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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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DAMMIT!!!!!-IT WAS THEFUCKING FINCHES!!!!!
#18987033 - 10/16/13 04:43 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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so look at the pics below and try and come up with a conclusion as to what happened.

I know its pretty fucked up but I cannot go to work and come back to find pristine untouched cacti. never. and so far it seems like my lophs are the ones taking the brunt of this monster. it could be a disease but so many have gotten it and overcame it. it might be cats but the pots would be everywhere. now I think its the ants trying to burrow into the plant it self.
I currently have my 6 year old caespitosa graft in front of my vortex fan drying because ants have found there way to the center of the plant and have brought disease with it. I removed a bunch of mushy heads that succumb to rot. this is one big huge graft, with many crevices for ants to hide. they came rushing out the pot when I uprooted it and came out the crevice where they were hiding. so I flushed them out and now they dry.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
Edited by ferrel_human (10/31/13 01:21 PM)
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Fuck..the crest got hit. I have a few baby lophs that took the same type of damage as yours. Still unsure what got them but they have since recovered. Luckily they were only ~1cm in size but still. I hate seeing that happen.
I'd get the caespitosa graft under control asap if possible. I've read ants like to feed on the sap of scale insects and that they will carry the scale elsewhere to "farm" it. Hope that isn't what's happening but ants swarming around cacti is never a good sign in my experience.
--------------------
   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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420milehigh
shaman


Registered: 08/19/12
Posts: 1,229
Loc: third eye
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: SuperD]
#18987327 - 10/16/13 05:47 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I'm thinking birds, not 100% though....
-------------------- All posts are entirely, 100%, conclusively false or complete works of fiction... but I can levitate lol "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Benjamin Franklin if I owe you seeds from a previous trade send me a PM, I will rectify my shortcomings and compensate you for your patience
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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I say ants. Well here is the story. Several f my grafts have been under attack by some small maggot like worms. My aztekium ritterii grafy got hit too. Well I grafted the heads that were ok and then when I came back to the graft later it was infested with fire ants moving the worms. TKing them out aand preparing for some type of armageddon. I still dont get it but I think the ants want to burrow in em and slowly take over the world. well maybe not but my cacti are my world and they seem to be taking over. I wanna go chemical but I am at odds with this.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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I don't like the idea of using chems either but you do what you gotta do to keep them alive and healthy.
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   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,224
Loc: Zone 13
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I'll have to agree with ants as my grafts have been attacked before. Strangely it only attacks 'lollipop grafts' and have not attacked own root plants like yours. At first I would just ignore it however I have lost a astro cv to a caterpillar thinking it was just an ant that dug in. I'm a little more cautious however there is not much I can do. To control the ants I spray a chemical killer around my growing area however not on the plant or the soil itself. I try to flood the soil every few watering to drown the ants.
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intelligentlife
Noaidi



Registered: 10/18/10
Posts: 2,627
Loc: EU
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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I am almost sure birds have maim your peyote
Have you heard the word? ...bababababaa
They have knock your lophs with their beak and try to check are they edible.
I have seen birds done similar big injury to peyote, punctured the skin with their beak in my mind. I see mach to birds beak, triangle shape punctures. I don't see there has been eaten skin out before there punctures.
Edited by intelligentlife (10/17/13 12:21 AM)
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Quote:
420milehigh said: I'm thinking birds, not 100% though....
I'm with 420, birds (with a second, remote chance of being someone trying to annoy you. A little brother, a neighbor...?). Look at most of the damage, it's made with something triangular in section, clearly visible in the second photo (I fell like a CSI agent). A beak, a knife...?
If it's only a few plants, fumigate them inside a big plastic box to get rid of the ants and think of a way of ant-proofing your growing area.
EDIT: IL beat me by 4 minutes.
Edited by LSoares (10/17/13 02:42 AM)
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: LSoares]
#18989717 - 10/17/13 07:11 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I dont know now but I reallly love my cacti. I cant keep losing them to something I can control. I tried diatamaceous earth and that doesnt work. I dont know what else to try.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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420milehigh
shaman


Registered: 08/19/12
Posts: 1,229
Loc: third eye
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Quote:
ferrel_human said: I dont know now but I reallly love my cacti. I cant keep losing them to something I can control. I tried diatamaceous earth and that doesnt work. I dont know what else to try. 
well that would've taken care of the ants, I'm highly inclined to say birds are the thing that's causing you trouble.... setup a camera for a bit and watch what happens
-------------------- All posts are entirely, 100%, conclusively false or complete works of fiction... but I can levitate lol "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Benjamin Franklin if I owe you seeds from a previous trade send me a PM, I will rectify my shortcomings and compensate you for your patience
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Corporal Kielbasa


Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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Maybe chicken wire over the pots will keep the birds off it.
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naum



Registered: 10/09/07
Posts: 4,069
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It looks like animal damage rather than insect damage to me too. Depending on the size of your collection maybe you could whip up a mesh/screen barrier to keep birds, cats, and rodents out? I had something like that for awhile for a small portion of the collection and it helped a lot. You still have to keep an eye out on insect pests, but you don't see this level of maiming.
-------------------- Let's upgrade our security practices and move toward client-side PGP for encrypted PMs. My Public PGP Key: hxxps://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/24002249#24002249
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ChinChiller



Registered: 07/03/10
Posts: 3,270
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: naum]
#18991107 - 10/17/13 02:03 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Scarecrow?
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sidvivius
south narvalo



Registered: 02/22/05
Posts: 303
Loc: south of France
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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birds too... I've seen birds do the same things to my cacti !!
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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well today whilst inspecting my cacti I saw a little worm munching on my mammilaria theresae. I suspect it was doing it and I have found these worms on other of my plants.
now how the hell you get rid of worms?
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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and you guys might also be right about the birds. I found bird poop on my astrophytum myriostigma so that's probably it. its lucky my big white cat wasn't around. he kills for fun.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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You have a cumulative problem, Ferrel. Birds on one hand, then the ants and the larvae (worms won't munch on your cacti, those are caterpillars)... I think it's time to level the field: bring on the poisons and think of something to scare the birds away. Metallic strips or Cd's hanging tend to scare birds away over here, but I don't know which species is to blame on your case.
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karode13
Tāne Mahuta




Registered: 05/19/05
Posts: 15,290
Loc: LV-426
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Feeling your pain mate. Birds have been pecking my peyote too, mostly taking the seed pods, and the odd peck hole here and there.
I set up a wire barrier and no more bird problems. The worms, which I think are caterpillars can be dealt with by using something with spinosad as the active ingredient. Ants you can use barrier sprays, bifenthrin granules or something else locally available.
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Yrat
Hello

Registered: 11/08/07
Posts: 2,312
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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no way that damage is from ants. they are clearly pecks from a bird beak. i have noticed that small birds will do this to my cacti and succulents during extremely dry hot spells. they use the plants as a source of water. give em a bird bath and they'll probably leave the plants alone.
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,224
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: Yrat]
#18992153 - 10/17/13 06:09 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Didn't you have problems with grasshoppers before? Maybe they have returned
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Thanks for the advice guys. I got some ortho seasonal spray and tomorrow I will go to lowes and do some poison shopping. Im tired of this shit. If its not one thing its another. And so on and so forth. I think it might also be the plastic pots retaining so much water. These ants seem to like worm soil. I'll buy some ant killer granules or some sevin dust. We'll see and I'll update tomorrow.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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chuptoo
Stranger

Registered: 11/07/11
Posts: 523
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hopefully linking this is not against rules. if it is i apologize and edit it if need be. i saw it and remembered this thread and figured i needed to share.
http://lophophora.blogspot.com/2013/08/peyote-plants-maimed-by-birds.html
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GoOnThen
Stranger


Registered: 02/06/09
Posts: 1,046
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
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I hope you get it all sorted Ferrel. I to thing it looks like it at least was started by birds.
Here is one of mine that I have know idea what did this and it definitely wasn't birds as it is in my green house. The only thing I can think of is mice. 

Cheers Got
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: GoOnThen]
#18999143 - 10/19/13 10:44 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Looks like caterpillar damage.
I put out terro bait traps for ants. Put out the whole package of 6 in various places. They seem to be liking the poison sap. I will go to work and when I get get next days off I will buy morw bait traps.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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gopener
lil_dude



Registered: 06/16/13
Posts: 512
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1-2 hours of soaking in water the pots, wouldn't kill those damn ants? I am afraid i will have very soon problem with ants, they are every where around the pots..
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: gopener]
#18999253 - 10/19/13 11:12 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
gopener said: 1-2 hours of soaking in water the pots, wouldn't kill those damn ants? I am afraid i will have very soon problem with ants, they are every where around the pots..
I think they would just come back. I seen it with all my potted plants and cacti.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
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gopener
lil_dude



Registered: 06/16/13
Posts: 512
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They will not give up the nest so easily i guess..
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intelligentlife
Noaidi



Registered: 10/18/10
Posts: 2,627
Loc: EU
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: gopener]
#19004395 - 10/20/13 03:21 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have seen bird maimed peyote from that guy grow peyote in denmark and keep blog.. Almost identical injuries to your photos.
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intelligentlife
Noaidi



Registered: 10/18/10
Posts: 2,627
Loc: EU
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: GoOnThen]
#19004399 - 10/20/13 03:22 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
GoOnThen said: I hope you get it all sorted Ferrel. I to thing it looks like it at least was started by birds.
Here is one of mine that I have know idea what did this and it definitely wasn't birds as it is in my green house. The only thing I can think of is mice. 

Cheers Got
Probably snails?
I have seen snail damage at summer on cucumber plant leafs, never on cactus but seems it can be... If that is from mice, would there be more rough area around these holes?
These seems so smooth damage that I doubt mice.. Snails can do that possible? ..I am not sure but guessing..
Edited by intelligentlife (10/20/13 03:25 PM)
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Yes its birds. I have found bird poop in several pots. They ate a mammilaria luethyi I had waiting to root. Those bastards.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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I caught these little bastards in the act today. They were all gathered around when I went to the back door. What good it is to have a cat if he doesnt do his job. Poor my peyoots. Now what.?
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: LSoares]
#19063464 - 10/31/13 01:30 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
LSoares said: You have a cumulative problem, Ferrel. Birds on one hand, then the ants and the larvae (worms won't munch on your cacti, those are caterpillars)... I think it's time to level the field: bring on the poisons and think of something to scare the birds away. Metallic strips or Cd's hanging tend to scare birds away over here, but I don't know which species is to blame on your case.
I wonder how good cds work. Maybe I can get a fake owl from mother in law. She had a pigeon problem.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
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Edited by ferrel_human (10/31/13 01:31 PM)
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Desert Delerium


Registered: 04/15/13
Posts: 225
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Make a box out of quarter inch wire mesh and put your plants inside?
Edited by Desert Delerium (10/31/13 04:20 PM)
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Damn thats brutal. I dont want to do it. I want my cat to kil them or just scare them away.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Quote:
Desert Delerium said: Fill a bird feeder with bird feed... Lace it with arsenic? Bird bath with antifreeze? Make perches for the birds and electrify them? Pellet gun?
That's ridiculously cruel and unnecessary. Some random birds who have no intention on messing up his cacti will inevitably be killed. It isn't my cacti on the line here but I'd never consider something like that. Focus on the problem area rather than setting out a bird feeder where any bird could get harmed.
Quote:
Make a box out of quarter inch wire mesh and put your plants inside?
That's more like it.
--------------------
   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: SuperD]
#19064202 - 10/31/13 03:57 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Im gonna get a big fake owl.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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Desert Delerium


Registered: 04/15/13
Posts: 225
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True. Perhaps that is a bit harsh. I've never been fond of birds. Ignore the bullshit I posted.
I've heard that after awhile the birds see that because the owl doesn't take off and attack them, they realize its fake. So it might be a temporary cure, but long term you will have to figure something else out.
Best of luck.
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Corporal Kielbasa


Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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I'd create a frame and staple either plastic or metal mesh over it.
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Yiu just gotta keep moving it. So I will move it severeal places.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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thiotimoline
Stranger

Registered: 12/01/12
Posts: 898
Loc: Bay Area
Last seen: 6 years, 11 days
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A plastic owl will not do the job. I've seen pigeons nesting right behind one of those. The foil streamers they put up in vineyards might work. They're constantly moving in the wind, so they startle the birds.
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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I got the screen I ussd to use to cover them. I'll use that. Thanks for the help guys.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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Corporal Kielbasa


Registered: 05/29/04
Posts: 17,235
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yeah or those light pie tins tied on a string so they swing and spin in the breeze might work too.
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Galidor4
Beholder



Registered: 10/10/11
Posts: 854
Last seen: 5 years, 5 months
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I hope those birds
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: Galidor4]
#19075164 - 11/02/13 01:29 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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If they have tastebuds like ours they will not l ike it one bit but they made off with my mammilaria luethyi.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Damn. I'd be googling for "homemade thermonuclear device" if birds killed a plant like that from my collection...
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: LSoares]
#19075644 - 11/02/13 03:21 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I wont be able to get that mamm for a while. I spent about $150 on seeds and a cacti this past week. I put up the shade cloth but did not seal it completely off but whem I return monday frpm vacation I will do some remodeling.
Thank you everyone for the sympathy.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
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karode13
Tāne Mahuta




Registered: 05/19/05
Posts: 15,290
Loc: LV-426
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So looked out the window 2 days ago and this is what I see:

I quickly moved the curtain, started clapping my hands and shouted at it, and it just sat there looking at me. 
It was a baby pigeon and I had to go out and shoo it out of the yard. Stoopid birds.
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: karode13]
#19076956 - 11/02/13 08:25 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
karode13 said: So looked out the window 2 days ago and this is what I see:

--------------------
   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: karode13]
#19077071 - 11/02/13 08:57 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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What attracts them to the gobulars? That sucks k-man. Was there any damage?
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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SuperD
Cacti junky


Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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My guess would be the tufts of fur resemble an insect and they swoop in for a closer look. I've seen countless lophs including one of my own with all the areole fur plucked out.
--------------------
   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: DAMMIT!!!!! [Re: SuperD]
#19077197 - 11/02/13 09:21 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Maybe a worm. How nice. I seen th furry worms. And I think you right D. Because the fuzzy aereoles have been plucked from several of my lophs.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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karode13
Tāne Mahuta




Registered: 05/19/05
Posts: 15,290
Loc: LV-426
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I don't know why it was there, I thought of this thread straight away though, jinxed me. It's a semi enclosed area and I suppose the lophs seemed like a comfortable place to rest in the afternoon sun.No damage to the plants, not even any poop!
I know the seed pods do attract the birds to the plants. They steal the seed pods and in the process scatter the seed. First few times they gave an inquisitive peck to the plants but not anymore, seems they don't like the taste. Some flowers are even being attacked. There's only 2 Blackbirds that do this, I've observed them. Since I've screened them they've learnt not to mess with them. They visit my collection every afternoon cleaning any insects off the cactus and other plants.
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