wild birds hanging out

[djswett]

Hello, good morning,
I live in central Oregon, the high desert. My flock is happy, waiting for warmer days, just like the rest of us…
Today I was noticing that there are quite a bit of little birds (8?) hanging around in the trees that grow in the chicken run. They even scoop down and sometimes walk around close to the chickens; nobody seems to mind.
The question is: should i be worried about those wild little spring birds bringing disease to our flock? Do i reallly need to put a roof over the run? The hens sleep inside a safe coop inside the run, so predators are for the most part not an issue, but I'm not sure about letting the girls mingle with the 'wild side'…


Peeeeace, 'B.

 

[ChickenCat]

There are all kinds of birds mingling with my flock. Doves, sparrows, red wing blackbirds, No problems so far. I do worry the sparrows will try and nest in the hen house and then I'll have mite problems. but so far so good.

 

[dawg53]

Please be aware that wild birds carry mites/lice, fowl pox, different types of worms and their eggs in their droppings and probably other things that can be passed to our chickens. I just got through dealing with tapeworms and I know the vector were wrens coming into the chicken pen and eating the chicken feed leaving their droppings.