bird damage

[RalphWD45]

I planted one acre to RR corn, so I could help feed two calves, and my 25 chickens. In spite of hurting some of my corn, with some contaminated spraying equipment, earlier this year, my corn was looking good, and had really nice ears on it by milk stage. my corn is now in a soft dent stage, and waiting for the frost to kill it. Everything would be great, except about 2 weeks ago a swarm of brown birds ( look like blackbirds, except for the brown color) showed up and started to rip the shucks down and eat the corn on the stalk. I can't be there all day , everyday, to chase the swarm away. as of today I have about 50 to 60% loss of my crop, and that fiberglass owl on a pole does't even slow them down. What can I do next year to combat them?

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

A 12ga shooting into the swarm will generally help.

 

[JMS/.MN]

Check for a variety that has more closed husks. A good seed salesman should be able to recommend one. Definitely is a difference between hybrids.

 

[RalphWD45]

I like the idea of using the 12 guage, except it would only make me feel better, and when I wasn't around they would be back. I could take a little loss, if it was reasonable, but by next week I don't think anything will be left to harvest. Looks like a corn crib the size of a shoe box will be all I need this year.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I believe someone in Southern Illinois also got tired of bird loss. He spread wheat treated with a toxic chemical (Furadan?). Estimated he killed about a half million birds. Got in a whole "peck" of trouble and eventually settled by providing some ground as a permanent wildlife reserve. So don't kill so many that someone notices.

 

[Pat-CT]

Build or buy a crow cannon

 

[Jim SC]

Plant sunflowers adjacent to corn at about the same time you plant corn. Bush hog some sunflowers down as the birds start appearing and most prefer the downed sunflowers. Not much cost involved as you don't need a bumper crop.

Been working around my cornfields for years.