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my lazy beds are getting tore apart blackbirds. I have overwintering onions planted they are pencil tick but the blackbirds are breaking them and digging them up what can i do besides shooting them

Put nets (2nd hand net curtain from charity shops) or fleece over them. To be fair they are probably after worms and the like on you beds.

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ntg

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Alternatively, string black cotton zig-zag style over the tops, and if you really think it'll help, pass it through some old CD'S too.
As NtG says, they are probably after the worms. Birds only tend to be a pest of onions and other alliums when the plants are very small or setts newly planted. If yours are pencil thick, they shouldn't do lasting damage as the roots should prevent them being completely removed by inquisitive birdies.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

I got the same problem here Nemo, Black birds has dig out my onions and some of my garlic cloves ...
those bulbs has been expose to hardfrost for several nights and I don't know if they are are dead or not... but never mind... I am not going to kill the black birds because of it, they are in a way helpfull in controlling the slugs populations...
Cover your bulbs with some fleece and it will stop them from digging.

All the best,
Momol

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I grow, I pick, I eat ...

Blackbirds are my favourite songbird. They don't eat the onions, just uproot them digging for worms. If you feed them in another part of the garden (they love rotting apples), you may attract them away from your onion bed.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

thanks everyone i should of thought of covering them with netting or fleas. i had no thought of shooting them it was a the heat of the moment reaction

Blackbirds are lovely. They don't eat your crops the way pigeons do. Protect your baby onions with string or netting, and give the blackbirds some leftover apples or raisins away from your seed bed. They will deal with plenty of slugs for you too! Be nice to them.

Hedgepigs are covered with fleas. Just have to catch your hedgepig ...

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

well spotted TWO SHEEDS i will have to use spell check in future

LOL !
did you get your barrier method up and running yet?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

hello two sheds
i bought a roll of 12mm plastic piping from my local agri store which i will cut and bent to make hoops. the hoops were placed over the bed i put an old salmon net over the hoops .hopefully they wont get stuck in the mesh
regards nemo

same problem!!! i also have a squrrel doing the same thing? anyone know any remedies or deterrents to stop these rascals messing my garden???

sorry guys i didnt see the answers (im new!)

will try these and see if they work

Try chicken wire bent over them rather than fleece/mesh.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."