Can a chestnut be ket small? (forum)

ringelstrumpf starts with ...
We have two chestnut trees, I don't know which variety, they were there when we bought the house. The cockatoos strip them bare and they are yet not really possible to net, but we can net branches. If we try to cut the top do they stop to grow in height? (It is a tiny bit high for the job yet)

Time: 2nd May 2011 9:05pm

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About the Author ringelstrumpf1
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Dave says...
Hey Ringel,

I feel your pain, we have lots of cockatoos here as well, they leave our chestnuts though and mainly go for the hazelnuts!
Anyway, we have a line of chestnuts down one side of the property (prolly around 15 large trees), there are a few varieties but they generally grow all the same and that is big and straight up and out wide, hehe, most are on rootstock that is for big trees so they will always want to reach the sky. I have two suggestions for you, one is contact chestnutgrowers australia and tell them about your issue, they are quite friendly folk with good experience in chestnut mecca of Myrtleford and check out this section of website
http://www.chestnutsaustralia.com.au/growing-chestnuts/chestnut-production.html
The other thing is to think what the cockatoos hate, one thing is large birds like an eagle, we have real wedgetails that fly overhead and quite close to the trees sometimes so the cockies are not a problem on our chestnuts but you possibly buy or make an eagle to hang from a tree with fishing line. A neighbour did that for a few season and they finally stayed away at some point, its a bit of a hassle to tie up and move every so often but probably easier than pruning a large chestnut tree to net it. By the way if you ever want any chestnuts and down this way, happy to share, we have had loads this year and most are being fed to the surrounding sheep and goats (not to mention the possums, rosellas and ground foragers) as we can only consume and freeze so many, given lots away too.
They have been delicious though this season, Some have been the size of a medium plum!
Anyway good luck on this problem, they are tree worth looking after.

Time: 3rd May 2011 9:27am

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About the Author Dave
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ringelstrumpf says...
We have only two trees and the cockatoos didn't share. And your answer is great so far as I just ordered some hazelnuts, but I will keep them trimmed. Do you really think that the eagle works? The cockatoos are very intelligent birds and they go into the chicken run for pure provocation (the stupid rooster don't chase them up).
Maybe we should make an eagle kite.

Time: 3rd May 2011 10:10pm

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Dave says...
Depends how convincing your eagle kite is hehe ...I even saw an eagle kite for sale somewhere that scared my children that would've worked great. Yes the cockie is intelligent and they live for ages (I have heard reports of upto 100 years, 80 years is common) so have a mental map of trees and know the land better than most of us. The neighbours eagle did work well for them. The trick is to make it convincing and if its left there too long they will get the idea it is some sort of prop, have to move it around, using the wind to blow it around a bit would benefit the effect.
Someone else I know uses a periodic clapping sound via a boombox in the fruiting season (they have a nut farm) and worked well too, but that is a bit noisy and hardcore for the home orchardist I think. But they don't like loud sounds so you may be able to improvise. The other technique for all birds is to use reflective mirrors, a farmer in the area has developed a prismatic star that you hang near trees. It spins a bit in the wind (like a disco ball sort of : ) ...and tas birds fly nearby they freak out at the reflected light and also if they catch their reflection. Anyway they are not the easiest of animals to deter, so if you have any success without netting you have done well.

Time: 4th May 2011 10:34am

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About the Author Dave
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Brad says...
yeah - bring the fake bird in when you don't need it (birds won't eat the nuts)

Time: 4th May 2011 12:54pm

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About the Author Brad2
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ringelstrumpf says...
The reflective thing sound very interesting as it is easy to do. That is why people hang CD's in their trees, maybe that's not reflective enough.
Christmas decoration might work too (what will the neighbours think?).
The eagle thing is a bit difficult. I reckon you must put it up high and you have to move it every other day, that's a lot of ladder dragging around.
Maybe I try to cut it a bit back in winter.

Time: 4th May 2011 10:21pm

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About the Author ringelstrumpf1
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