Catbird Nest in Chicken Run

[serfmunke]

Hello! The catbirds have a nest in an azalea. The hens enjoy poking about under that azalea. When the baby birds fledge the nest my concern is the hens will kill them. Anyone have an experience with fledglings and their hens? Hoping for some good news!!! TIA.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My chickens tend to ignore fledgling birds, but will peck at them if they stay in the same place too long. I have seen them eating young dead chicks that have fallen out of the nest though.

 

[centrarchid]

In my experience, chickens, especially hens with chicks are hard on any kind of small bird they encounter. Pigeons, doves and fledgling American Crows are at serious risk in the presence of adult chickens.

 

[chickens really]

They will eat them if they can get them....My Chickens found a nest of mice and they ate them like popcorn ....

 

[GreatBreeder]

People have had broody hens care for fledgling pigeons, perhaps a broody cod protect the fledglings if you graft them to her.

 

[Hensndoes]

Our hens eat fledglings. We got lucky this year and saw both nests readying to jump with enough time to call the flock back to their run. Our hens also eat toads and snakes and who knows what else that we haven't caught them with.