Plum tree vs pigeons

[MyOtherUsernameIsDave]

We’ve got an old plum tree in our garden and rarely get any fruit because all the wood pigeons that live in the trees surrounding our house eat all the bloody buds or knock the plums off!

Is there anything we can do to deter them? It’s not a massive tree by any means.

No idea! We have a cherry tree - it's been in our garden for 10 years & we've never had a single cherry from it - either the birds eat/knock the buds off or the eat the fruit before it ripens. I'm pretty resigned to it now. Glutton for punishment I've just planted a plum tree too!
I want birds in the garden but wished they'd leave the trees alone - there is plenty of other stuff they can eat.

Cats 😼

I have an old plum tree which is similarly targeted by birds, also deer. We've lived here for two years, first year we got absolutely nothing off it - loads of green plums then they vanished overnight! Second year I learnt my lesson and covered as much of the tree as I could in agricultural fleece. Not foolproof, we still lost quite a lot but had plenty left over for ourselves.

Odd because i ve several plum trees, hoards of pigeons and never have issues with Pigeons at all, squirrels yes, maybe its the variety? we ve no really sweet ones, mostly Purple Pershore.

Cherry trees totally different, built a huge wooden frame to go over ours as birds eat them over night just when you think "another day or two and these will be ready"

Not had a problem with pigeons (or other birds) with my plum tree. Last year had a bumper crop.

I do have a terrier though who takes great delight in scaring the bigger birds away.

I have one! She’s currently asleep next to me. Useless. 😄

Labradors