Sparrows In My Run

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:
Try changing your bait... white bread, cheetoes... they like millet too. I have heard you can try nesting material (feathers, grass, tiny sticks...) Generally, I try to avoid feeds that will catch native birds like Chickadees

 

[Ladyhawke1]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2392005#p2392005

 

[ticks]

I always get sparrows in my Pheasant pen, they eat all the Pheasants food, the cock-bird pecks them, and now that I have a broody hen she will probably do a little damage to them if they get too close to her nest.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
Habitats being destroyed? How? They live anywhere and everywhere. I used to live in an urban setting and every birdhouse I set up was inhabited by them. The ones that couldn't find houses set up housekeeping in my porch. They were rather a nuisance. They are so aggressive and adaptable that between them and cowbirds they are wiping out our native songbirds.

 

[19hhbelgian]

There is a sparrow nest in between some broken boards on my coop right now (we used a horse shed for a coop, so there is space in between the walls of the shed). All of a sudden I had a mite infestation in my nesting boxes. I got powder and took care of it ASAP. Then, I was leaning on the shed right where the nest is, and low and behold, I got swarmed with mites - time to feel itchy!!

So, needless to say, those sparrows brought the mites into my coop

They are now mite free sparrows as I put enough powder on the coop and in the hole and everywhere to take care of everythng. Next year - NO NESTS IN MY COOP - every little hole is getting fixed!

 

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:
This is a sweet thread, and this might be a little harsh but these baby birds with problems are usually pushed out of their nests or abandoned by their parents because there is something truly wrong with it - perhaps it carries avian flu or something worse that may be at the heart of a neurological issue. (This is why Wildlife Rehabilitators go through a rigorous licensing protocol...)
Worst is that this person, dear and well-intentioned as they are, may be subjecting themselves and their own flock of chickens to it.
It could be that nothing is actually wrong with the bird, but the risk sure is high - It seems unkind, I know, but there must be balance of thought in these conversations...

(btw It is actually illegal in some places to relocate or save these sparrows...)

 

[halo]

Quote:
Try changing your bait... white bread, cheetoes... they like millet too. I have heard you can try nesting material (feathers, grass, tiny sticks...) Generally, I try to avoid feeds that will catch native birds like Chickadees

Do you think they would rather go to something different rather than the scratch and chicken feed that is so easy to get? Its certainly worth a try. I have heard that the cheap bird seed that other birds wont eat (I think it includes a lot of millet) is good bait. Ill try those ideas, thanks.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
This is a sweet thread, and this might be a little harsh but these baby birds with problems are usually pushed out of their nests or abandoned by their parents because there is something truly wrong with it - perhaps it carries avian flu or something worse that may be at the heart of a neurological issue. (This is why Wildlife Rehabilitators go through a rigorous licensing protocol...)
Worst is that this person, dear and well-intentioned as they are, may be subjecting themselves and their own flock of chickens to it.
It could be that nothing is actually wrong with the bird, but the risk sure is high - It seems unkind, I know, but there must be balance of thought in these conversations...

(btw It is actually illegal in some places to relocate or save these sparrows...)

quote : Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid and asteroid. - Mark Twain


Oh yeah! Well how much noise do you think Mark Twain would have made if he had actually pushed an egg out the size of his head?

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Try changing your bait... white bread, cheetoes... they like millet too. I have heard you can try nesting material (feathers, grass, tiny sticks...) Generally, I try to avoid feeds that will catch native birds like Chickadees

Do you think they would rather go to something different rather than the scratch and chicken feed that is so easy to get? Its certainly worth a try. I have heard that the cheap bird seed that other birds wont eat (I think it includes a lot of millet) is good bait. Ill try those ideas, thanks.

The millet and cracked corn that attracts the flying mice is why I never use "mixed seed" birdseed in bird feeders....only black oil sunflowers which the sparrows don't go for.

As for the best bait.....WHITE BREAD.

Good luck with your trapping,
Ed

 

[Bassleg]

When sparrows get into my run I use a tennis racket and then watch
the birdie!