Bird pecking solution???

MsCowpea · March 10, 2006

I believe this really is helping. (click to enlarge)

Once I decided to let them dine to their little hearts content on tomatoes of my own choosing I really have noticed MUCH less pecking on the good ones.

This is a trash lid on top of cage about 6 feet off the ground--I put fresh ones up frequently (ones with worm hole, etc.) and they are definately being pecked on. Also put a few more out in various other places. (it's that or they are sick of tomatoes).

bully · March 10, 2006

Careful or you're gonna find Earl up there

MsCowpea · March 10, 2006

Naw, this is a democratic county in a 'red' state. We'd stop him at the county line! Of course, if he procurred an old 'Vote for Kerry' t-shirt he might sneak his way in.

(Hi Earl--just kidding--come on down!)

Rena · March 10, 2006

Nice lookin plants! It looks so green and healthy!

MsCowpea · March 10, 2006

IMISSCOLO: don't know if you mean it or not but,

Funny you should say that--that was a black prince in a 15 gallon container. There were OVER 100 tomatoes (no foolin') on that plant (give or take 10) and I counted them twice.
Unfortunately they were just too bland. Got a few good ones but they deteriorated in flavor (weather? gardener?).

shelleybean · March 10, 2006

I have been growing tomatoes for twenty years, the last seven, on this property. Last year was the first year I had birds pecking at my tomatoes. Even thinking about it now makes my blood boil! I had one Wickline plant that was really disappointing and I stopped picking hoping the birds would attack that plant, but even they didn't want them! They liked all the same ones I did. I inflated plastic snakes, tied up pie plates, covered every fruit that was about to turn with a nylon stocking and nothing did any good. Did you just put a trash can lid on top of a Texas tomato cage or do I need glasses?

moucheur · March 10, 2006

I always plant some catnip in my tomato patch. It's like building a crack house for cats. Cats could care less about tomatoes, but birds and other varmints don't like to hang around near the neighborhood cats' party pad.

MsCowpea · March 11, 2006

Shellybean, yes, the lid is on top of a concrete wire cage. The wire cage is sitting on top of the container so that makes the whole thing about 6 feet off the ground. I put other tomatoes lower on concrete blocks. They all seem to be pecked on so that means less pecking on the ones I want.

Moucheur, I have SIX cats--actually glad they are not into catching birds but you would think that they would sit down by the garden and look menacing but noooo...

**Lee** · March 11, 2006

You could also try adding a bird bath (ie. a source of water).
From my expereince, that is what the birds are looking
for from the tomatoes.

Lee

shelleybean · March 11, 2006

I've also heard they peck the tomatoes to attract bugs so they can eat them.

redwing · March 11, 2006

I agree with Lee, I keep a bird bath in the vege garden and I have never had bird damaged tomatoes...yet...but you guys have me scared! We have a small garden pond in the yard as well, which I am sure would help. We re in the middle of over 3,000 acres of gamelands and preservation area so we have thousands of birds all year long. I also plant sunflowers just for them, maybe they just prefer the other things?

melody · March 11, 2006

I've never had a bird problem, but heard that if you hang red Christmas balls in your tomato plants before the real tomatoes ripen, that the birds will have given up before there's any ripe fruit.

I do have a terrapin problem though. Got a couple who live in my veggie patch. They seem to wait until I have the perfect tomato just about ready to pick, then take 1 triangular bite out of it. Of course, they can't reach very high and I figure that they're thirsty, so they are no real pest.

jerseyjohn61 · March 11, 2006

I also believe moisture is the key to bird
damage. Last summer was very humid,
but oddly dry in my area. I also saw large
amounts of pecked toms for the first time.
Will set up a moisture station for those
feathered rascals this season as the damage
last was substantial....JJ61

paxpuella · March 11, 2006

We have more problems with squirrels in our area. The little guys come over and pick nice tomatoes and then eat a few bites out of them and go on to another. My mom got so frustrated that she finally quit planting vegetables outside. That and a neighbor would always come over and pick a nice pepper that my mom was waiting to ripen up just so.

Then then neighbor would think my parents wouldn't want it and pick it.

jerseyjohn61 · March 11, 2006

Yup Pax, some squirrelly creatures come
with hair instead of fur....JJ61

March 10, 2006	#1
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Bird pecking solution??? I believe this really is helping. (click to enlarge) Once I decided to let them dine to their little hearts content on tomatoes of my own choosing I really have noticed MUCH less pecking on the good ones. This is a trash lid on top of cage about 6 feet off the ground--I put fresh ones up frequently (ones with worm hole, etc.) and they are definately being pecked on. Also put a few more out in various other places. (it's that or they are sick of tomatoes). __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

March 10, 2006	#3
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Naw, this is a democratic county in a 'red' state. We'd stop him at the county line! Of course, if he procurred an old 'Vote for Kerry' t-shirt he might sneak his way in. (Hi Earl--just kidding--come on down!) __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

March 10, 2006	#5
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	IMISSCOLO: don't know if you mean it or not but, Funny you should say that--that was a black prince in a 15 gallon container. There were OVER 100 tomatoes (no foolin') on that plant (give or take 10) and I counted them twice. Unfortunately they were just too bland. Got a few good ones but they deteriorated in flavor (weather? gardener?). __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

March 10, 2006	#6
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I have been growing tomatoes for twenty years, the last seven, on this property. Last year was the first year I had birds pecking at my tomatoes. Even thinking about it now makes my blood boil! I had one Wickline plant that was really disappointing and I stopped picking hoping the birds would attack that plant, but even they didn't want them! They liked all the same ones I did. I inflated plastic snakes, tied up pie plates, covered every fruit that was about to turn with a nylon stocking and nothing did any good. Did you just put a trash can lid on top of a Texas tomato cage or do I need glasses? __________________ Michele

March 11, 2006	#8
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Shellybean, yes, the lid is on top of a concrete wire cage. The wire cage is sitting on top of the container so that makes the whole thing about 6 feet off the ground. I put other tomatoes lower on concrete blocks. They all seem to be pecked on so that means less pecking on the ones I want. Moucheur, I have SIX cats--actually glad they are not into catching birds but you would think that they would sit down by the garden and look menacing but noooo... __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

March 10, 2006	#2
bully Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 794	Careful or you're gonna find Earl up there

March 10, 2006	#4
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Nice lookin plants! It looks so green and healthy!

March 10, 2006	#7
moucheur Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boston, Mass. Posts: 50	I always plant some catnip in my tomato patch. It's like building a crack house for cats. Cats could care less about tomatoes, but birds and other varmints don't like to hang around near the neighborhood cats' party pad.

March 11, 2006	#9
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	You could also try adding a bird bath (ie. a source of water). From my expereince, that is what the birds are looking for from the tomatoes. Lee

March 11, 2006	#11
redwing Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: nw pennsylvania Posts: 20	I agree with Lee, I keep a bird bath in the vege garden and I have never had bird damaged tomatoes...yet...but you guys have me scared! We have a small garden pond in the yard as well, which I am sure would help. We re in the middle of over 3,000 acres of gamelands and preservation area so we have thousands of birds all year long. I also plant sunflowers just for them, maybe they just prefer the other things?

March 11, 2006	#12
melody Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 162	I've never had a bird problem, but heard that if you hang red Christmas balls in your tomato plants before the real tomatoes ripen, that the birds will have given up before there's any ripe fruit. I do have a terrapin problem though. Got a couple who live in my veggie patch. They seem to wait until I have the perfect tomato just about ready to pick, then take 1 triangular bite out of it. Of course, they can't reach very high and I figure that they're thirsty, so they are no real pest.

March 11, 2006	#13
jerseyjohn61 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Z/6 Posts: 554	I also believe moisture is the key to bird damage. Last summer was very humid, but oddly dry in my area. I also saw large amounts of pecked toms for the first time. Will set up a moisture station for those feathered rascals this season as the damage last was substantial....JJ61

March 11, 2006	#14
paxpuella Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern IL Posts: 21	We have more problems with squirrels in our area. The little guys come over and pick nice tomatoes and then eat a few bites out of them and go on to another. My mom got so frustrated that she finally quit planting vegetables outside. That and a neighbor would always come over and pick a nice pepper that my mom was waiting to ripen up just so. Then then neighbor would think my parents wouldn't want it and pick it.