Birds Are Invading My Yard!

[RedBreasted]

I currently have 7 chickens, all hens, that are free ranged in my yard and I do have a nice large coop for them (might invest in a run). Recently, there have been these finches, like a flock of them not harming my chickens but are stealing the foods and leftovers. I do witnessed one or two magpies also stealing. I'm not really annoyed with them, just worried that my chickens won't have anything to eat. I'm not sure the tiny birds are finches, I can't identified them. Thanks for the help! Let me know if you need more information.
EDIT: I live in an urban neighborhood.

 

[ashlierami]

I currently have 7 chickens, all hens, that are free ranged in my yard and I do have a nice large coop for them (might invest in a run). Recently, there have been these finches, like a flock of them not harming my chickens but are stealing the foods and leftovers. I do witnessed one or two magpies also stealing. I'm not really annoyed with them, just worried that my chickens won't have anything to eat. I'm not sure the tiny birds are finches, I can't identified them. Thanks for the help! Let me know if you need more information.
EDIT: I live in an urban neighborhood.

You might want to invest in a treadle feeder. I'm not sure if you have seen this device but it keeps food safe from other animals, safe from rain, and it's easy to train the chickens to use it. If you haven't seen it then I'll explain to my best ability. The feeder is a rectangular shape . Some hold several piund of food. It has a lever type thing that the chicken stand on and it opened the hatch, the birds eat and once they release their weight and step away it closes. This keeps birds and other things out of your food. Wild birds will take food unless you pick it up after each feeding. If your birds are free feeders like mine then that is hard to do so. I believe you can also research how to build your own. They come in several sizes from small to big. Some have sections and some have one large section for food. Here is a link to give you an idea

 

[SueT]

They may be English sparrows, an invasive species. They get in our run and steal feed. I actually made a makeshift scarecrow, last winter, using some clothes on a hanger and kept moving it around to different places. It would blow in the wind and they pretty much stayed away.

 

[FayoumisFreak]

Wow, that scarecrow would look very human from a distance!

 

[FayoumisFreak]

Do the 'finches' have red breasts? If so, I would say House Finch. They actually prefer residential and urban areas and will flock together.

 

[Kazzandra]

Pictures would help in iding the birds, but I also agree that feeding in the coop and/or feeding from a treadle feeder is the best course of action. You don't want all these birds around anyway-- they are havens for migratory diseases and parasites. Make sure you check for mites and treat for worms this fall. ._.

Edited to add: that scarecrow terrifies me! I wouldn't want to get near it. lol.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

It is a well known fact that English Sparrows hate "jazz hands."
Also, you'd think that any Cervid like a Crow, Raven, or Magpie would be able to learn to operate a treadle feeder even faster than chickens.

 

[CCUK]

It would be better to put the feeders and drinkers under cover somewhere the birds can't get to them. Wild birds, regardless of species, migratory or native, can spread diseases like Avian influenza and lice and mites. If they are eating from the same feeders there is every chance they could spread a nasty to your flock.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It would be better to put the feeders and drinkers under cover somewhere the birds can't get to them. Wild birds, regardless of species... spread diseases...

Therefor wild birds living of feeding with your flock are hardly harmless. They can also attract hawks like Blue Darter hawks, Coopers hawks or Red Tail hawks. All 3 of which prey on birds.

 

[Life is Good!]

I leave feed in the coop, water and treats are outside the coop...the treats are consumed faster than I can close the gate on the run...the waterers are underneath an overhang by the pop door...because the waterers inside the coop always seem to get tipped over/bedding chucked into them/just a mess all around!

While I've seen sparrows and robins nearby - I've never seen one at the waterer, even when in drought and heat. So consider where you are putting these elements for your hens and how to keep them out of the wildlife.