cyberstretch

thanks for the info Paul - very helpful indeed ! I was getting around to building a net as i had built the frame myself, but the hungry varmits beat me to it - a job for this weekend i think ! will they recover or should i replace ? they have devoured my cabbage,broccoli and all my salads

The salads might recover if they're kept watered (and netted!) but I suspect that the brassicas are done for - they may grow into spindly unproductive plants ot they might send out shots from the bottom: not good for an autumn crop - still time to start again! Incidentally, any leaf growth that you get from the seedings (unless you've dug them in) can be thrown into a mixed salad.

[cyberstretch]

Thanks for all your help and knowledge. much appreciated indeed !

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by cyberstretch

I do have a pair of wood pigeons in the trees at the end of my garden but during the day they just wander on the lawn. Do the extra pics i added of the damaged crops look like bird abuse ?

Sorry Cyber. I can`t see your extra pics. I would likey be able to tell you what is eating your crops if I could though.
Davd

[bigdave60dog]

Sorry again just found em. yeah, that`s pigeons put a net over the plants, they should recover Ok.
Wire netting is best as you can shape in into a tunnel. Don`t forget to block the ends up
Dave