Magpie keeps swooping

[Slikie the silky]

Hey, does anyone know how to stop an australian magpie from swooping our chickens, its not just a seasonal thing, they swoop all year but they do mostly do it during swooping season. I don't want to scare it off as I like as many native animals in my garden as possible.

 

[CherishedFowlGuardian]

try putting a shiny things in the yard like CDs or reflective tape.

 

[Slikie the silky]

try putting a shiny things in the yard like CDs or reflective tape.

I've tried it but it didn't work the magpies didn't care about them but it scared other native birds from my garden

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Swooping season?

 

[Slikie the silky]

Yea, but were swooping since feb

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What are they swooping at? I don't think American birds have a swooping season.

 

[Slikie the silky]

They're swooping the chickens. It's australian magpies, swooping season in au is usually between sept and oct, as that's the time the magpies have kids. Hope this helps

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They're swooping the chickens. It's australian magpies, swooping season in au is usually between sept and oct, as that's the time the magpies have kids. Hope this helps

Yes thank you. So it is nesting season and the magpies are trying to protect their chicks. I believe your magpies are different from ours? This is ours, a strikingly handsome bird in my opinion. I have not seen any here in Missouri but I had a charming encounter with one in New Mexico. It's a bold, cheeky bird.

Then this is Australia's bird of the same name.

 

[Altairsky]

I don't think there is much you can do, other than placing a net over the entire area. If you don't have a rooster, I'd add one (agile and slender breed that can easily kick things out of the air).

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Do you have a rooster? Do your chickens have places they can hide?
I've never had my chickens bothered by the native birds but I've always had multiple roosters.
I do know someone who does not have a rooster and their chickens refused to leave their coop and run until simple hiding places were placed around the yard. The chickens venture out and if they see a magpie or other bird they head to the nearest hide and hang out till they felt safe to come out again.