please help!!!unwanted wild birds soiling food/water :(

[chirpy95]

every mornig when i let them my chickens out and every night when i lock them up there are at least 30 birds in the coop they eat the seed soil the water and every once in a while one dies in the middle of the door way i need advice i have bird proofed the coop as much as possible but i must keep the door open for my chicken for them to eat,drink,lay and take shelter in storms so i cant close the door i'm afraid that me chickens will die from the desises from the birds and get parisites (i show some of my chooks).pleaseeeee helpppp!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

could you put a full size door on, then put a pop door in it to let the chickens in and out. the wild bids will thik twice abut going in.

 

[LynneP]

...and it's inmportant to separate your birds from the wild ones. Roofed run would be a perfect outcome, if you can manage it...

 

[Gardeninggranny]

It is very important to keep wild birds away from your chickens as much as possible. They carry avian flu and other dangerous diseases. Normally wild birds do not come in small openings close to the floor. Make your opening just big enough for chickens to go in and out and near the ground. You could cut a small door in the big door or hinge a 12 inch board that is 12" shorter than your door to the side of the door frame,shut the big door just to the board and use a hook and latch to keep the two together. This will give you a 12" opening at the bottom. There will be a small gap at the top you may want to cover with a bit of plastic or fabric.

If the birds are there when you open the coop you need to find out how they are getting in and close that opening. Feed your birds only in the shelter inside - the chickens will come in an opening near the floor - but wild birds probably won't.

I have seen chickens go through doorways with strips of material like plastic or burlap hanging down over them. That might deter wild birds.

You can cover the top and sides of a run with bird netting also.

A good cat might help - cats don't bother grown chickens but they do love small birds.

 

[chirpy95]

thank you everyone for all your help i do have a cat but she wont even bother going outside in the day lolz thanks will take in your ideas and adjust my coop

 

[panner123]

I know it can be a pain in the set down area, but if you can keep crows and black birds around
your hawk problem will go down. I try to keep enough extra feed (on the ground) and water to bring in the crows. The little extra it cost for the feed is money well spend. Yes, the wild birds due carry unwanted illness. Unless you keep your flock inside 100% of the time, they are going to be affected bu the wild birds.