How do I keep wild birds out of my run?

[rakers]

Hi All,

I'm a longtime member but haven't posted in years. I have a problem that I hope you can help me with.

Over the past year wild birds have been getting into our chicken run - they eat the chicken feed and drink the water (and poop in it). There are enough of them that they end up eating and drinking quite a bit, and making a mess.

Our chickens free range in a fairly large fenced in area with a coop standing in the middle. We keep their food and water in the coop. They access the coop via an automatic chicken door attached to a solar sensor. The door stays open during the day so they can go in for food and water and access their laying boxes. The darn wild birds somehow figured out how to go in and out via the little chicken door.

I've read the previous posts about this and many people have recommended netting. Our are is too big and uneven to net over entirely so that's out. I put some barriers up that blocked a direct entrance but they figured out how do fly around it in about a week.

Anybody have any ideas on how to keep the wild birds from going in and out of the chicken door?



THANKS!

 

[Trish1974]

Following along because I am having the same problem...

 

[rakers]

nobody?

 

[Rugbygainz]

hello, we used to have the same problem. My chickens free range in a large fenced area too, but the area containing the coop is completely closed off. It is closed off by a 4x4 area(approximately). It has wooden beams that are high enough for us to walk that are closed off by 1x1 cm metal fencing. The roof is slanted plastic sheeting so rain and snow can not build up. Under this is netting so they can come in through the slants. To access the free range part they simply walk through a gap that is like a doggy door but is covered with drapes that the chickens walk straight through but smaller wild birds cant.
ever since this upgrade we havnt had any trouble with wild birds. I could upload a picture tomorrow. The build wasnt too difficult and took us an afternoon.

 

[Welshies]

Take some fabric and drape it across your door. Leave the bottom free. Make sure it doesn't interfere with your automatic door, then chase your chickens in and out of it a couple times. They'll learn to walk through it, but the birds will see it as solid.

 

[Trish1974]

hello, we used to have the same problem. My chickens free range in a large fenced area too, but the area containing the coop is completely closed off. It is closed off by a 4x4 area(approximately). It has wooden beams that are high enough for us to walk that are closed off by 1x1 cm metal fencing. The roof is slanted plastic sheeting so rain and snow can not build up. Under this is netting so they can come in through the slants. To access the free range part they simply walk through a gap that is like a doggy door but is covered with drapes that the chickens walk straight through but smaller wild birds cant.
ever since this upgrade we havnt had any trouble with wild birds. I could upload a picture tomorrow. The build wasnt too difficult and took us an afternoon.

Yes, please post a picture!

 

[Fairview01]

Red Ryder

 

[Stayc]

I have finch size birds that visit our backyard. Alot of them. In the summer i had multiple feeding stations. So i guess the birds are just aware. Our chickens free range in our fenced in backyard as well. I've never had an issue with them pooping in the water. But my flock was on crumbles and made quite a mess of it. I assume if you keep the feed inside and cover the door as the above posts suggest, you could nip the problem in the bud. You could also get bird feeders for them and place them away from your flock. Just my 2 cents. Hope you find a resolution to your problem

 

[Howard E]

Main reason wild birds are there is for the free food. So best way to get rid of them is to starve them out. This rat proof feeder should also work on flying rats:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-proof-feeder-review.1180514/

BTW, you do want to get rid of them. They could be carriers for things like avian flu, parasites, etc. Its more than just the feed.

 

[rakers]

Thank you all for your ideas!

I will try the drape method. I'm thinking cut up an old t-shirt and staple gun it to the inside of the automatic door frame.