Are wild birds a hazard?

[cresty]

Does anyone know if wild birds (ie, cardinals, sparrows, titmice, woodpeckers) pose any danger to chickens if allowed to roam around your yard? We have always fed the woodland birds and wondered if they would pose a danger considering avian flu, etc.

Thanks,
Cresty

 

[eggchel]

They can transmit diseases and parasites to your birds. But it is difficult to keep them apart unless you keep your poultry in a run that is completely enclosed with small wire or bird netting.


chel

 

[SpottedCrow]

I feed my wild birds in the front yard and have the chickens in the backyard. I haven't seen anything going on between them.

 

[BeckyLa]

I used to live in a neighborhood with a small backyard where I fed the wild birds. Then I got chickens. What I found was that the wild birds attracted smaller hawks which would then go after my chickens. Nearly lost a beautiful cochin bantam roo that way. After I removed the feeder and most of the smaller birds left for other folks feeders the hawks were no longer a problem for me. However, now that I have moved and my yard borders on woods I have small birds and big hawks anyway.

 

[ivan3]

As disease vectors, probably a threat, but how to quantify it? We are overrun with every kind of woodpecker (threat only to outside walls of house). We appreciate all the Crested Jays hanging around because their squawking is often the chooks/turks initial alert that a hawk is hanging around. The Jays really give those hawks the what for (pull feathers from them!).

 

[cresty]

I have noticed that the bird feeder has attracted hawks to the area. When I see the hawk, I remove the bird feeder until he leaves for other spaces.

Cresty

 

[Lofty Dreams]

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red mites