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Rabbits, pigeons and squirrels!

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IanDH:
If it is not one it is the other!

Had got used to netting to keep pigeons off.

Have spent ages trying to rabbit proof but the blighters still seem to find a way in.  Any ideas on what I can use to deter?

Last year the squirrels were a real pain as well.  Would not be too bad if they were not so wasteful, but one bite and throw away said apple/pear - so annoying.  Have seen them around again.  While I keep the fruit trees fairly small and could net is there any other deterrent that I could use against these rats with bushy tails?  Would be easier if some of the householders adjacent to the site did not encourage the things with nuts and fruit.

ACE:
Rabbits, I was told that dog hair clippings would keep them away. Yeh Right. Well I had some from the hairy one that needed clipping so I spread them around my young runners. Much to my surprise it worked, they went and ate the beans on the next plot. When he replanted I gave him some fluff I had over, the rabbits then moved on to the next plot. Squirrels we only have the red ones here and they are not a problem so can't help you there but I would suggest old Rod Stewart CD's hung up and the flashing in the wind might help. You might get better results from George Michael  CD's he was a proper flasher.

IanDH:
Thanks Ace, will try the dog hair.

Obelixx:
We have to net our crops anyway to keep the chooks off the beds and we use butterfly netting on any bed growing brassicas and that works against pigeons too.

However, we inherited a row of tall fruit trees - unidentified cherries and Mirabelle plums - between the veg plot and the paddock plus some older ones from when it was a farm and which all have such bland flavour that I'm happy to let the birds have them.  Starlings can strip a cherry tea very efficiently.

Instead, I have planted smaller pear trees - Beurre Hardy and Poire William, an apricot, 2 peaches and a nectarine and I've finally found a supplier for some apples I'd like - Bramley etc - and those are being planted in the veg plot and will eventually be netted with a fruit cage against birds who pinch blossom as well as fruit.

Beersmith:
Do pigeons have different behaviours in different areas?  Hereabouts they will strip small cherries and plums unless netted. Also will totally destroy unprotected gooseberries.  But will ignore apples and pears.  They sometimes peck young beetroot and chard but lettuce much less so, though the rabbits will demolish them unless covered.

With my carrots under insect mesh to avoid root fly and brassicas under butterfly mesh and a good sized fruit cage I'm sometimes astonished how much stuff needs covering these days. 

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