Just planted Seed: Bird Problems ?

[SCRich]

I just planted several small deer plots. Mostly oats, rye some clover and I tossed some brown top millett in there to for quick germination and some errosion contol. I did the planting this past weekend, one 2 acre plot and about 3 single acre plots. One is next to my back deck but the others are a bit further away and well out of view.

Last night and all day today we had a light rain and mist, a Godsend since we have been in a drought. What I noticed before leaving for work this morning is the darn crows! I can't readly chop and spread 5 acres of straw and that's the only thing I know to keep the birds away from seed. The crows were all over the trees and I think some on the ground over my septic field, one of the areas I planted. It's behind the trees a bit out of view but when I saw the few dozen crows in the trees near the septic I slapped my hands and it looked like they all took off along with many more that were apparently on the ground.

Any way to keep the thieves away from the new planting ? I'd hate to find out 2-3 weeks from now that all of my expensive seed and fertliizer had gone to waste.

[EDDIE BUCK]

A couple years ago I broadcast some oats for a foodplot for deer. Of all things TURKEYS took to them and ate all the seed that was not covered, then when an oat seed plant came up they pulled it up. This year I planted soybeans on that plot and last week broadcast some oats in the beans. Hope them turkeys don't find them.I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[SCRich]

I am keeping my fingers crossed also. You got some nice rain over in your neck of the woods recently, hopefully you can get something growing also.

For the first time in over a year I had some luck I HOPE. It rained Monday and Tuesday, we got that coolish snap Tuesday and most of yesterday it was overcast. The rain was slow and light for a day and a misting rain for another full day, I don't think it could have been any better than that. Today is warm and a slight breeze but not hot, if the crows stay away and the seed is not bad (happened once to me) I should have a good stand quickly.

I have been up early the past few days and those darn crows have really been at it with the cool AM temps. They worry me but not much I can do since I can't stay home and scare them away all morning and evening long. I should design a small battery operated push button that I can load up with a small compressed air air horn. 1/2 second blast every 10 or so minutes should do it but I got no time...No nearby neighbors but I'd probably drive my elderly mother crazy! Don't know if a scare crow really would work and it probably would scare the deer away and not the crows