Birds taking over the coop!

[Farmgirl283420]

my chickens have a big run and the wire is big enough for little birds to come in. The birds have even started coming in the coop! One night two got locked in by accident! I don’t want them spreading any illness to my flock and not only that but they are eating my chicken’s food. Because the run is big I really don’t want to cover the whole thing in small wire is there anyway to keep the birds away?

 

[fluffycrow]

Sparrows have been entering my coops from day one. Their food intake is not only unnoticeable, but they also tend to go for the feed the chickens have wasted by throwing it out of their feeder.

The worry for disease being spread is a more serious one, but if one's birds free range, they they come into contact with wild birds regardless

I can't think of a way to prevent wild birds from entering your coops and runs that wouldn't require you to reinforce the entire thing with something with smaller openings

 

[aart]

Keep feed in the coop and put a barrier(pet strip door) on the pop door.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

is there anyway to keep the birds away?

Using a different feeder type might help some.. what are you currently using?

Maybe adding in some shiny whirly bird type things that blow in the wind. Hanging old CD's from fishing line, etc.

Those garden type fake owls.. are useless in my experience.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Sparrows have been entering my coops from day one. Their food intake is not only unnoticeable, but they also tend to go for the feed the chickens have wasted by throwing it out of their feeder.

The worry for disease being spread is a more serious one, but if one's birds free range, they they come into contact with wild birds regardless

I can't think of a way to prevent wild birds from entering your coops and runs that wouldn't require you to reinforce the entire thing with something with smaller openings

They only free range when I can be out with them because of predators. But as long as they don’t get sick i don’t mind that much.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Keep feed in the coop and put a barrier(pet strip door) on the pop door.

If I leave the food in they go in the coop. What’s a pet strip door?

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Using a different feeder type might help some.. what are you currently using?

Maybe adding in some shiny whirly bird type things that blow in the wind. Hanging old CD's from fishing line, etc.

Those garden type fake owls.. are useless in my experience.

It might be worth a try! Here’s a picture of the feeder sorry it’s not a good one!

 

[Al Gerhart]

You need a treadle feeder. Not all are rodent proof but most will handle tiny sparrows. Once you stop feeding them they will be forced to leave to forage for natural food.

 

[aart]

What’s a pet strip door?

Want me to google that for you

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Want me to google that for you

Lol thank you! Do you think the chickens would go through it? Maybe it’s just my chickens but they are terrified of anything new!