That looks like chewing, biting off - I would say it could be mice, squirrel or vole. I see 'holes' on couple of leaves too, they look like bird marks.

I have seen tiny mice chewing on some of my succulents and also find some bite marks on leaves sometimes. Short of netting I am not sure what could be done...

I have read somewhere that the critters/birds are looking for something moist when thirsty, and the person suggested to put out a bird bath. I have 3 birdbaths, and still find marks occasionally.

Are the any kind of bugs on the plants, the birds may be pecking at them and damaging the plants in the process, not actually 'eating' the leaves themselves? Just a thought.

Gill

birdbath? birds may be looking for moisture. Can't blame them.

I had to get a fake owl for my balcony because doves were insisting on nesting on my balcony. Last yeah I gave up by the end of summer and let them have one clutch in my herb pot which was a large window box. This year I got a fake owl and it kept them away - after they messed up a few plants. It fell one day and within 36 hours they were back and did some damage. Moral of the story - just get a fake owl. It works.

Oooh - Deva, you might be on to something! Something nibbled my graptoveria Debbie and I assumed it was my gopher turtle - he's an endangered species, so I'm honored he lives in my front yard and don't want to do anything to cause him to leave. BUT - I also have mourning doves in my yard - so it might be them! THEY can be persuaded to leave!

Those little windmills you get at the seaside (in Ireland anyway, not sure about elsewhere) can do the trick too.

I tried reflective things, moving things (hanging colored ribbon), and I tried the fishing line in an X across my balcony bird entrance. The only thing that worked for me was the owl. But I wish you luck!

The birds here peck at my pots to get material to nest

I had squirrels chewing on all my succulents, tearing off leaves and even taking off with a few smaller plants. I bought "Repels All" at Lowe's and have used it for about 2 months now and have seen no new damage. Just a little sprinkled on and around the succulents keeps the away. If we get a hard rain, I re-sprinkle.

Around $15 for a 3 pound container. I finally finished the first container yesterday. It's totally natural: egg solids, cloves, cayenne pepper and garlic oil in tiny little white granules. When its sprinkled on it blends in with the gritty mix. I highly recommend it.

Rhonda

I know this is old but I still wanted to comment because I've been babying my succulents and they are thriving! But 2 days ago I realized a few plants were pulled out of the soil and half of one of my plants was destroyed and some even missing... this morning I found the centre of my best plant with a huge hole right in the middle . However, I did notice that 2 of my pots have rocks covering the soil and the birds didn't touch those 2 pots, but the 2 pots with soil exposed, were destroyed.. I'm going to get more rocks and put them in my other 2 pots and I REALLY hope it helps... I believe they are just looking for food and see a bucket of fresh soil... But aghhhhh it's so frustrating to see my plants destroyed...

Sorry to hear that...it could be birds or squirrels or chipmunks or voles or even mice...Few years ago, I started using gravel top-dressing originally to stop, or at least slow down squirrels and chipmunks from digging. It helped a lot. I also make sure there is always water in bird baths for creatures to drink (some ppl believe that they like juicy leaves :)

I've had birds (doves) attacking my plants too. The second time it happened, I caught them red handed (or red winged?) and shooed them away from my balcony. But the moment I turned my back, they had the guts to come back.

Crime scene:

One of the culprit who came back as soon as I moved away from the doorway:

chuckerfly

That looks like a pigeon. Doves (mourning doves) are much more peaceful - I have quite a few of them around, making nests in most unexpected spots. Sometimes even in pots of plants - but I never had that happen. Pigeons are quite destructive, and dirty too -:( Must be frustrating if that's what they started to do to your plants!!! I do not know if true, but heard that they like to return to same place. Could you put up a net? (I used to live in condo apartment and we were not allowed...)

Hi, Rina. Thanks, I think I meant pigeon. New knowledge for me. In my native language there's only one word for that bird and it is translated into pigeon/dove, I don't really know the difference.

And yes, they already came back a couple of times. Usually when I go away for a few days, I would come back to some peck marks on some of the leaves, bent plants, upturned pots, etc. No nets allowed..

chuckerfly

np...I learned the hard way too :) Doves are much prettier and bit smaller. Can't tell from this photo; here is one of the babies (still looks bit scruffy:) earlier this year just about to leave the nest for first time. They made nest in broken eave! (was damaged by a tree branch and I didn't have it fixed yet - so doves made a nest there):

Pigeons won't stop most likely. You should do something ASAP. They will nest and have babies there and will keep returning. I have seen disaster they made of my friends balcony when they were away for about 5 weeks. And they did have someone checking on the place every 5-6 days. It was very difficult to get rid of them, they even tried to leave a dog on balcony...

You don't even want to see my bird horror show from last weekend when it was 112f. We had fountains and basins of water all over the property and the towhees still torn the heck out of some nice Haworthia.

Hi everyone, I've had towhees eating my succulents like crazy. I think they are getting water out of them. It's very hot and dry. I'm in the valley so they it's been pretty miserable. I saw one chewing on it then spit the rest out. This is my guess.

Pigs might fly? :)

Yes, birds were eating my succulents, too. I saw them and even had photos.

I did notice this before, and concluded thst the blackbird (the sinner in question) thought they were worms or larvae of some sort.

I have some experience shooing away birds. I have a steel basket on my bicycle. Found pigeon poops on my basket. I tie cable ties around the rim of the basket. And stick the ends of the tie up. After that no more pigeon.

One suggestion is that you can stick a few bamboo stick on the affect pots to deter the bird because they have no ware to perched. And also it sense a trap.

Another option, if the whole lots of pots are affected. Get a thin like fishing net temporary cover the plants. Should deter birds.

That my sharing.

We have the same problem!! They are my Burros Tail & other small- leaves succulents, cleaned out my Buried Jar planter, etc.!!##!! We live in AZ so it's probably caused by Thirst, but we have a fountain & they Still have wreaked Havoc on my Succulent Collections!! The only cure that appears to be working is to put small wire cages over the plants & weigh them down with a brick or rock, which is kinda tricky to do on hanging planters.... I hate to give up on them, But.....

Well, After keeping all the ones they liked out of sight for 3 weeks, they stopped coming by. Thank goodness. Still, those plants will never be the same. The move indoors has finished ruining their gorgeous colors. Back to square one ... This time, with a bottle of Cayenne Pepper tucked in between the pots. I'm not doing this again.

Great, that is great news. What a pain they can be. Next time use netting or find them some other food source. Ugh right?

Just a suggestion, get a fake crow or fake bird of pray. Hang by your the plants. Hopefully this will work.

I have an owl and no, it didn't work.

This thread is great!!! I am in Australia and something has chewed/eaten my beautiful succies ! They are in a garden bed and hope to stop this from happening again... I believe a cockatoo or possum has attacked mine..

Can you believe the birds came back? I had to permanently move the location of my succulents to the backyard and full sun/rain! It's 2 tables and so far so good. They actually look happier. I have no Graptopetalum guatemalense left and so many got chewed. The birds really don't need to be doing this and are just being greedy. It rains almost every night and I have a water dish for them just outside my porch but they are intent on destroying my succulents.

if they are over watered the plan will purposely let the leaves fall off because it's getting too much water. but I too have also seen birds eat my succulents, they do it for water. they don't do it anymore because I used to have a bird feeder close by and that's what drew them to it. I had it one point put an outdoor iron candle holder over it like a cage. it looked pretty and worked for a bit but the birds got smart. so I just removed the bird feeder.

Drought ... I moved that particular plant and sprinkled cayenne pepper around that area. That kept the birds away.