I miss my bird feeders

[Khalpers]

I haven’t been filling my bird feeders the past few months because I didn’t like the chickens vacuuming up seeds that fall below. It’s been pretty wet here in Middle Tennessee, and I thought it best to avoid them possibly eating moldy seeds. But I miss having the feeders full. Has anyone worked around this? Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My chickens clean the seeds up so fast they can't go moldy. I only feed wild birds during the winter months and stop after all the snow melts.

You could add a catch tray underneath your feeders. Birds that like seeds on a platform should clean up the seeds.

 

[Jjmanchester]

I can't put them out. The raccoons are so thick out here that they eat it all in 1 night. Instead I through a little chicken scratch in yard for birds.

 

[imnukensc]

I only use BOSS in my feeders. What the chickens don't manage to scarf off the ground the squirrels do. Nothing lasts long enough under the feeders to get moldy.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I fill my bird feeder daily, with just enough BOSS to keep a few little birds coming by in the morning. I used to fill it much fuller but squirrels were cleaning it out daily. Other larger birds and (of course) the squirrels stop by later in the day to clean up under the feeder so mold is never an issue.

 

[hillbillygreen]

What is BOSS?
I have the same issue. I am worried about diseases the wild birds could spread from all their poo, but I also want my chickens to free roam as much as possible. Right now I'm just chancing it.

 

[imnukensc]

BOSS=Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
My feeders are placed so that squirrels cannot jump from the trees onto them and I also have squirrel guards on the poles so that they can't climb up to them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What is BOSS?
I have the same issue. I am worried about diseases the wild birds could spread from all their poo, but I also want my chickens to free roam as much as possible. Right now I'm just chancing it.

We have birds here. I feed them. Sparrows and starlings invade my shed at times. I haven't seen any rampant diseases because of it.

I make sure to feed far away from my shed and coop. Even so the chickens know where to come to scratch around under them.

I only feed wild birds during the cold month here.

 

[hillbillygreen]

Thank you!

 

[aart]

I stopped feeding wild birds when I got chickens.
Don't want them around in hordes due to the pests they carry, the hawks they attract, and the cost of seed(would rather spend that on chicken feed)...plus it just ain't natural, IMO.