Destructive House Wrens!

[rosemarysugar]

There are these house wrens that are invading and being destructive in my chicken yard. They eat ALL my chicken food, poop in there feed and water, etc. HOW CAN I GET RID OF THEM?!??!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They are hungry now. Keep the feeders in the coop.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Get some ducks! - My White Layers always try to catch them and would likely swallow them whole, like the mice they catch.
Other than that, you could set up some bird feeders to attract larger wild birds that will scare away the wrens.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I honestly don't know?
My chickens chase them away, and have actually killed a couple of them.
Maybe try putting bird feeders in a different part of your yard, as far away from the coop as possible?

 

[ColtHandorf]

Wrens are softbills and prefer soft foods like suet, insects, fruits and berries, and possibly bread products. I don't think wrens would have much interest in chicken feed or even hen scratch. You don't see wrens at bird feeders generally unless soft foods are offered.

Perhaps offering them a dedicated place somewhere else in your yard would help with an offering of soft foods and a water source. Somewhere protected near evergreen shrubs/trees or some other dense plantings would probably be appreciated. If you are indeed dealing with house wrens. If it something like sparrows, then I'd do the same with wild bird seed in place of the soft foods.

 

[Alexandra33]

X2 on the above post.

Wrens aren't generally intrusive, therefore I'm a bit surprised they're causing you such headache. I've always found these little cuties to be pleasant, reserved creatures. They've always preferred the more secluded areas of my property during nesting.....never stepping shy little feet near the flock or their feed. Is it possible you're dealing with House Sparrows, instead? (bold vermin who don't bat an eye at stealing a meal wherever possible, even inside my own coop)

Like others pointed out - moving your feeding stations is a great option, or even creating a separate, inviting environment for avian life elsewhere.

By the way, if I seem sympathetic towards Wrens, it's because they're easily one of my favorites to observe. Hoping you're able to resolve the issue relatively quickly.

~Alex

 

[Alexandra33]

Just for potential identification purposes, here are a couple House Sparrows found on the internet -

And a few of my own House Wren photos....I dearly love these little critters. Sadly, I've caught many a House Sparrow attempting to destroy Wren nests. Nasty birds.

~Alex

 

[Herb in PA]

How do I get rid of house sparrows that live in my coop? Last spring, I put netting on the underside of the rafters, so they no longer had a place to nest, which helped for a short while. Now, every morning when I go and feed the girls, there are 5 or 6 flying around the coop, dive bombing me. They are slow to find the coop door and fly out.

 

[Acre4Me]

How do I get rid of house sparrows that live in my coop? Last spring, I put netting on the underside of the rafters, so they no longer had a place to nest, which helped for a short while. Now, every morning when I go and feed the girls, there are 5 or 6 flying around the coop, dive bombing me. They are slow to find the coop door and fly out.

Pictures of your coop and set up are helpful so we can make specific recommendations. Also, you can start a new thread if you want. Your general location also helps others to know type of environmental conditions you are facing.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Thank you @Alexandra33 for that more detailed response. I didn't have time to go into it as deeply at the moment. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I don't believe the troublemakers are wrens at all, but we'll see if the OP posts back.