Sponsored Post How to keep chickens healthy

[HappyHensFarmWV]

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How do you keep your flock away from wild birds if they free range? I try to scare the crows away as much as possible but they still come around.

I have the same issue..I can't keep them entirely at bay (the wild birds), but I have moved my hummingbird feeder into the woods, no feeding the birds scratch out in the yard anymore bc the wild birds love it..same with waterers..I keep them out of sight..my barn cats help a lot and since this AI outbreak, the kids get a lot of practice with their BB guns..they know cardinals and hummingbirds are off limits, and I don't think they've actually even shot one yet, but it keeps them scared off..
I also use the same things as my garden (CDs and pie tins) hung up everywhere to scare them off..

 

[hollilynn]

I have quail, chukar, starlings, chickadees, doves etc etc that come around to my bird feeders. When they are empty the birds head over to my chickens and eat their food hanging inside their run. I have to keep the wild feeders full, cause they know how to find the chicken food. It is impossible for me to keep those birds out unless I lock my chickens up full time, which is just not an option. I never see ducks and the few geese we've seen earlier this spring, our dogs have chased away. Not sure what else there is to do.

 

[jak2002003]

I
I have the same issue..I can't keep them entirely at bay (the wild birds), but I have moved my hummingbird feeder into the woods, no feeding the birds scratch out in the yard anymore bc the wild birds love it..same with waterers..I keep them out of sight..my barn cats help a lot and since this AI outbreak, the kids get a lot of practice with their BB guns..they know cardinals and hummingbirds are off limits, and I don't think they've actually even shot one yet, but it keeps them scared off..
I also use the same things as my garden (CDs and pie tins) hung up everywhere to scare them off..

Oh my goodness... you allow your children to go around shooting at wild birds?

And why are the cardinals and hummingbirds off limits? They can carry just the same disease as other birds you know.

You can not prevent diseases from wild birds getting into your garden, even if you shoot all the birds there.. there will still be some flying over.. day and night.

Just keeping the feed in the chicken house and not putting out food for the wild birds will be enough.

 

[HappyHensFarmWV]

Oh my goodness... you allow your children to go around shooting at wild birds?

And why are the cardinals and hummingbirds off limits?  They can carry just the same disease as other birds you know. 

You can not prevent diseases from wild birds getting into your garden, even if you shoot all the birds there.. there will still be some flying over.. day and night. 

Just keeping the feed in the chicken house and not putting out food for the wild birds will be enough.

Both of my children have attended hunter safety courses and have been taught from a very early age to be responsible with ANY firearm, regardless of what type...so yes, I allow them to 'go around shooting birds'
As for those off limits, it's illegal to kill a cardinal in our state and the hummingbirds don't poop all over everywhere and they do not get into feeders, etc.
My feed has always been put up, but as you stated, yes wild birds will always be around..that's sort of a given..but they are also not stupid and the kids have killed 6 birds in the last month, and there has been an obviously noticeable drop in the birds wanting to attack the feeders as soon as they are filled..
Do I plan on eradication of a species, no..
Do I plan to continue letting my kids practice their shooting skills on wild birds? Yep, sure do..
But thanks for your parenting advice ♡

ETA- I also did not say I was trying to keep birds out of the garden..I recommended using some of the same methods used in a garden to use around feeders and areas chickens are in..ie: CDs hanging around, pie tins, etc..

 

[jak2002003]

Both of my children have attended hunter safety courses and have been taught from a very early age to be responsible with ANY firearm, regardless of what type...so yes, I allow them to 'go around shooting birds'
As for those off limits, it's illegal to kill a cardinal in our state and the hummingbirds don't poop all over everywhere and they do not get into feeders, etc.
My feed has always been put up, but as you stated, yes wild birds will always be around..that's sort of a given..but they are also not stupid and the kids have killed 6 birds in the last month, and there has been an obviously noticeable drop in the birds wanting to attack the feeders as soon as they are filled..
Do I plan on eradication of a species, no..
Do I plan to continue letting my kids practice their shooting skills on wild birds? Yep, sure do..
But thanks for your parenting advice ♡

ETA- I also did not say I was trying to keep birds out of the garden..I recommended using some of the same methods used in a garden to use around feeders and areas chickens are in..ie: CDs hanging around, pie tins, etc..

Hi... Sorry you misunderstood me.. I was not trying to give you parenting advise.. I am not against your children playing with guns.. your kids can do whatever they like.

You did say they never actually shot a bird yet.. but now you say they have killed 6 birds last month, right? Sorry bit confused.

I was upset that you don't think is wrong to kill native birds.. when you could easily discourage birds from your garden by the other methods you employ. (hanging cans, CDs, not feeding them, the cat etc)..

I advise to simply keep the feeders inside the chicken coop where the wild birds can't get to them. Fine wire mesh on the chick coop and run is also a good idea because it keeps wild birds out and also rats and mice.. which also spread disease.

No need to kill innocent birds.. many species are declining due to humans as it is. I like to try to make space for native animals in my garden.. and they are suffering a lot here.. where people seem to just want to eat everything that moves.. from birds, snakes and even insects.... yuck. I'll stick to eating my chickens lol.

 

[HappyHensFarmWV]

Sorry, that was supposed to be week, not month..and that's the kids count..not mine..

If you read back to the questions posted before my 1st reply. .the question was asked how to keep them away from free ranging flocks, not those in coops or confined. Keeping wild birds out of a coop or fenced area is easy, free ranging..not so much..
That is what my reply was to, and no amount of fencing on or in a coop helps that..sometimes you have to take drastic measures. I am as much of an animal lover as the next person. I am raising Bobwhite quail because they are reaching endangered status in my area, I run a rescue for livestock..my horses, dogs and cats are ALL rescues.

Also, just to clarify..my kids don't "play" with guns, they don't run around shooting whatever they like..that's a rude assumption and can't be taken any other way.. I'm sorry if you are against it, and I understand your adverse feelings to the way I do things..that's your business..but I have way too much time, money, blood , sweat and tears invested in my birds to create a sanctuary for any of the wild birds..I'm surrounded by 1000s of acres that are untouched that provide all the sanctuary they need..my chickens feeders and my yard are not.
Have a great day!

 

[mosander]

We have great blue herons in the creek. It's like having a tanker fly by and unload a huge pile of s#$%t while flying overhead. I think they are a protected species as are the eagles and ospreys. The rooster took on a crow yesterday, who only stayed a millisec rather than cross the rooster. Birds are pretty healthy so far.

 

[mosander]

I have a turtle - lizard eating standard poodle, despite my best efforts to get her to leave them alone. She does guard the hens, however. I don't mind that she kills mice. I rescue the turtles. Found one box turtle yesterday. By the scars she was here last year to lay eggs. I put her in the garden at night so she can lay some more this year.

We are having some of the hottest days on record here in VA. My husband invented A/C for our hens. Using biscuit fans, blown over a pan of water, drops the air temperature. We have two fans and one pan. Birds get on a perch, face the fan and spread their wings slightly. If they had ski poles, they would look like they are about to take to the slopes!

 

[HappyHensFarmWV]

We have great blue herons in the creek. It's like having a tanker fly by and unload a huge pile of s#$%t while flying overhead. I think they are a protected species as are the eagles and ospreys. The rooster took on a crow yesterday, who only stayed a millisec rather than cross the rooster. Birds are pretty healthy so far.

We don't have eagles or osprey in our area but we do have 1 blue heron crane that will hang out anywhere from my creek to about 2 miles either way..I think it travels the creek though because I have never seen it fly through the open, maybe a scared flight 10 feet away or so. But thankfully the creek is the border of my farm and nowhere near the house or barns. I figure it's similiar to a small pony flying overhead and poo'ing..but they are a gorgeous bird.
I can picture chickens pretending to ski in front of a fan in a coop...lol

 

[mosander]

LOL. Small pony yes. I am more concerned about the ChemTrails being dropped on us than the wild life. House wrens are in the garage hatching babies. Have a black rooster to protect the hens. He made move to "tag" me today but he knows better. Let them free range today after 5:30 PM. Chickens had a "run in" with our Blue Heeler/Cattle dog. Collar came off. Free range chickens and free range dog near dark. Went for black chicken. Feathers flew in the air. (Rooster had been trying to get hens to come in and two hens said "nope".) Black chicken flew off. Husband cornered dog under hen house. I turned to see "Big John" the rooster, trying to look invisible in the corner of the pen during the commotion. Hilarious. Too dark for a picture. Black hen could not be found. Locked up hen house with out last chicken, who fortunately returned in the morning looking just fine. I let him "free range" tonight. He is being more effective. I keep an eye out and he went several places that make the hens an easy target. The funny part is I told Big John the problems with each of three places and he seemed to understand me and come back to other safer places. I talk to the dogs all the time and sometimes we have to spell so they don't catch on. But chickens? Big John seems to understand what I am saying.