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A Farm of My Own:  Deer and bunnies, oh my!  |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 09 2011 : 6:03:35 PM
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We're moving in 2 months to our property in rural KY and dh is worried about keeping the many deer and bunnies that inhabit our acreage away from our future gardens. I'd welcome suggestions on how to live with the voracious eaters and still have enough food for ourselves. We will be building raised beds which may discourage the smaller rabbits but will put the veggies at "dinner table height" for the deer.
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2011 : 7:33:51 PM
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predator urine in a spray bottle, I recommend fox and coyote, can buy at most sporting goods stores, also invisable fences work well for deer that will reach over and nibble, black nylon netting, meant to be used for fruit trees to keep the birds off, it will last for years in all weather types, they can not see it in the eves and early morns when they usually are eating and it scares them...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 06:33:30 AM
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I also read somewhere that recommended video tape strips flapping in the breeze...don't know if it works but I'm open to all suggestions. DH, a retired engineer, will "run the experiments" and find what works best for our critters.
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 06:41:25 AM
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Honestly? The best way to deter the deer is to build a 10 foot fence all the way around your garden. I will be doing this with my garden when we have it- it can be expensive to do at first but much less expensive than losing your garden and such.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 06:47:11 AM
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Sounds like a plan to me.
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 06:50:32 AM
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Ha! Alee I was on the web trying to find the same link to send! I've read papers from several of the large University Ag depts. that support this type of fence. When we get the Apple trees etc planted this is what we plan to do.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 10:01:57 AM
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Alee, thanks for the link. I'll pass it on to dh.
Connie, we're planning on putting in an orchard next year. We currently have 2 apple trees on our property that will finally produce a decent couple of apple pies this Fall but alas, we'll be moved by then. We haven't any deer problem in our sub-division but there are bunnies who ate all the young branches from our red buds that we planted last Fall.
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 5:57:08 PM
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I agree with the 10 ft fence idea. I have a friend who did it and they say they look out every morning and see all the deer just staring at the garden drooling! lol They've made it look so wonderful. Like going into a fantastical fairy garden with arch and round door. Very cute.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2011 : 6:52:36 PM
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Julie, I'd love to see pictures of such a fairy garden.
Thanks to you all for the suggestions and info. I'll keep you posted on what we try and how they work.
Nancy
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
697 Posts
Emily
Chambersburg
PA
USA
697 Posts |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2011 : 2:55:18 PM
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Yes, I saw that article, too and have some tapes put aside to use when we get garden. Thanks for the links because I didn't know for sure how to find it. We also read that if we stuff stockings with cat or dog fur and hang them up, it deters the rabbits. Keith (dh) says that there has been a dog on the property for years and there are deer and rabbits all over the place so he doubts that suggestion will work.
Nancy
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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Marigold
Farmgirl in Training
38 Posts
Marigold
Chicago
IL
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 6:51:20 PM
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| Get a working dog. He can still be a loveable pet, but at night give him a dog house near where your garden is. That or build a really tall fence! |
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nabrown42
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Nancy
Caneyville
KY
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 04:45:33 AM
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We'll be getting a dog and building a fence, too. With everybody's suggestions, we may have a great garden next year. Thanks to everyone!
Nancy
"I've wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to someone's needs I've been blind; but I've yet to feel a twinge of regret for being a little too kind." |
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A Farm of My Own: Deer and bunnies, oh my! |
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Deer and bunnies, oh my!
