Starlings over taking barn!!!!

[Inkheart]

I have a fairly large barn - doors- closeable etc. I have picked extra insulation up high in spots where i see they might be getting in. They are becoming annoyingly numerous in there. Any suggestions how to get them out ? Experience in this ? Etc? Pesty lil buggers and they have taken to eating the chickens feed ---grrrrrr

 

[KimberlyJ]

Starlings are the rats of the avian world. The only bird I hate. They are dirty, nasty, dangerous theives. Some built a huge colony nest in the side of our house when I was a kid, when we finally got rid of them we found pebbles, string, bones, plastic and even matches in there! I personally would not hesitate to poison them if I could not keep them out.

 

[Inkheart]

My only worry with poisoning them is their droppings having poison in them and would harm my chickens or two goats. How did you get rid of them on your house> I know ia gree - I LOVE birds - but they are less than my favorite!!!!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

First of all, how many is a lot, and if the barn is totally enclosed at all times, you ever thought of putting a few cats in there? Also find where they are getting in and maybe put netting over it? I agree, they are very much the pest.

 

[Inkheart]

D'Angelo N Va. :

First of all, how many is a lot, and if the barn is totally enclosed at all times, you ever thought of putting a few cats in there? Also find where they are getting in and maybe put netting over it? I agree, they are very much the pest.

Tried the netting and they picked tru it and around it! Smart lil buggers - I am thinking about 20 at least . There are cats - they get all sorts of critters but alas none ot the starlings - ceiling is about 30 feet high - cats cannot get to them - they come in thru the door that the chickens go in and out of -​

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Lots of target practice!

 

[greenriver]

http://www.sparrowtraps.net/

 

[kwale86]

I used to get lots of target practice with my BB gun in the barn when I was a kid. Its time consuming to get all of the birds but if you have a flock of 20 or so it wont take long to get rid of them.

 

[BitsyB]

Almost all birds are protected and can't be shot- except for Starlings and House Sparrows; both of them are not native to the U.S. and are causing declines among our native species. So shoot away!

I have tried the sparrow trap mentioned above and it does work, I wonder if it'd work for starlings as well?

 

[Frannabelle]

They are a pest, I know, but before you kill them take a look at youtube...just type in "talking starling"

They are amazing!

I had starlings a few years ago, but changed my wild bird feeders to just safflower, and they left. Haven't even been back for the chicken feed.