Feeding wild birds yes or no

[loverOFchickens]

We are considering getting a bird feeder for wild birds over the winter.
Our chickens are free range so how likely is it that this will effect them?

We would put it on a high post BUT it will have to be screen bottomed so it can clean out the manure when it rains and not let it sit. It is not in one of their

favorite areas but they forage everywhere. They will not be allowed to forage on exceptionally cold days but if it is above freezing chances are we will let them out.



How many of you have bird feeders for wild birds? Have you had any problems? How can you tell if wild birds are sick?

Thanx!

 

[ella]

I don't have bird feeders but my neighbors do. I regularly see families of raccoons, opossoms, shrews, mice and skunks under the feeder picking up spilled seeds and husks. Also have to deal with lice and mite infestations every fall as the wild birds congregate.

A bird feeder will attract predators to your property unless you keep it very clean, rake up the spilled seeds, and let it run out by night time.

 

[thespinningcottage]

Our chickens free range every day, and they share the yard with squirrels and birds. We do have feeders everywhere for the wild birds. I'm sure there's a chance our chickens can become ill from wild birds, but since they live in the same bio community there's that chance whether we put feeders out or not. We notice that the squirrels run through the chicken's run to snatch food, and one day a family of cardinals enjoyed the water inside the run. SO.... healthy? Probably not the best scenario, but I'm not willing to part with nature.

 

[loverOFchickens]

The dogs keep most of the major predators away.

 

[wildorchid053]

we have a 4x4 post about 8' tall with 7 feeders on it for the wild birds.. the first thing the flock does when i let them out to free range is run to the post and eat what has fallen out.. blue jays really fling the seeds! so far it hasn't hurt anyone and i hope it doesn't change..we enjoy all birds. i also have blue birds that nest in the boxes we have put up and they all seem to get along well...

 

[fiberart57]

I have chickens in the back yard and wild bird feeders in the front yard. I thought that once I got the chickens that I wouldn't be able to feed the wild birds in the winter because of the disease transmission problem but many people on this thread do both. So to keep myself happy I still feed them but keep the feeders away from the chickens. I just can't do without the chickadees, juncos, siskins and goldfinches.

Mary

 

[ilroost]

my chickens gather under the bird feeders and get whatever they can find that has fell out

 

[Sammimom]

I'm curious about this also. We love bird watching, but have let our feeders be empty this summer (first year with chickens). While disease from wild birds does concern me, I am far more worried about attracting raccoons which live around in abundance and have even stolen some of our feeders! I was thinking about setting them out during the day, and then putting them inside at night. I know there will still be small amounts of food on the ground, but not as much of a temptation as an entire feeder.

Thoughts?

 

[Imp]

Ditto on the bird feeders. My chickens like the suet & peanuts too.

Imp

 

[DragonFeathers]

I feed wild bird seed all year long, along with niger, safflower, sunflower seed and suet, the chickens run to the bird feeders every morning when I let them out to eat what is on the ground, they also run when they see the seed fly out of the feeders from the red bellied woodpecker

funny to watch them run.
I lock the chickens in a night for their protection and my piece of mind, what's left of it anyway