When Alen asked for Protection against the ZOO, it reminded me of the
measures I've had to take recently to protect my seedling squash
plants and bush beans.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago, I didn't have any problem with birds.
However, they (starlings and crows are the chief suspects)have
developed the habit of snipping off the tender leaves of my pumpkin
and zuccini seedlings when I first plant them out. They also wreck
havoc on my bush beans when they break the ground and put out their
first few leaves. These, the birds uproot and leave to die. At first,
they only assaulted a few beans and squash, then they began to uproot
in swaths and nip to death.

My solution:
For the zuccini and pumpkins, I cut out a square of chicken wire,
pinch two opposite ends together, and fasten them with twist ties.
This forms a small dome. I place one over each seedling and pin it to
the ground with a couple of stakes. They only need to be left in place
until the seedlings are well established, after which the birds leave
them alone.
For the bush beans, which I plant in long swaths, I cut a length of
chicken wire slightly longer than the row, then bend down a "wall" on
each side so it will stand taller than the seedlings. The ends I also
bend down as closing walls. Again, this only needs to be left in place
until the seedlings are well established.

The reasons I use this design a they are sturdy, they let through
plenty of air, rain, and light, they are impervious to birds, and they
can be stored in my shed and re-used year after year after year.

Scott

....Cross poison ivy with four leaf clovers to get a rash of good luck.

The wire is a nice idea. I have also heard of people using a hawk decoy,
mounted on a near-by tree or pole, to keep other birds away. I don't if
this really works, I have just heard that it is supposed too scare a birds
from hanging around. Maybe that would work also? I don't know? Have any
of you heard that before? If it does work, than that would save you the
hassle of putting it away every season, you could just leave it on the pole
all year.

--
Rob Smith, NY
www.allwoodwork.com
Woodworking, Home, & Garden Community



"Scott Parker" wrote in message
...
When Alen asked for Protection against the ZOO, it reminded me of the
measures I've had to take recently to protect my seedling squash
plants and bush beans.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago, I didn't have any problem with birds.
However, they (starlings and crows are the chief suspects)have
developed the habit of snipping off the tender leaves of my pumpkin
and zuccini seedlings when I first plant them out. They also wreck
havoc on my bush beans when they break the ground and put out their
first few leaves. These, the birds uproot and leave to die. At first,
they only assaulted a few beans and squash, then they began to uproot
in swaths and nip to death.

My solution:
For the zuccini and pumpkins, I cut out a square of chicken wire,
pinch two opposite ends together, and fasten them with twist ties.
This forms a small dome. I place one over each seedling and pin it to
the ground with a couple of stakes. They only need to be left in place
until the seedlings are well established, after which the birds leave
them alone.
For the bush beans, which I plant in long swaths, I cut a length of
chicken wire slightly longer than the row, then bend down a "wall" on
each side so it will stand taller than the seedlings. The ends I also
bend down as closing walls. Again, this only needs to be left in place
until the seedlings are well established.

The reasons I use this design a they are sturdy, they let through
plenty of air, rain, and light, they are impervious to birds, and they
can be stored in my shed and re-used year after year after year.

Scott

...Cross poison ivy with four leaf clovers to get a rash of good luck.

On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 23:11:43 GMT,
(Scott Parker) wrote:


The reasons I use this design a they are sturdy, they let through
plenty of air, rain, and light, they are impervious to birds, and they
can be stored in my shed and re-used year after year after year.

You can also cover them with floating row cover, shade
cloth, or something to protect plants against cold, should
you need to.

Pat

Hi All,
the hawk decoy will only work untill the birds get used to it being there
and not moving, in other words they realise it is a fake and it becomes
usless. they have used divices like to this rid blocks of flats of pigeons,
but they only work for a limited time. hope this helps you.

Richard M. Watkin.


Rob Smith rfsmith@-remove this before sending-alltel.net wrote in message
...
The wire is a nice idea. I have also heard of people using a hawk decoy,
mounted on a near-by tree or pole, to keep other birds away. I don't if
this really works, I have just heard that it is supposed too scare a birds
from hanging around. Maybe that would work also? I don't know? Have any
of you heard that before? If it does work, than that would save you the
hassle of putting it away every season, you could just leave it on the
pole
all year.

--
Rob Smith, NY
www.allwoodwork.com
Woodworking, Home, & Garden Community



"Scott Parker" wrote in message
...
When Alen asked for Protection against the ZOO, it reminded me of the
measures I've had to take recently to protect my seedling squash
plants and bush beans.

Up until 3 or 4 years ago, I didn't have any problem with birds.
However, they (starlings and crows are the chief suspects)have
developed the habit of snipping off the tender leaves of my pumpkin
and zuccini seedlings when I first plant them out. They also wreck
havoc on my bush beans when they break the ground and put out their
first few leaves. These, the birds uproot and leave to die. At first,
they only assaulted a few beans and squash, then they began to uproot
in swaths and nip to death.

My solution:
For the zuccini and pumpkins, I cut out a square of chicken wire,
pinch two opposite ends together, and fasten them with twist ties.
This forms a small dome. I place one over each seedling and pin it to
the ground with a couple of stakes. They only need to be left in place
until the seedlings are well established, after which the birds leave
them alone.
For the bush beans, which I plant in long swaths, I cut a length of
chicken wire slightly longer than the row, then bend down a "wall" on
each side so it will stand taller than the seedlings. The ends I also
bend down as closing walls. Again, this only needs to be left in place
until the seedlings are well established.

The reasons I use this design a they are sturdy, they let through
plenty of air, rain, and light, they are impervious to birds, and they
can be stored in my shed and re-used year after year after year.

Scott

...Cross poison ivy with four leaf clovers to get a rash of good luck.