Sparrows

[Ilovemychicks08]

Id use a treadle but i have bantams.
Cds have actually worked. Its went from a whole flock down to a few. They are back at it but ill just hang up more.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I read this when you originally posted but couldn't find the link to the sparrow trap I use. I finally found it so here you go: Sparrow Trap.
I use white bread for bait, most songbirds won't eat it. If I get any songbirds in the trap I can easily let them go. The trap also works for Starlings. I keep it up on a small table near where the sparrows congregate, up high enough that my chickens can't get at the bread. I only use it in the winter where I am but it could easily be used year-round.

English sparrows are territorial and non-migratory. If you keep your local population under control it's helpful.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Since the OP has bantams this might be useful but you can never trap your way out of a wild bird or rodent infestation. As soon as the local population was gone, as i killed off, a new population would move right into the vacant territory.

If all you are dealing with is sparrows a treadle feeder can be set light enough for even bantams or silkies. Use the non soft close type, add a duck step so the bantams can get in close, move the step back an inch each week until they can use it but the sparrows can't gang up on the feeder.

The only sure way to stop wild birds and rodents is to just stop feeding them.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I don't have a problem with them getting into my feed. I trap them mainly to keep them from invading all the songbird nest boxes I have up on my property. To keep them from overwhelming the local songbirds, I trap every winter. I'm at the northern most point of the Mississippi Flyway and I do what I can to support the local songbird populations. It helps a lot here. YMMV