Veg Cage With Push Fit Piping?

[Peanut]

I was looking at Harrod Horticulture cages and they cost a fortune. So my moneysaving bodge it brain wondered if it would be possible to make a cage using push fit plumbing pipes and connectors. I can only find plastic ones, which I worry would be a bit fly away in the high winds. I would prefer metal ideally but can't find an equivalent.

I bet some of you have done something like this already!

What do you think folks?

[muck lover]

I’ve had similar issues. Each year the birds completely clear my redcurrant bush. Each year we try to construct a bamboo and connector netting cage and the blackbirds in particular just laugh scornfully and break in. The bush is planted in an awkward sloped area which was stupid of course.
so this year I bought a big net bag - it’s a light but strong mesh that I’m hoping will allow air flow. Anyway it was much easier to put on and seems secure. Cost:£13 so not a ruinous cost and I’m hoping it’s usable for a few years.

[Peanut]

I feel your pain muck lover.
Blackbirds are a nightmare with fruit bushes, last year I draped some netting over my blueberries, (it was a bit of a half-hearted gesture) thinking it might just deter them, but no, they just hopped up from the ground and mocking me as they gobbled up every ripe fruit.
The only good thing I have found with Blackbirds, is that they seem to only take the first ripenind fruits from each variety of fruit bush, then move onto the next, so subsequent fruits are left for me, mostly.

That bag looks like it could work though!

[muck lover]

I’m hopeful - there’s a drawstring which has been tightened around the base of the plant and I’ve also weighed down the base with bricks.
You must have very considerate blackbirds as mine will eat every single redcurrant in a day. Same with blueberries although they’re happier to share blackcurrants with me.

[Mark Rand]

I don't have a problem with blackbirds. They just eat all the berries from the mahonia bush.

[Nicos]

I’ve spotted some metal ones at screwfix if that’s the sort of thing you are meaning peanut?

https://www.screwfix.com/c/heating-p...ystem=push_fit

[Peanut]

Thanks Nicos I spotted those last night! I haven't been able to find any right angled or three way corner ones though...

[smallblueplanet]

Thanks Nicos I spotted those last night! I haven't been able to find any right angled or three way corner ones though...

Edit: just read your opening post more carefully! I'm not sure why you think the mdpe push fit pipes will be 'fly away'? But couldn't you weight the cage or stake it like with a tent? Or put canes in the pipes or fill them with sand and cap one/both ends?

Does it have to be metal? Aren't most push fit pipe joints plastic/mdpe?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/jg-speedf...tee-20mm/80562

https://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-...tee-25mm/17141

[Nicos]

Here’s a thought…those plastic pipes are hollow!
Why not load them inside with something heavy - like gravel????