How can I keep wild birds out of coop?

MommyToThree

In the Brooder
9 Years
Apr 17, 2010
59
0
29
Yakima, WA
Very often when I go out to my coop there are 20 or more wild little birds in there either eating or just sitting around! I closed to "people" door but they just came in through the chicken door. I have been going through food very fast and I know they can make my chickens sick. Has anyone had luck keeping them out? I only feed my chickens inside the coop and they have a fenced run they go out in. Thanks.
 
I have a closed run, I used to free range and had lots of windchimes up and CDs this helped alot- also I feed the wild birds well away from the chicken area- so they could chase hawks.
 
Hi MommyToThree. I'm going through the same problem. I've resolved my issues with doves, but sparrows continue to be the bane of my existence. I made a shade-cloth curtain over the chickens' door to the coop to keep out the doves. You can look at my BYC page (down towards the end) to see how I made and implemented the curtain. The problem is sparrows continue to worm their way through the curtain. I've decided that the only solution for my specific situation is to make a treadle-feeder that only allows the chickens access to the food (not the wild birds). I'm working on it now; I'm quite hopeful that this will help solve, if not eliminate, the problem.
 
I don't have this problem, but i wonder if Fire Tigeris doesn't have the right idea by feeding the wild birds in a feeder on a different part of the property.
 
Oh I am so glad that someone else is having this problem. Well that sounds bad but you know what I mean!

When I get up in the morning there are at least 10 wood pigeons lined up along the fence. Then there is the sparrows, starlings and thrushes 2 types, then there are the house martins and the rooks and the seagulls - well you get my drift - its an all you can eat buffet!!!!! I have over 100 birds flying in and out of the run! They just go through the wire and even get through the net on the roof? We had one poor thing get trapped in the pot belly chimeny and sadly it died before we could get it out so they get themselves into bother a lot! Thing is there seems to be a great number of them this year - wonder if it is because they are stealing the Layers????? Anyhow I worry about them bringing disease into my girls and well they cost a fortune in feed but I didn;t know what to do as they seem to get into everything no matter what I try. Its like they formally line up for their breakfast! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Dh shouts at them and they laugh at him and just come back again as soon as he is in doors. I will certainly try the wind chimes - I can;t figure out why my fiesty head girl Gerty will go for our baby chickens but will she stop the wild birds from theiving their food not a chance!!!!!! She just lets them all in and doesn;t bat an eyelid!

Oesdog -
barnie.gif
 
I have a large hanging feeder suspended about 8" off the ground, attached to the coop. I have several feeders for the wild birds in the yard also, but they're at least 20' high. I've not seen any wild birds around the chicken feeder, and I think it's partly because I keep their own feeders supplied with suet and thistle and BOSS, and also because the chicken feeder's so close to the ground.
I do take the chicken feeder indoors at night to discourage racoons, squirrels, wild turkeys and other critters from getting into the chicken feed.
 
Well, I have almost 100% stoped the little bird from getting into the coop and run! We used bird netting and ziptied it to the wire. I found the netting at my co-op but it is online also. We had to make sure there were no gaps and put boards around the bottom so they could not sneek under it. I have only had two little buggers sneak in after this was put up!! It was under $50 to do, would be a little more if we had not already had the boards we put abound the bottom. Hope this helps someone, good luck.
 
I just found my coop is infested with Northern Fowl Mites, and have been dealing with how to get rid of them - but that's another story! In the past few weeks, I've seen little sparrows inside our coop. They go in through the chicken door. We love watching the birds, and I thought this was cute at first. Then I realized: this must be where the mites came from!

I am thinking of hanging strips of mylar from the top of the entrance - has anyone ever tried this? I like the CD idea - I will try that also. Any other ideas would be much appreciated. I just treated all 6 of my birds and I don't want another infestation of mites!
 
Right, I have a huge sparrow and dove problem. First they brought in soft ticks which I treated the coop twice and my girls got dipped. It worked-but now the girls have infectious bronchitis which caused loss of egg production and crinkled eggs with jello-like whites. Altho most say they are safe to eat, I don’t feel comfortable with this. So, I’m thinking of starting over building a new walk-in coop out of 1/4” hardware cloth and Only buying IBV vaccinated pullets or calling it quits. I thought of using CDs before but now I will before calling it quits. Thanks for reinforcement
 
Me too! I have sparrows and those miserable house wrens, and they do bring in the mites. Having a screen of some sort to shorten the human door opening helps some, but if the chickens can range, the wild birds can come in!
My previous barn cat loved to catch the wrens, but my current girl isn't interested in them, only mice.
Have your wild bird feeders away from your chicken areas, because sometimes the wild ones can bring in MG> Never good! If you see even one wren or sparrow with goopy eyes, or looking unwell, IMMEDIATELY remove and clean the feeders, keep your flock locked in away from the wild birds, and if possible catch and kill the sick bird.
I also let the neighbors know, so we all stop feeding the wild birds for at least a few weeks. Mary
 

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