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Garden Gate:  I am growing a crow salad bar!  |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
 Posted - May 31 2010 : 5:39:27 PM
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I was washing dishes this morning and saw five crows come in to my garden beds. I thought maybe they were eating bugs or worms. Much to my dismay, they helped themselves to some red oakleaf lettuce! Last year it was the rabbits, so we put up wood sides on the beds. Now I have a crow problem. Any suggestions to keep them out of my garden? I know that they are pretty smart and apparently know that my owl I have is fake. Help!
Age only matters if you are wine or cheese.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2010 : 5:46:25 PM
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I have had luck over the years useing belts laying in the gardens and in the trees, dark colored ones, the critters including ravens and other birds think they are snakes. The trick with fake owls and snakes is, you have to move them around every couple of days, other wise they just become part of the scenrey.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2010 : 5:54:00 PM
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Wow Diane, I never would have thought that crows are vegetarians, lol!!!! :)
Hmmm, being a new chicken owner and working with all that poultry fencing to keep them in, makes me think maybe you could put some sort of wire over the lettuce? Just lay it on top of the wood sides, so that you can get to it easily? There's also a deer netting that my Tractor Supply sells, it's 19.99 for a huge roll, that would be easy to lay on top and easy for you to move when needed.
And along with Teresa's suggestion, I have heard that old cd's and dvd's strung in a garden really help to keep flying critters away. Try to face some up to reflect the sun.
Oh!! I know- how about a SCARECROW??!!!! Is that why they are called that, because they scare the crows away? lol! I would love to make a scare crow for my garden, but the crows around here chase the red hawks away, so I let them stay! :)
Let us know what happens....
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2010 : 5:56:39 PM
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Something got into my garden this morning and stripped some of the Kale greens right off the middle veins. It was so weird. I can hardly do that cleanly myself, but something got to it and just left that tough middle vein sticking out or the Kale bunch. Boo! Whatever it is better watch out! Hmm....I have a skinny black belt I could put out there. I'll give anything a try. Hope you can get rid of those crows Diane!
Farmgirl Sister #1110
Siobhan - AKA Liza-Jane (my farmgirl name), wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2010 : 8:24:08 PM
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Diane-
Somewhere else on this thread, people were talking about stringin old CD's and DVD's near the garden. when they glimmer in the sun it keeps birds away? Dont know if it will work for this particular problem- but I guess it couldnt hurt to try... I think the dark belt idea is neat! Definately makes sense!
Good Luck- let us know how you make out!
~Laurie
Farmgirl Sister #1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2010 : 8:32:45 PM
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I've had to put bird netting or chicken wire over most of my raised beds to keep the birds, including my chickens, out. Last year we had some kind of black birds, but I don't think they were crows that stripped our ears of corn, from the top down, with their claws. It was nasty. I am getting a scarecrow this year. My girlfriend calls it a garden goddess. Whatever....I hope she works.
"Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization."
Daniel Webster
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2010 : 03:56:09 AM
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Ok, now I have had it. I am out front yesterday pruning my bushes after I watered the garden. I go back out to the garden and find one of my beautiful brocolli plants broken at the base and three leaves pulled off and the dirt all scratched and dug up around it. I wonder what did this? I am thinking maybe a squirrel looking for his stored nut. I am laying down some cayenne pepper around my plants. I did that last year and it kept the rabbits away, maybe it will work for my mystery marauder. Then I am making a scarecrow, hanging some CDs and might even try the fake snake thing. Question, we don't have many predator snakes in WI. Would the crows still be scared of them?
Age only matters if you are wine or cheese.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2010 : 08:57:51 AM
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Here's another trick that works for me in my fruit orchard. It is a tape of sorts, not sticky thou, its made from mylar and is shinny silver on one side and shinny red on the other, it comes in a 50 ft roll. Take strips about 3-4 ft long and hang from anything around your garden, with the slightest air movement it moves around and to birds and critters it looks like fire. I got this at a garden center here where I live.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
823 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2010 : 4:01:33 PM
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I put up a Scarecrow Woman (kinda like the one in Maryjane's Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook), some old CDs and DVDs AND the mylar tape. So far so good as far as birds go. Did have a bunny dig under the gate and get in but that problem has been solved! ;)
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2010 : 4:50:55 PM
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I am going to try them all! It's going to look like my yard got vadalized by some kids when I am done! LOL
Age only matters if you are wine or cheese.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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smiley
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
lea
pea ridge
arkansas
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2010 : 8:34:04 PM
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| I have had good results with saving the pot pie size foil tins and tying them on string suspended form poles in the garden. When the wind blows they rattle and the sun reflects on them and the birds are out of there! |
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Garden Gate: I am growing a crow salad bar! |
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I am growing a crow salad bar!
