The rabbits and a muntjac deer are eating all the new shoots in the garden. What can I do about it?
Hello Beryl,
I have no idea as I don't have that problem, but I just wanted to welcome you to the forum.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Got a dog? My pooch chases the rabbits away.
I like the muntjac, but he comes in the middle of the night anyhow .
:)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Hi BerylWelcome to the forumMuntjac Deer Britains smallest deer introduced from Asia and usually like dense forest, It is unusual to see them in a garden unless you are very near forests and your garden is quite open. The only solution for the deer is to fence off your garden but not with wire fencing or netting of any sort as this causes a lot of injury to deer.The rabbits are another story and very difficult to deter. The only thing I can think of is to cover your young shoots with clear plastic, like a cold frame until they get established, but again netting or wire frames would be a huge danger to the deer and the rabbits.I can understand you not wanting them in your garden trampling around, but the deer are so pretty, its a hard one to solve
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Hi Beryl think 3 ft high chicken wire say 2in mesh is the only answer and cannot see how that can harm anything as a Muntjac is so small could not see it attemting to jump over but if you think it might then go for a bit higher wire.Perhaps the next least expensive option is lap panels from builders merchants at about £16 each for 6ft long panel.
Unknown said: The rabbits and a muntjac deer are eating all the new shoots in the garden. What can I do about it?
wish ihad your problem ? ENJOY WHILE YOU CAN
michael s said: Hi Beryl think 3 ft high chicken wire say 2in mesh is the only answer and cannot see how that can harm anything as a Muntjac is so small could not see it attemting to jump over but if you think it might then go for a bit higher wire.Perhaps the next least expensive option is lap panels from builders merchants at about £16 each for 6ft long panel.
Chicken wire is one of the worst things you could use. Its not the jumping over, its getting they feet stuck in the wire and tearing their tendons. As you say they are so small, could easily get caught or the wire gets damaged and causes cuts.
Low voltage electric fencing is probably the best solution. It is sold by most agricultural dealers and deters without harming.
http://www.gallaghereurope.com/uk/getpage.asp?i=1
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Worked in agriculture all my life never seen any practical way of keeping rabbits out with electric fence as if it is low any grass or anything will earth it and make it useless,I think we had about 4 miles of it but only useful for larger animals and of course some animals get caught in it and get killed by constant shocks whereas farm animals tend to be watched by farmer so they touch it with their nose and then they will not touch it or get too close again.
Deer deterrent information is available from the British Deer Society, although I certainly wouldn't recommend the use of creosote coated rags!? still this page offers some other good suggestions http://www.bds.org.uk/deer_deterrents.html
Unknown said: Deer deterrent information is available from the British Deer Society, although I certainly wouldn't recommend the use of creosote coated rags!? still this page offers some other good suggestions http://www.bds.org.uk/deer_deterrents.html