Feeding Wild Birds

[R2elk]

the songbirds whose numbers are steeply declining around the globe.

I see no evidence of this happening here. The starlings that the Feds poisoned last spring are already back in the thousands.

 

[TOMTE]

It is far more likely that the wild birds will bring pests and diseases to your poultry than the other way around. One of the most common pests your poultry will get from wild birds are lice and mites.

Even so, it's still a possibility and I want to take every precaution to prevent more decline in the wild bird population

But I'll keep my eyes open for lice and mites on my flock, thank you for that info!

 

[TOMTE]

I see no evidence of this happening here. The starlings that the Feds poisoned last spring are already back in the thousands.

They're invasive in the US. I'm worried about the native birds.

I wish they'd stop with the poisonings, though. That puts many more animals at risk if the poisoned birds are eaten.

 

[R2elk]

Even so, it's still a possibility and I want to take every precaution to prevent more decline in the wild bird population

But I'll keep my eyes open for lice and mites on my flock, thank you for that info!

All cases of the Avian Flu have been spread by wild birds especially waterfowl.

 

[Cebarmlds]

What I worry about with feeding the wild birds, is my chickens eating too many seeds and eating the suet, I think the suet is very bad for them.
At one time I bought screens that are hung under the feeder to catch the stuff dropped by the wild birds but they tangled in the wind and just didn't work for long.

 

[R2elk]

What I worry about with feeding the wild birds, is my chickens eating too many seeds and eating the suet, I think the suet is very bad for them.
At one time I bought screens that are hung under the feeder to catch the stuff dropped by the wild birds but they tangled in the wind and just didn't work for long.

The suet will not hurt your chickens. Some people even provide their chickens with suet patties as treats. Too much BOSS can be harmful to your poultry.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I agree too much BOSS is bad for the chickens, if I made homemade suet I wouldnt worry about it but the store bought suet cakes can't be healthy for chickens, or the humans eating the eggs or chicken meat.

 

[TOMTE]

All cases of the Avian Flu have been spread by wild birds especially waterfowl.

Source?

 

[R2elk]

Source?

Any game and fish department.

 

[TOMTE]

I agree too much BOSS is bad for the chickens, if I made homemade suet I wouldnt worry about it but the store bought suet cakes can't be healthy for chickens, or the humans eating the eggs or chicken meat.

I would think the issue with suet, home made or store bought, is that it's basically all fat, thus offering nothing but fat to your chickens, which can certainly help with insulation during the colder months but isn't healthy overall. Fine as a rare treat but not something you'd want to give them more than once every few months or something