Limiting feed times to discourage sparrows

[clocker19]

How much time per day does feed need to be available? I need to limit access to food because sparrows are eating the pellets from our port feeders. The sparrows hang around all day. I've put up bird netting but it has problems of its own and it hasn't completely stopped them. We live in the desert so our chickens don't have access to a lawn or anything like that. They only have desert sand and no plants so there really isn't anything else for them to eat except for what we feed them and the occasional bug here and there.

 

[RoyalChick]

How much time per day does feed need to be available? I need to limit access to food because sparrows are eating the pellets from our port feeders. The sparrows hang around all day. I've put up bird netting but it has problems of its own and it hasn't completely stopped them. We live in the desert so our chickens don't have access to a lawn or anything like that. They only have desert sand and no plants so there really isn't anything else for them to eat except for what we feed them and the occasional bug here and there.

Have you considered a rat-proof feeder? I have just got rid of a rat infestation by using one and they would be sparrow proof too.
@Al Gerhart - I imagine you know about them keeping sparrows out?
Al makes these which have been a game changer for me.
https://ratproofchickenfeeder.net/videos/

 

[clocker19]

Have you considered a rat-proof feeder? I have just got rid of a rat infestation by using one and they would be sparrow proof too.
@Al Gerhart - I imagine you know about them keeping sparrows out?
Al makes these which have been a game changer for me.
https://ratproofchickenfeeder.net/videos/

Those are metal and it's 115F here during the day. It would cook the feed and burn the chickens. It's hard to appreciate what happens to metal in the desert heat if you don't live here. We use oven mitts to open our car doors. Metal anything inside the coop and run is a big no no.

Feed is not the only problem with the sparrows. They also hang out in the foot baths. They bathe and poop in the foot baths and our chickens drink that water because it's relatively cool. I don't think I can stop that until I can figure out how to completely keep them out of the run but until then I can at least stop feeding them.

Honestly the darn sparrows think we created a spa for them or something. I found and removed a nest today (it was empty) that they padded with feathers from our chickens! So nervy!