Starlings in my Coop!!!!

[skunknchatter]

I have, what started out as 10, over 50 starlings in my coop every day eating all of my chicken feed! I don't know what to do! Not only is it getting expensive but I'm afraid of lice/mites and other diseases from the wild birds. My coop is a chain link kennel around a inclosed coop that I lock them in at night. I would lock the food in with them at night but I also have 2 ducks that live in the run and can't get up into the coop. Has anyone had any luck with decoys or anything to scare the birds off?

 

[patandchickens]

If you get some of that flimsy black plastic bird-or-trellis-or-deer netting and TOTALLY wrap the chainlink kennel in it (including the top) that will "mostly" keep them out. I.e. you may need to repair it sometimes if they find/make a hole, but by and large they won't go thru it.

They certainly can be pigs!

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[swimmer]

I had a starling invasion last weekend. I went to Lowes and got some cheap plastic bird netting. Sold in the garden center. That plus a few shot down with the bb gun solved the problem. They haven't been back since. A few flew by to try and get in,but no such luck. The bird netting solved my problem. And yes, they do eat a lot of feed.

 

[skunknchatter]

Told hubby I'm heading out with his BB gun. I'll check for plastic netting today. They are driving me freaking crazy!!! They eat more than a flock of turkeys and they are tiny. Not to mention all the little bird poops on everything!!! Thanks for the help.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I hates me some starlings!


They are the one bird, I can and will kill if I can get my hands on it, or hit it with a board or trap in a bag and smash! I hates them!


What I have been doing is actually going into the coop with them and either smash them with a board, or trap in a bag and then kill. Seems to make the escapees less likely to re-enter the coop. They go right in my pop door.

I also stopped free feeding the chickens/ducks/geese. I feed them three times a day - morning and night they get their pellets, mid-day a treat.


Best of luck to you.