Strawberries, or not, as it happens!

I have a blackcurrant bush that was laden with big fat juicy berries last year. Pigeons stripped every single berry from it before I'd even managed to pick one. So this year, I've covered the whole bush with a fruit net and anchored it down. Nevertheless, I've actually seen the pigeons sit underneath the bush and try to rip the berries off from below.

Lots of strong health looking plants, not a flower or a strawberry.

Unfortunately, most things like strawberries, which is why I don’t bother growing them, but as others have said a net over the hanging basket will certainly help.

It could be a squirrel eating your strawberry. A friend recently sent me the photo she had taken of a squirrel sitting on her fence, eating a large strawberry.

We used to have a pick your own place near by. Those strawberries were delicious.
Now its Cheddar or nothing!!

lots of great ideas from you all... thank you I will try the netting and some CD's too..... I think I have old Strawbs cd...lol

Mumofthree

I heard a tip once how to keep birds away from the soft fruit - hang old CDs amongst it - that could work with hanging baskets. As the light catches the CD it puts the birds off.

We have had a really good crop this year, probably the best ever - in fact I was getting fed up with them lol. Have been tempted to get rid of them the last couple of years as they had only cropped lightly, but would then have to find something else to fill the bed.
Now have the raspberries looking good.

I’ve had good success with a bed of barley straw, and nettting which is big enough to let pollinators in, but small enough to keep birds out.
However hard I try I cannot keep out mice and slugs.
To be honest I’ve given up growing strawberries these last few years.
Too much bother when they are so cheap in season.

Our blackbirds love the strawberries.

It's not been a good year for soft fruit, strawberries in particular have been very poor.

If you don't want to net because of birds getting caught in it, someone suggested a small jam jar over the top. I tried it and it worked.

Mice eat mine. They’ll get to hanging baskets. They do need covering with netting a jay says.
Never found slugs in my strawberry bed but I do where the lettuce is!

I think that's how they got their name - surrounded by straw to keep slugs and snails at bay, and to allow the berries to ripen on a soft bed without falling.

Woodlice are what I find chomp into mine, the birds don't bother with them much and rarely find slugs or snails near them.

Slugs, snails and birds all love soft fruit. (yes I know it's in a hanging basket, but after watching a snail climb up the wall during a recent downpour, it's amazing how they can climb!
My bet is that it's birds doing the damage. If you have an old net curtain, you could try putting it over the basket especially overnight as the so an sos will often be fruit picking in the time just after dawn, or you can buy netting for the job.
Check around the bottom of your plant for any slugs or snails taking a nap and either try crushed egg shells or special eco friendly slug treatments - not the blue pellets.