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runner beans and birds

• Message 1. 

  Posted by katie (U14383793) on Wednesday, 7th July 2010

  my runner beans are growing fantastic the only problem is the birds when they are very small the birds seem to eat them. wats the best way to prevent them?
  
  many thanks

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  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Wednesday, 7th July 2010

  Find ome old CD's, the advertising ones or something like that, hang them among the beans so they twist and turn, amny birds do not like the flashing silver and will stay away from your beans.

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  Posted by katie (U14383793) on Wednesday, 7th July 2010

  i have done this already and there still nipping away at it. any other suggestings? the cds have been up since we put the beans in.
  
  thanks again

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  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 7th July 2010

  Get a cat.
  
  I have the problem of not enough birds to eat my pests....I've recently tried bird stations and for the past 3 days when I've got in from work theres been a dead bird on my back step with the cat proudly standing by the side of it
  
  Me thinks I'll give up on the bird station.
  
  The cat must have thrown herself at my onions (which are now all flat) and dived through the cloches covering beetroot (which were spune all over the place tonight) to get to the bird

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  Posted by brothershamass (U4829311) on Thursday, 8th July 2010

  Did you sow the seeds direct or sow them in pots?
  
  I used to sow direct, but now do them in pots as you get a head start ones sowed direct and hopefully the plants are big enough to cope with any birds.

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  Posted by booacabbyl (U14298284) on Sunday, 11th July 2010

  i have the same problem.A flock of sparrows living in the trees surrounding my garden demolished the peas and are now happily eating my beetroot,runner beans and french beans.i have hung kids swirly wavy things! up and put kids windmills around the beetroot.the cds dont seem to work tho.any ideas?

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  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Sunday, 11th July 2010

  I'm amazed. I have been growing runner beans for about six years and have never had any eaten by birds. The snails have sometimes had a go and there is the dreaded black fly, but never birds. Is this a common problem? I get loads of birds in my garden because I put out water and food for them.

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  Posted by dirtyrob (U14395261) on Sunday, 11th July 2010

  This Friday i counted around 25 sparrows in my garden (the most ever) They hop all over my fruit bushes, peas, runner beans, courgettes, potatoes and sweetcorn. Have they ever attacted them no, might eat the odd raspberry,(i don't mind that) My secret is simple, my garden is full of better things that sparrows want to eat. There are plenty of flys, grubs and other yummy things not visible to the human eye that they like. I also throw out crusts of bread, spare bits of pastry i don't need for them.

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  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Sunday, 11th July 2010

  I get a lot of sparrow in my garden too. This afternoon I was watching a male sparrow carefully going all round the sweet peas and picking off greenfly. The sweet peas are just outside my conservatory window and I have often seen them doing that. The birds come really close to the glass and don't appear to see me.

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  Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  It's wonderful to see the birds doing their thing in the garden isn't it. We have a silver birch tree a few yards from the desk where I have the computer (OK one is outside and the other inside but you know what I mean!), and it is particularly loved by the blue tits. Prior to egg laying they spend hours picking off little somethings from the branches, and using it as a safe place from which to get on the feeders a few yards away. Then they bring the babies and teach them how to use the feeders, they practice their flying skills through the branches - one of the best things I ever planted in the garden for bird life. It was my millenium tree, I wanted dappled shade over the area it is in, and with judicious pruning it has done all I could have asked from it - but the birds are a wonderful bonus.

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  Posted by nanpickle (U14258493) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I too encourage birds into the garden, I have feeders, feeding stations and birdbaths (plus 2 ponds). I also start my beans, lettuces inside and put them out when larger, so have no problem with the birds eating them (they prefer the mealworms, niger seeds, nuts, etc., but I do find the sparrows strip my red hot pokers bare, I only had 2 this year (probably due to lack of seeds last year) and they are just bare stalks. My neighbour over the road has around a dozen and they are beautiful !! Nan x

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  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  Where have you planted your runner beans, if in an open spot and you get regular visits from birds they'll home in on them and keep returning for a feed.
  
  My space is limited, the runner beans are planted against a wall with lots of lush foilage at this time of year from other veg and flowers close by so birds aren't an issue and of cause having a cat is an added bonus. On that point I've moved my feeding stations and she's stopped leaving me presents
  
  If you do get regular visits from birds and it sounds like you do then feeding stations are one solution, keep birds well fed and they aren't distracted to eat your beans. That may not solve the problem this year but possibly next with a little forward planning.

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  Posted by booacabbyl (U14298284) on Monday, 12th July 2010

  I think i'll try putting out some bird feeders then.I really like having so many birds in the garden,its just annoying having them eat everything.but i suppose they have to eat too!i love watching them have dust baths and they do sit in the trees and shout at me when i get the hose pipe out,cant wait to have a splash when im done watering.

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