I've never had a problem with birds attacking my gladdies, so haven't started them off in pots myself. Yours have got going now and you don't want them to get too big for the pots they're in now. If they were mine I'd plant them out where you want them now. Or you could hedge your bets and plant up some now and some later?

The only way birds could get at Gladiolus in the ground is if you are planting them too shallow. When I used to grow them I planted them at least 3 inches deep (that is 3 inches of soil above the top of the corm). It would have taken a determined bird to get at them.

thanks Beattie, good advice :)
Yes owdb. i replanted them about 3 times-each time getting deeper! theyre up now though and bigger than the potted ones
thanks guys :)

On occasions we did have problems with greenfly getting at the leaves as they emerged, so I wonder if the birds in your garden are after any insects on them?

Yes maybe, i have a bird feeder but alway catch them pecking around everywhere but the feeder lol! but the gladdies are ok for now-will have to wait and see what the leaves attract when they grow! :)