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Phoenix Az

I had a female flower on a test plant that was about to open but looked in the patch and a bird ate it!!! How do you keep birds out and will I have to keep birds away when the pumpkin gets big too.

6/9/2003 1:18:44 PM

Utah

you can buy bird netting to cover your plants. Fruit tree growers often use it. You could also cover your little pumpkins with a empty ice cream container, cut slots for the vines. Maybe a box that soda comes in... etc... whatever else you can think of.

6/9/2003 1:39:32 PM

Commack, NY

soda? do you mean pop? LOL!

6/9/2003 2:20:08 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Was that a cactus wren that ate it?

I'm thinking your gonna have to cover the plant with bird netting. That would be the most cost effective.

Good Luck.

6/9/2003 2:58:31 PM

Deer Park WA

Mouse traps located by the flowers works wonders as a pumpkin pecker deterent!

6/9/2003 3:32:45 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I've found feathers all over the patch twice in as many weeks. Our double pawed male mouser/birder extraordinaire cat "Weezey" has been earning his keep.

I should think the netting idea would be better, but watch where & how it's attached & supported. Two years ago I had to cover corn next to the pumpkins. Darn tendrils got all tied up in it then a wind event soured me on using this method again. Or at least until I rig a better support mechanism.

Miller's Hot Sauce is pricey but was terrific even though it's not labeled for birds. I treated with it for squirrels & the birds also disappeared. Could have been a coincidence though & I've never tried to duplicate this effect.

Steve

6/9/2003 9:25:33 PM

Pulaski Tn blkcloud@igiles.net

12 gauge....... for the birds..soda??? pop?? do yall mean coca cola?? we have all kinds of coca cola down here..grape,orange, root beer etc.,typical phrase down here is..how bout getting me a coke when you go to the store..ok, what kind do you want?aw i dunno just bring me a grape one..

6/9/2003 10:50:45 PM

Usa

David,
I'm surprised a bird got it. That is really too bad. Last year they didn't touch mine down here. I've got a piece of screening that you can have if you want it. Maybe you can make a bag of some sort to go over the female flower. Something simular to but a little bigger than ziplock bag size.
Let me know.

6/9/2003 11:18:36 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

LOL Black Cloud.

6/10/2003 12:08:43 AM

porterville, calif.

This may sound crazy but it will work. I use panty hose on my tomatos. Just cut a piece about the size of a softball and tie it loosely around the base of the stem. The birds and even snails won,t try to get at it. When the puimpkin grows the panty hose will stretch. Now with the Giant ADs you will have to cut the panty hose off ,I don,t think it will stretch that big. Greg

6/10/2003 1:56:57 AM