My Fruit cage is due an overhaul, now 37 years old the wire netting on
the sides has rusted through and parts of the woodwork needs replacing.

Its a big space 36' x 36' and I am planning on doing the work over this
winter

I would like if possible to replace the side wire netting with something
with a larger mesh if possible. what I am hoping is to find something
small enough to stop black birds but big enough that Tits wrens and
robins could still gain access. does anyone have an idea what sort of
size hole I should be looking at?

--
Charlie Pridham
Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On 11/09/2021 18:56, Charlie Pridham wrote:
> I would like if possible to replace the side wire netting with something
> with a larger mesh if possible. what I am hoping is to find something
> small enough to stop black birds but big enough that Tits wrens and
> robins could still gain access. does anyone have an idea what sort of
> size hole I should be looking at?

I would be inclined to start by looking at nesting box pop-hole sizes,
e.g. https://www.birdbarn.co.uk/bird-box-hole-size-guide .

Admittedly, a blackbird can get through a smaller size than the nest box
pophole size, BUT it won't be able to fit through the size that the
others you mention can.

On 11/09/2021 19:22, Chris Bacon wrote:
> On 11/09/2021 18:56, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>> I would like if possible to replace the side wire netting with
>> something with a larger mesh if possible. what I am hoping is to find
>> something small enough to stop black birds but big enough that Tits
>> wrens and robins could still gain access. does anyone have an idea
>> what sort of size hole I should be looking at?
>
> I would be inclined to start by looking at nesting box pop-hole sizes,
> e.g. https://www.birdbarn.co.uk/bird-box-hole-size-guide .
>
> Admittedly, a blackbird can get through a smaller size than the nest box
> pophole size, BUT it won't be able to fit through the size that the
> others you mention can.

Good thought, looks like 1" mesh is the sweet spot

--
Charlie Pridham
Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On 12/09/2021 10:24, Charlie Pridham wrote:
> On 11/09/2021 19:22, Chris Bacon wrote:
>> On 11/09/2021 18:56, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>>> I would like if possible to replace the side wire netting with
>>> something with a larger mesh if possible. what I am hoping is to find
>>> something small enough to stop black birds but big enough that Tits
>>> wrens and robins could still gain access. does anyone have an idea
>>> what sort of size hole I should be looking at?
>>
>> I would be inclined to start by looking at nesting box pop-hole sizes,
>> e.g. https://www.birdbarn.co.uk/bird-box-hole-size-guide .
>>
>> Admittedly, a blackbird can get through a smaller size than the nest
>> box pophole size, BUT it won't be able to fit through the size that
>> the others you mention can.
>
> Good thought, looks like 1" mesh is the sweet spot

I take it you actually want them to get in? Looking at
https://www.meshdirect.co.uk/plastic-mesh-nets/high-tensile-bird-netting/bird-netting-high-tensile.html
shows a 20mm x 17mm (0.8 inch x 0.7 inch) is said to keep out birds
generally (although 25mm square is rather bigger than that). It's a
"Dunno!" from me!

On 12/09/2021 19:11, Chris Bacon wrote:
> On 12/09/2021 10:24, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>> On 11/09/2021 19:22, Chris Bacon wrote:
>>> On 11/09/2021 18:56, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>>>> I would like if possible to replace the side wire netting with
>>>> something with a larger mesh if possible. what I am hoping is to
>>>> find something small enough to stop black birds but big enough that
>>>> Tits wrens and robins could still gain access. does anyone have an
>>>> idea what sort of size hole I should be looking at?
>>>
>>> I would be inclined to start by looking at nesting box pop-hole
>>> sizes, e.g. https://www.birdbarn.co.uk/bird-box-hole-size-guide .
>>>
>>> Admittedly, a blackbird can get through a smaller size than the nest
>>> box pophole size, BUT it won't be able to fit through the size that
>>> the others you mention can.
>>
>> Good thought, looks like 1" mesh is the sweet spot
>
> I take it you actually want them to get in? Looking at
> https://www.meshdirect.co.uk/plastic-mesh-nets/high-tensile-bird-netting/bird-netting-high-tensile.html
> shows a 20mm x 17mm (0.8 inch x 0.7 inch) is said to keep out birds
> generally (although 25mm square is rather bigger than that). It's a
> "Dunno!" from me!

Yes I want the smaller birds in, we have had a very bad year with Plum
aphid in the fruit cage and I would rather not spray (tried soap water
but it was ineffective due to the leaf rolling) We have 14 Tit boxes and
a large population of tits of various species in the garden and they
normally do a grand job but at the moment cant get into the fruit cage

--
Charlie Pridham
Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk

On 13/09/2021 08:17, Charlie Pridham wrote:
> On 12/09/2021 19:11, Chris Bacon wrote:
>> On 12/09/2021 10:24, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>>> On 11/09/2021 19:22, Chris Bacon wrote:
>>>> On 11/09/2021 18:56, Charlie Pridham wrote:
>>>>> I would like if possible to replace the side wire netting with
>>>>> something with a larger mesh if possible. what I am hoping is to
>>>>> find something small enough to stop black birds but big enough that
>>>>> Tits wrens and robins could still gain access. does anyone have an
>>>>> idea what sort of size hole I should be looking at?
>>>>
>>>> I would be inclined to start by looking at nesting box pop-hole
>>>> sizes, e.g. https://www.birdbarn.co.uk/bird-box-hole-size-guide .
>>>>
>>>> Admittedly, a blackbird can get through a smaller size than the nest
>>>> box pophole size, BUT it won't be able to fit through the size that
>>>> the others you mention can.
>>>
>>> Good thought, looks like 1" mesh is the sweet spot
>>
>> I take it you actually want them to get in? Looking at
>> https://www.meshdirect.co.uk/plastic-mesh-nets/high-tensile-bird-netting/bird-netting-high-tensile.html
>> shows a 20mm x 17mm (0.8 inch x 0.7 inch) is said to keep out birds
>> generally (although 25mm square is rather bigger than that). It's a
>> "Dunno!" from me!
>
> Yes I want the smaller birds in, we have had a very bad year with Plum
> aphid in the fruit cage and I would rather not spray (tried soap water
> but it was ineffective due to the leaf rolling) We have 14 Tit boxes and
> a large population of tits of various species in the garden and they
> normally do a grand job but at the moment cant get into the fruit cage
>
If you ant to let the smaller birds i then have a look at chicken netting
https://www.meshdirect.co.uk/wire-mesh-wire-netting/chicken-wire-netting/