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Ideas for protecting blackberries (and later blueberries) from the birds?

post #1 of 10
6/9/12 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 

We have tons of wild blackberry bushes, but not only do we like them, the birds like them, too. Ha.

 

Besides netting, what are our other options for keeping birds out of our berry patches?

Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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post #2 of 10
6/10/12 at 7:50am
I had trouble with birds getting caught in my netting. I started using sheer curtains. I find at second hand stores or yard sales. The net canopies that go over a childs bed is a good one too.
Black Copper Marans,Blue, Black, Lavender Orpingtons,Icelandics,Silkies,Ameraucana,Pilgrim geese,Muscovy ducks.
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Black Copper Marans,Blue, Black, Lavender Orpingtons,Icelandics,Silkies,Ameraucana,Pilgrim geese,Muscovy ducks.
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post #3 of 10
6/16/12 at 8:50am

Hang old CD's in them or put plastic snakes on them.Or use both. If you use the fake snakes just move them around different every week so they dont get used to seeing them in one spot.

Quack Addict  80 exotic and migratory ducks, ornamental pheasants, one siamese, white and black labs , and a very understanding wife for 25 years   NPIP certified                                                                                                                                 I Ducks

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Quack Addict  80 exotic and migratory ducks, ornamental pheasants, one siamese, white and black labs , and a very understanding wife for 25 years   NPIP certified                                                                                                                                 I Ducks

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post #4 of 10
7/2/12 at 2:46pm

I would put a cage over them. Use something like chicken wire and that should keep the birds out.

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post #5 of 10
7/2/12 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 

Has anyone ever tried hanging mothballs nearby? Does it work to repel birds? Does it make you gag?

Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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post #6 of 10
7/6/12 at 7:24pm

 i use rubber snakes too, I jsut move them around every couple days, the little jiggly ones I drap in the blueberies...works pretty good.
 

Caretaker to an Arabian, 2 half Arabians, a donkey,2 rat terriers, a jack Russel terrier ,a cat, , Penciled, Gray & Black  Runner ducks, Dutch Hookbill Ducks, Saxony Ducks and mini-Silkie Ducks.

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Caretaker to an Arabian, 2 half Arabians, a donkey,2 rat terriers, a jack Russel terrier ,a cat, , Penciled, Gray & Black  Runner ducks, Dutch Hookbill Ducks, Saxony Ducks and mini-Silkie Ducks.

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post #7 of 10
7/15/12 at 10:35am

My dogs take it as a personal insult to have a wild bird land or fly anywhere on our property. So, is getting a big black dumb dog an option lol?

 

Actually, we have so many wild berries I don't worry, the birds can have as many as they want and there is still lots for us. Including one of the aforementioned bbdd, who eats blackberries off the vine.

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #8 of 10
7/15/12 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 

That's funny. We actually have 2 English springers, trained to flush and retrieve birds. They chase them all, but it must be dawn and dusk when the birds eat their fill.

Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

Reply
post #9 of 10
7/17/12 at 3:09pm
The only things mothballs would repel is people and possibly insects. Birds have HORRIBLE senses of smell (exception:vultures and other carrion eaters) in fact, owls are one of the few animals that will eat skunks.
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post #10 of 10
7/17/12 at 5:19pm

And, I wouldn't want to eat any blackberries that taste of mothballs . . .

 

I like the sheer curtain idea -- maybe I'll try it next year on my raspberries.  We have SO MANY blackberries that there is no way the birds even make a dent . . .

 

Some people try those inflatable owls/hawks in orchards and what not, might be worth a try . . .

EE, Buff Orp, Jersey Giant, White Silkie, Barred Rock, Dominique, Cuckoo Maran, Welsummer and Cochin chickens,  9 Welsh Harlequin ducks, 2 Rouen ducks,  9 American Buff geese, one patient husband, 4 children of assorted ages from 5 - 15
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EE, Buff Orp, Jersey Giant, White Silkie, Barred Rock, Dominique, Cuckoo Maran, Welsummer and Cochin chickens,  9 Welsh Harlequin ducks, 2 Rouen ducks,  9 American Buff geese, one patient husband, 4 children of assorted ages from 5 - 15
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Miscellaneous › Gardening › Ideas for protecting blackberries (and later blueberries) from the birds?