"BlackShadow" wrote in message
...
arky wrote:
PIGEONS they are driving me MAD eating all my sprouts,cabbages etc.
I love the birds on my allotment but these buggers are eating more veg
than i can grow. I have put up a net but these buggers carry baseball
bats and eat viagra. everyone on the allotment is having the same
problem so would welcome any help !!!!!!!!!! I could try pigeon
pie ?



I used to have constant pigeon problems until I introduced chickens. I have
chickens roaming all over my gardens and they eat every insect that is a
problem, deliver fresh eggs, add to the soil nutrient levels AND drive off
all other ground feeding birds. I have a mix of bantams (aggressive little
critters) and various full sized breeds.

BlackShadow

I like the sound of this solution. Is there any conflict with chooks and with
natives? We have bulk ducks, magpies, butcher birds, peewees, ibises etc that
already compete for various components of ground feed.

How do you stop the chooks scratching off mulch from veges gardens or from
trees?

You can also net the plants, I know several people who are sick of bird/bat
losses have had to net whole vege gardens and all but the toughest fruit trees
as well.

David