Don’t Lose Those Valuable Crops To Our Feathered Friends.

If you grown fruit, the only way to make sure that you enjoy the crop rather than the birds is to erect a permanent fruit cage. Ideally, its best to consider the area to be planted, build the cage and then plant within its limits. But if you already have trees and bushes, it is possible to build round them, although it may not be as convenient.

Ideally, the structure should not only be high enough to accommodate the trees and bushes but also provide sufficient headroom for you to work inside it- around 7ft. high. You can buy ready made metal frames, but it is possible to build a structure using wooden posts and battens.

If birds are the only problem, the whole structure can be covered with plastic netting, but this doesn’t deter rabbits which nibble the bark during winter. The sides should be supplemented by sufficient wire netting which can be sunk into the ground for a few inches and bent outwards some 6-8 in. from the base so that rabbits can’t dig and burrow underneath it.

Each netting should be no larger than a 3-4in. mesh so that small birds can’t get through. The roof is best made from plastic mesh because if rain drops off metal on to the bushes it could contain toxic chemicals such as zinc which would contaminate the crops.

There are certain times of the year when the roof should be removed-during winter when heavy falls of snow are forecast, as the weight could damage it and to allow pollinating insects in, as they will avoid the mesh. In order to remove the netting easily, its best to attach it to the sides so it can be easily rolled up and removed as and when required.

If you only have one or two bushes, it is possible to erect a temporary structure with canes, wire and netting. But make sure if birds do land on it, they can’t reach the fruit by pecking through the mesh. It’s also important to peg the netting down round the bottom so that they can’t get underneath it.
Strawberries can be protected by using simple wire hoops, covering them with a net in much the same way as you would use polythene to make a tunnel cloche. One final tip is always protect your fruit before if ripens, because once the birds have tasted ripe fruit they will be far more determined to get a second bite at the cherry!

Trevor Dalley has been growing and preserving his own fruit for 40 year, most of the preserves are sold in his Organic Farm Shops in Herefordshire England. Did you find those tips on Organic Food a way of Life useful? You can find out more at NEW! Guide to Organic Cooking! - The Healthy Way of Living!