Starlings over taking barn!!!!

[Longview]

We have a similar starling presence at our place, and of course the ubiquitous house sparrows. Can you shoot them inside a pole building without shooting through the walls/roofs?

 

[desertdarlene]

I'm sorry for the problem you're having. I have no way to help, but I hope you get them out. I've seen them be really mean to other birds and are a danger to chicks.

 

[swimmer]

We had some once by a building where I worked. Tons of them. Every day we'd come out to bird crap all over our cars. So we'd go out every day and light of a pack of firecrackers for about a week straight. Scared them off. Not sure if this is something you would want to do in your barn though.

 

[dewey]

They used to be known as the poor man's mynah bird if by starling it's the quiscalus mexicanus, the grackle, that's meant. A lot of people here mistake them for european starlings but they're a different sort...still a pest, though, which is a shame because they're huge, beautiful birds. I once raised one that had fallen from a nest and it was one of the most loving, devoted birds I ever had, well, it and a crow we raised when I was a kid. My mom hated grackles, so me having one as a house pet wasn't very popular, lol. Were starlings or grackles the "blackbirds" in the news just now that were poisoned at a feedlot in SD? I don't let wild birds hang around here...the list of things they carry is amazing.

 

[BitsyB]

They used to be known as the poor man's mynah bird if by starling it's the quiscalus mexicanus, the grackle, that's meant. A lot of people here mistake them for european starlings but they're a different sort...still a pest, though, which is a shame because they're huge, beautiful birds.

Starlings are Sturnis vulgaris and Grackles are the genus Quiscalus, and you're right, they are beautiful birds(the grackles). I don't think they'd be nesting in barns, though. That sounds more like what the starlings do. And be real noisy and poop all over.

I used to help out at a bird rescue place and the only birds they don't save are the starlings and house sparrows.​

 

[puredelite]

Starlings can squeeze thru some of the smallest holes and cracks to get into where they have chosen to roost or nest and become very wary when harassed. You may be able to shoot some at nite while they roost using a .22 cal. rifle loaded with "ratshot" while shining them with a flashlite. The ratshot is only lethal at maybe 5 yds. or so but will not damage your building. After you shoot a few times the others may get the idea they are unwanted and take up residense at your neighbor's barn! Good luck with the nasty critters

 

[Q9]

It really depends on what the material is, thickness, etc. A .22LR round will go straight through thin wood, but it will stop if it encounters any decent thickness. Of course, the only .22 rounds I've used are hollow-points, don't know if that would affect penetration. .22 short rounds or BB/pellet guns would probably get the job done.

Me? I'd probably just shoot the things anyway and patch the holes up up later.

I get a little militant when it comes to pests - we formally execute cabbageworms and tomato worms.

 

[roycattle]

How can I poison them?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Can you shoot them inside a pole building without shooting through the walls/roofs?

22 shotshells are fairly safe to shoot indoors without a lot of damage​

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

How can I poison them?

You can't do it safely

I'd just go out every night after dark and scare them away.

Soon they will find a better place to roost​