Grackle invasion - worried about avian flu or other disease?

[TN Henny Penny]

In the last week, we've had hundreds of grackles descend upon us! We've been here in TN since last fall and this is the first we've seen of these nasty creatures. We're well acquainted with them from our past homes in central and south TX. We dislike them due to their racket and tendency to drive off song birds, but now have a larger concern. Now, as chicken owners, they have crossed a line from being a nuisance to being a real threat with their disease carrying tendencies. We have our chickens in their new coop and are working on their run.

With the grackles preceding our being able to put a roof on the run, have they likely tainted the open field with their droppings?

If so, how can we 'disinfect' the area before allowing our chickens out there?

 

[emys]

Well, if it is any help the birds that have made it through winter are usually healthier than those that travel through in the fall. I think your biggest concern would be mites/lice left behind, as such a large flock is sure to be infested.

Perhaps the best solution is time... cover the area and wait 4 weeks for any parasites/eggs left behind to die off??

I think maybe some research into what diseases they commonly carry might help you choose what action to take...

Did a bit of looking. So far all I have found suggests a 5% bleach solution or other commercial disinfectant to clean areas exposed to grackle droppings. I'm not sure that is feasible on your field.

Still think you need to find out how long or under what conditions the bacteria and or viruses commonly carried by grackles can live outside the host species in the feces or in the environment. Then you'd have a better idea how to treat the area.

Sorry, can't spend any more time on this - got to get to work.

 

[TN Henny Penny]

TY emys - will keep researching on the viability of harmful bacteria.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'm not sure why you refer to them as "nasty" or why you consider them to have any greater "disease carrying tendencies" than do other wild birds. Grackles are extremely intelligent. Their "racket" is actually a language; grackles are very social colony birds. They will mob and chase hawks away. One of my favourite birds.

 

[dawg53]

Wild birds, grackles included, can be vectors of all diseases that chickens can get including internal and external parasites. Some parasites/diseases are persistant in the soil, others arnt. A cheap tarp covering your run might be a temporary solution, walmart sells them. Bleach is ineffective on soil. Agricultural lime is supposedly what you might need to use. I recommend you read up on it first before purchasing and applying it, type in "lime" in the BYC search box. You might consider dusting your chickens with sevin dust as well as the inside of their house.

 

[TN Henny Penny]

Quote:
To each his own! As for other wild birds, I'm sure they do carry diseases as well. Other birds that we've been enjoying; cardinals, sparrows, finches, etc do not arrive in a huge mass like the grackles and as such, their droppings are not as overwhelming. While being all for chasing hawks away, I'd rather they left the song birds that are my favorites alone! If I could figure out to be successful with it, I'd gladly capture all of these creatures and send them to AZ for you to enjoy