Are Magpies beneficial?

[cackleberrycam]

They eat eggs, they kill small birds, they transmit diseases, I have never seen them chasing away any big bird

 

[minnehaha]

Not beneficial! I wish i could get rid of them, but they hang around regardless of their welcome or lack there of. . I was hoping they had some redeeming qualities......anyything to help me be less annoyed with them!

Thanks for the info everyone.

P.S. I wrote that I have crows as well, but they are not crows, they are Ravens, about 10 in number.

 

[iolanda]

I am in Italy n hope to keep chickens soon. Here there are tons of Magpies n Jays. I plan to have wire netting covering the top of the run. I read you use an automatic light sensitive door on your coop. I want to use one of those. What make is yours n how reliable is it n how expensive? Thanks.

 

[minnehaha]

I am in Italy n hope to keep chickens soon. Here there are tons of Magpies n Jays. I plan to have wire netting covering the top of the run. I read you use an automatic light sensitive door on your coop. I want to use one of those. What make is yours n how reliable is it n how expensive? Thanks.

Hi, Iolanda, welcome to the forum!

Here is my door. It is very reliable, I love it and it was worth every penny. One reason I love it is because predators can't lift the door to make it go up, it's on a gear, just like auto garage doors. And of course I love everything else about it. This door makes chicken keeping so much easier.

Here is the link to the door webside:

http://adorstore.com/products/ador1-automatic-chicken-door

Forum review and discussion:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/740659/ador1-automatic-coop-door