How do you stop birds from eating your grass seeds?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How do you stop birds from eating your grass seeds?

Posted: 1/6/2013 3:35:10 PM EDT

I've tried layering it in straw and hay. Also tried the cd's dangling from strings. I shoot them with the BB gun when I see them but they just keep coming back.

Posted: 1/6/2013 3:37:31 PM EDT

[#1]

up the ante....#9 shot

I had a little bit of luck with straw, maybe your birds are just smarter than the ones around here.

Posted: 1/6/2013 3:44:35 PM EDT

[#2]

Mix uncooked rice with the seeds. It wont take long

Posted: 1/6/2013 4:19:15 PM EDT

[#3]

Hang a life-size hawk silhouette from a nearby tree. Worked great for me. Google "hawk silhouette" for downloadable examples - I cut mine out of thick black foam sheet purchased from a local craft shop.

Posted: 1/6/2013 4:24:50 PM EDT

[#4]

Did someone say bird?

Posted: 1/6/2013 4:28:04 PM EDT

[#5]

aerate so the seeds go down in holes and the birds cant get them.

Posted: 1/6/2013 5:13:03 PM EDT

[#6]

Why not a couple feeding stations of highly desirable seeds nearby. Sunflower or something like that?

You wouldn't have to feed them that long, just until the seeds germinate.

Or, there's this green stuff with seed in it that sort of looks like something else. That stuff may disguise the seed.

Posted: 1/6/2013 5:20:10 PM EDT

[#7]

Why are you growing grass in Arizona? Embrace the gravel.

Posted: 1/6/2013 6:45:55 PM EDT

[#8]

What is this grass you speak of?? All I see is white outside here

Posted: 1/7/2013 3:35:49 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Mix uncooked rice with the seeds. It wont take long

That's a myth, birds love to eat rice and it doesn't hurt them. I tried it.

Posted: 1/7/2013 3:36:23 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

aerate so the seeds go down in holes and the birds cant get them.

The birds literally dig holes to get at the seed.

Posted: 1/7/2013 4:21:57 AM EDT

[#11]

Motion activated sprinkler? New lawns need water anyways, so in effect you're killing two bir... er, nevermind

Posted: 1/7/2013 5:11:45 AM EDT

[#12]

Not to be a smartass, but plant in the late fall. You get your best growth that way and less birds.

Tj

Posted: 1/7/2013 5:38:55 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Mix uncooked rice with the seeds. It wont take long

That's a myth, birds love to eat rice and it doesn't hurt them. I tried it.

But Alka-Seltzer on the other hand....

Posted: 1/7/2013 5:47:55 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Mix uncooked rice with the seeds. It wont take long

That's a myth. Wild birds eat unharvested rice from rice fields all day long. No exploding birds.

TRG

Posted: 1/7/2013 5:48:27 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Mix uncooked rice with the seeds. It wont take long

That's a myth, birds love to eat rice and it doesn't hurt them. I tried it.

I feed it to my chickens. Uncooked, along with uncooked beans and lentils.

TRG

Posted: 1/7/2013 5:49:28 AM EDT

[#16]

Two to the breast, one to the head?

Posted: 1/7/2013 1:53:43 PM EDT

[#17]

Straw worked for me. I think birds have an innate fear of "a snake in the grass" and stay away. Plus, it keeps the sun from burning out the seed.
My problem is our dogs. It looks like we have varsity football practice out there. the dogs tear the shit out of it when they're playing, AAANNNDDD it's mud. Our pointer tears inch-deep tracks through the yard. It looks like a tractor went wild pulling a harrow. Just about given up on grass. Trying sod in the spring, if that fails, it's gravel to keep the mud down.

Posted: 1/7/2013 5:13:53 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
What is this grass you speak of?? All I see is white outside here

Put it down a week before the white stuff falls.
When the white stuff starts to melt, the ground turns to mud and the seed gets mixed in pretty well.
The birds don't come back for a good month after that anyway.

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Posted: 1/7/2013 5:20:44 PM EDT

[#19]

No white stuff ever in Phoenix AZ and birds are here year round.

Posted: 1/7/2013 6:01:00 PM EDT

[#20]

Many many years ago my father sowed a patch about 8x10 feet and then rolled cheese cloth across the patch covering it completely. I think he used some spikes to hold it down. The water goes right through and the seeds are covered. As the grass got taller he then pulled the cloth off. I would have no idea where you can find large rolls of cheese cloth today.

I have no idea how large of an area your doing, so this might not be a good idea for a large area to be covered.

Posted: 1/7/2013 6:03:58 PM EDT

[#21]

Choot'um

Posted: 1/9/2013 2:51:08 AM EDT

[#22]

Dcon mixed in with cream corn. This kept the crows out of the garbage dumpster at work. Probably would work with birds too.

Posted: 1/18/2013 10:04:41 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Choot'um

Posted: 1/19/2013 7:27:56 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Choot'um

Again I work all day, I don't have time to lay in a gilly suit in my backyard picking off pigeons.

Posted: 1/19/2013 9:04:55 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Choot'um

Again I work all day, I don't have time to lay in a gilly suit in my backyard picking off pigeons.

Umm, you may be missing out on a sporting good time. I would try to keep the birds coming back. My only suggestion is to look into pellet fertilizer. Maybe they'll eat it and die.

Posted: 1/20/2013 2:19:53 PM EDT

[#26]

You could try bird netting if you are able to stay off of the area for a few weeks. Put 6" stakes in the ground every few feet and drape it over.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How do you stop birds from eating your grass seeds?

Outdoors » Homestead, Farm & Garden

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