wild birds, how do you make them leave?

[Darklingstorm]

Anyone know how to keep wild birds out of your feeders?
I have a feeder in the coop and one outside for the ducks & chickens. I looked outside a little while ago and there must have been 20+ wild birds doing their very best to eat all the food. I have accepted that the crows/black birds eat the leftover dog & cat food, but that is after the animals have a chance to eat (I feed the dogs & cat at night). But I can't afford to feed every wild bird in the neighborhood. A few I don't mind but 20+ is too many.
I moved the outside feeder into the duck hut but I can't keep it there all the time.

I don't want to get a fake hawk or owl because I don't my girls to get used to a sitting hawk/owl and become used to the sight. We have both REAL predators here.
Any other suggestions, please?!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

The only way to get rid of them is to stop leaving the feed out. If you're feeding the birds, chances are you're feeding the mice too. I feed my chickens on the ground, so there isn't any left over at the end of the day. Good luck!

 

[Allsardane]

Get one of those feeders that require the chickens to step on a lever in order to access food? larger wild birds will still be able to get to it, but the smaller ones (and the mice) will be less capable.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=56638-building-a-treadle-feeder

Edited to link to the BYC do it yourself treadle feeder rather than a random website.

 

[RedDrgn]

I was advised, as a general rule, to only put as much feed out in the morning as the chickens will eat by late afternoon. Then supplement with some scratch and/or other snacks in the evening. Leave no food out overnight. So really no leftovers sitting around to attract unwanted guests, I presume.

I have to admit, I haven't tried this method yet since my chicks are still indoors and given free choice. Once they go out, I plan to follow this method, though. The last thing I need/want is to feed every rodent and wild bird in the neighborhood....we have bird feeders elsewhere on the property for that.

 

[Darklingstorm]

Thank you
Will be putting the feed up at night, mice really not a problem outside, my cat brings me all kills (trophies) and he hasn't brought me anything in a long time. Actually the last thing he brought me was a mole that was killing my garden.

Will also put a smaller feeder inside the duck coop so that the ducks can get food. Which is the only reason I have food outside anyways. My flock free range and the chickens have a hanging feeder in their coop, they will just have to go inside to eat from now on.

 

[KatieBugg]

My girls actually chase birds off

One BO girls is very serious about keeping other birds away!

 

[calista]

This won't work on crows (they're too big and too smart), but it WILL cut down your population of blackbirds, starlings, and English sparrows:

http://sparrowtraps.net/

As I understand it, blackbirds are a protected species, but starlings and English sparrows -- being introduced pests that prey on native birds -- are NOT.

We've been using this trap successfully for almost a year now, and it has really cut down on the local population.

 

[MEchickenfarmer33]

i wouldnt leave the food outside at all