I have a problem! I have gone on the internet trying to find a solution to this problem and found none.
First of all, let me start by telling you how this came about...
My hubby feeds the crows and he has been doing this for years. They recognize our car when he pulls up to the mailbox and they start calling to let their family know that supper will soon be ready. Pretty smart, eh?
We had planted tulips in the garden out in our back yard and they were finally up and ready to open when I noticed they were missing! Then I noticed bits of red in the bird bath. My heart sank as I realized the crows had broken off the tulip heads and put them in the bird bath. They had done this last year with the begonias!
Any of you gardeners know what can be done about this? Hubby is threatening to get a pellet gun! He is as upset about our flowers as I am and he won't be feeding them any more. They will have to go elsewhere for their meals!
Sharing from my heart~ Sandi
Oh no, that's awful Sandi! Poor tulips!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the answer for you.
How disappointing :-(
Is there something you could spray on the tulips that wouldn't hurt them, but tastes disgusting to the birds?
Hope it gets worked out soon!
blessings..Trish
Oh My! Pesty little critters. I'm not sure what you could do. I know I would be dissappointed if the birds ate my tulips.
ReplyDeletehugs
Sissie
This is terrible for the tulips, I do not have a solution for. The goldfinches eat my swiss chard from the veggie garden every summer.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandi,
ReplyDeleteThat would make me cross too! My hubby thought the same thing as yours.
I have never had that problem so I am not sure- I once heard someone say they bang the lids of pots together whenever they see them in their yard to scare them off but they are quiet smart so I don't think it would take them long too figure out you were harmless and the neighbors might have another opinion! Sorry,I am not more helpful.
Those two days last week were beautiful but what a chilly weekend.
Carolyn
Sandi, this is terrible for you. I looked online and could not find any solutions for you. Our neighbor lady across the street had been eagerly awaiting her tulips. About the time they finally bloomed, her great great grandchildren "picked" them all! It is not a good year for tulips. Let us know if you find a solution.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hate to disappoint your hubby but he needs to stop feeding the crows. :-) Around here the deer love tulips so you could blame them. Maybe they drink out of the birdbath to wash down their supper. :-) There are 3 crows around here and I think they are robbing the birds nests. So cruel but that's nature. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYears ago when the ds was 3 and so was his little friend, they picked all my tulips. ALL. Not to bring in the house - nope - to take apart and spread all over the place. Most discouraging.
ReplyDeleteDarn crows.
- Joy
I've never heard of anything like this. Your husband should feed the crows elsewhere -- somewhere where they cannot see the tulips.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have any cows in our backyard, but something biets the stem of the tulip leaving it still attached and hanging down. Sometimes it's all together missing. Don't know what causes it or how to prevent it. I had beautiful bright red tulips. The possible culprits are rabbits, deer, groundhogs, squirrels. No clue because I never caught them in the act.
ReplyDeleteI heard that sprinkling hot pepper powder on the flowers would help. Haven't tried it. I hope that you find a solution!
Barb
Those poor little tulips!! I will ask my mom..she is a master gardener and besides she knows everything about everything :)
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating...About all I could suggest is maybe finding some decorative cage large enough to put of the tulips to protect them,(I have a bottomless birdcage over some of my more delicate herbs to keep my cats off of them) and have hubby feed the crows in a different location too...or stop feeding them all together.
ReplyDeleteGood luck
Blessings Kelsie
Crows are trouble! I had this problem when we lived out on the ranch. You might try getting a very large plastic OWL and place it close to the garden. We tried this approach and it kept the pigeons and crows away from our garden. I found it at the local feed store, but I've seen them at Home Depot in the garden section. I guess it depends on your particular crows, and if they are frightened by owls. Sorry about your tulips. Mumzie
ReplyDeleteDang birds! Some crows have been cruising my neighborhood too!
ReplyDeleteSandi,
ReplyDeleteOh, your poor tulips! I feel your pain as I have a family of bunnies that come to visit me and they like to "snack" too. I have never fed crows so I don't know how to resolve your dilemma. They are intelligent and fearless and will eat almost anything. Maybe you can try a plastic owl near the flower bed.
Oh so sorry about that, Sandi. Poor tulips and those crows just bit the hands that fed them...Christine
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ReplyDeleteSandi, our crows have never done this. We have had crows until I put up my scarecrows. They would come in and rob the wren nests of the babies! They did it in a group and it made me so mad!
ReplyDeleteTry a scarecrow out there. Some of the older ladies here use pie tins hanging in their gardens.
Hugs- Tete
When I was in college the crows would take over our campus. You could see thousands of them swarming the trees and they got to the point where they were not afraid of the students. The college had to put sound makers in the trees to scare them off. I would try something like that and if it doesn't work-pellet gun it is! Good luck! They are awful!
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with a pellet gun is that it can injure the crows without actually killing them. If you just want to scare them off, try putting a scarecrow in your garden, or hanging up tin pie-plates or bits of foil-wrap on strings. You could also hang a wind-chime in the garden. If the crows are only going after the red flowers (crows like bright colours), try planting white tulips. You could also phone your local Humane Society or SPCA for ideas. Good Luck!
ReplyDelete