Bird pecks galore!

b54red · July 19, 2016

Now that the summer doldrums are definitely here and production has slowed significantly I have seen a major increase in bird pecks. They are hitting at least half the fruits showing the very first signs of blushing and usually they only peck them one time. Many of them heal up but quite a few start rotting from the spot of the little hole they are making. I had very few of these up til about two weeks ago and since then it has been non stop.

I guess the time of pretty flawless fruit is well past now with all the splits from rain showers, thick and ugly skin from too much sun and bird pecks. Out of half a five gallon bucket I might get two or three really nice looking tomatoes. Oh well I guess my friends getting the leftovers will just have to suffer with some ugly fruit for a few months.

Bill

Worth1 · July 19, 2016

Seems like the wildlife has really made your place a target for eating.

Worth

My Foot Smells · July 19, 2016

Got a woodpecker doing the same thing here.

Someone told me to hang red plastic Christmas ornaments around the tomatoes. When the birds peck the hard ball, they learn not to attack the fruit. Maybe old wives tale, IDK. I did not do anything and the pitiful scarecrow is just another stop for the weedeater to go around, nothing more.

GL

kath · July 19, 2016

The catbirds here are the pecking culprits and they are relentless. I've taken to bagging the fruits I think will get pecked next or that were bagged for seed-saving just to make it all a bit less frustrating.

Not practical on a large scale and certainly more work but it's helping me to stay sane.

The woodpeckers here seem content to take over the hummingbird feeders for now- I haven't seen them around the tomatoes, anyway.

EPawlick · July 19, 2016

I use bird defense netting and sparkly tape to keep the squirrels and birds out of my raised gardens. l

b54red · July 19, 2016

Kath I have already harvested a gracious plenty for the freezer and no way am I going to that much trouble for a few more now.

Bill

kath · July 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

Kath I have already harvested a gracious plenty for the freezer and no way am I going to that much trouble for a few more now.

Bill

I hear ya, Bill- I find it especially maddening to find the first fruits of new varieties lost to pecking so I'm temporarily willing to put in more time.

chiefbeaz · July 19, 2016

I'm having the same problem y'all are having ,plus the squirrels are getting into the act.

b54red · July 20, 2016

I saw a couple of the culprits in action yesterday and it was Mockingbirds.

Bill

fonseca · July 20, 2016

I tried bagging almost-ripe tomatoes, squirrels just took it as a challenge.

My plants are totally wrapped in bird netting now, but there is a pair of cardinals that still peck every tomato through the netting. I have thrown away far more pecked tomatoes that were knocked on the ground than I have eaten.

Next year I am building a 10x10x10 wood and poultry wire cage, so I can at least harvest some tomatoes.

MadCow333 · July 20, 2016

I feed birds year 'round. Maybe that's the answer: Keep them well fed. I have no problems with birds or squirrels and the tomatoes. They all leave my tomatoes alone. (The only problem I have had is some varmint likes to dig in the containers every time I use Alaska fish fertilizer, causing me to quit using it.

I have 3 large bird feeders usually at least 1/2 full of black oil sunflower that I buy for $20 for 50#. I buy a finch mix for the goldfinches, ground sunflower, ground safflower, and some niger seed. It goes in one tube feeder with small slits to ration it. I put safflower seed and black oil sunflower in an open tray feeder, and mourning doves, cardinals, squirrels, bluejays, and all pick through that. Squirrells, too. I buy a little bulk cracked corn and toss that on the ground sometimes for the squirrels and bluejays.

brownrexx · July 21, 2016

I always think that it helps to provide a water source for the birds. They may be looking for moisture more than something to eat.

fonseca · July 21, 2016

I have two bird baths right beside my garden that I keep full. Does not stop squirrels and birds from chewing on even green tomatoes. In fact, I think it just attracts them to my yard even more. I stopped filling bird feeders for this reason, which would bring in so many birds that would then perch on trellises and peck at tomatoes.

Typical example for this year: cluster of 17 red pisa date, only 3 remaining (still not ripe, unusually slow to ripen this year despite color). The other 14 are all on the ground with peck marks. They can't get them out of the netting, but they can ruin them.

AlittleSalt · July 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

I saw a couple of the culprits in action yesterday and it was Mockingbirds.

Bill

One year there were a lot of mockingbirds here, and they did go for the tomatoes. I couldn't shoot them because they are our state bird.

EPawlick · July 21, 2016

I have to use bird defense netting with tent pegs to keep birds and squirrels out of my raised garden beds. The squirrels will pick all the cherry tomatoes (green and red) and bury them in my garden.

July 19, 2016	#1
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Bird pecks galore! Now that the summer doldrums are definitely here and production has slowed significantly I have seen a major increase in bird pecks. They are hitting at least half the fruits showing the very first signs of blushing and usually they only peck them one time. Many of them heal up but quite a few start rotting from the spot of the little hole they are making. I had very few of these up til about two weeks ago and since then it has been non stop. I guess the time of pretty flawless fruit is well past now with all the splits from rain showers, thick and ugly skin from too much sun and bird pecks. Out of half a five gallon bucket I might get two or three really nice looking tomatoes. Oh well I guess my friends getting the leftovers will just have to suffer with some ugly fruit for a few months. Bill

July 19, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Seems like the wildlife has really made your place a target for eating. Worth

July 19, 2016	#3
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Got a woodpecker doing the same thing here. Someone told me to hang red plastic Christmas ornaments around the tomatoes. When the birds peck the hard ball, they learn not to attack the fruit. Maybe old wives tale, IDK. I did not do anything and the pitiful scarecrow is just another stop for the weedeater to go around, nothing more. GL

July 19, 2016	#5
EPawlick Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Southern Ontario, Canada Zone 6b Posts: 232	I use bird defense netting and sparkly tape to keep the squirrels and birds out of my raised gardens. l

July 19, 2016	#8
chiefbeaz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Middle, TN Posts: 271	I'm having the same problem y'all are having ,plus the squirrels are getting into the act.

July 20, 2016	#9
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I saw a couple of the culprits in action yesterday and it was Mockingbirds. Bill

July 20, 2016	#10
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	I tried bagging almost-ripe tomatoes, squirrels just took it as a challenge. My plants are totally wrapped in bird netting now, but there is a pair of cardinals that still peck every tomato through the netting. I have thrown away far more pecked tomatoes that were knocked on the ground than I have eaten. Next year I am building a 10x10x10 wood and poultry wire cage, so I can at least harvest some tomatoes.

July 20, 2016	#11
MadCow333 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NW PA 6A Posts: 159	I feed birds year 'round. Maybe that's the answer: Keep them well fed. I have no problems with birds or squirrels and the tomatoes. They all leave my tomatoes alone. (The only problem I have had is some varmint likes to dig in the containers every time I use Alaska fish fertilizer, causing me to quit using it. I have 3 large bird feeders usually at least 1/2 full of black oil sunflower that I buy for $20 for 50#. I buy a finch mix for the goldfinches, ground sunflower, ground safflower, and some niger seed. It goes in one tube feeder with small slits to ration it. I put safflower seed and black oil sunflower in an open tray feeder, and mourning doves, cardinals, squirrels, bluejays, and all pick through that. Squirrells, too. I buy a little bulk cracked corn and toss that on the ground sometimes for the squirrels and bluejays.

July 21, 2016	#12
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I always think that it helps to provide a water source for the birds. They may be looking for moisture more than something to eat.