Fruit Cages - can anyone please suggest a well made, robust cage?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by TheMadHedger, Nov 23, 2025.

  1. TheMadHedger

    TheMadHedger Gardener

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    I have half a dozen blueberry plants of a reasonable size (about 4 to 5 feet tall) that are in large tubs and in a cluster - to keep the birds off the fruits next year I was thinking of putting a single walk-in cage around the plants. I've looked on Amazon but what they sell appears to be cheaply made which will probably rust and fall apart within a year or two.

    Any suggestions please for some more robust alternatives? Must be able to be secured to the ground of course.

    Or even any other ideas to stop the birds from nicking the blueberries? Not netting of course because birds can get caught up in that and I have no intention of harming them.
     
  2. Obelix-Vendée

    Obelix-Vendée Total Gardener

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    You can erect a cage by simply using wooden posts set in concrete or metposts and then adding some cross bars. You can then stretch netting across the top and down the sides, using staples to hold it taut so birds don't get stuck in it. Fashion a door or leave a flap you can undo to gain access.
     
  3. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

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    Have a look at Knowle nets or Harrods they both make good quality fruit cages.
    As for birds I've used nets on a fruit cage and just casually thrown over things and never found a bird entangled.
    I did have a young badger get in a little stuck in the strawberry netting when I startled it.
     
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    • infradig

      infradig Total Gardener

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      For just six bushes I would consider hoops and scaffold debris netting (too fine to tangle birds etc)
      It can be pegged to ground or attached to battens to prevent 'hit'n run snatches.
       
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      • Adam I

        Adam I Super Gardener

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        DIY with bamboo :biggrin: metal rods in the end of the bamboo so its not buried in the soil and itll last 4 years

        Hazel coppice or similar is even better
         
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        • Thevictorian

          Thevictorian Super Gardener

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          Our allotment cage is just coppice hazel posts and netting stretched over the top. Tbh we don't need it anymore because there is such a lack of birds that we leave it open now.

          The only bird issues we have is the occasional wood pigeon going after the pea shoots or cabbages and for those we just use a cane with a cd attached. The best thing I have seen are on our neighbours plot where they use the spinning colourful windmill things that children used to get, they really do seem to work.
           
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