Solitary chicken - need advice

[quickcluck]

............... a lack of wild birds in their gardens??

 

WE have numerous feeders scattered about the garden, my 2 most precious by the kitchen door where the robins feed, that was until the chooks arrived. I dont seem to have seen any wild life about, even the pigeons are not raided the bird table?

 

Is this normal when you have bigger birds in the garden? Will they come back??

[abwsco]

We've found the opposite since we got the girls which I think is due to the neighbouring cats staying out of the garden.

 

There still aren't the numbers that we used to get but we have seen blue tits, sparrows (we used to have so many visiting the garden years ago. Now it's rare to see one) thrushes, starlings and blackbirds in our garden. We also ahve some doves that visit and of course flaming magpies. Haven't seen the robins or the wren at all this year

[Egluntyne]

Our number of wild birds is reduced, but due to the bloomin' magpies.

 

Murdering thieves.

[Blackrocksrock]

We seem to still have loads of birds but they come in cycles like the siskins - they go away and come back and goldfinches too - have the usual dunnocks, and the tit family and blackbirds all the time and my robins too.

The thing we dont have and the buddlia is out is butterflies at all - normally its covered unless they are late this year. Anyone else the same?

[Tessa the Duchess]

The thing we dont have and the buddlia is out is butterflies at all - normally its covered unless they are late this year. Anyone else the same?

 

We have loads of butterflies this year. Mostly cabbage whites but there have also been some very pretty little blue ones and some painted ladies. We don't have a buddlia as I find them depressing plants

 

Tessa

[mrs chook]

I have sparrows nesting in our eaves (again), blackbirds, thrushes and I have seen a wren in my garden for the first time this year. We also do get robins and goldfinches (sometimes-when nijer seed out) I think they like the spare layers pellets male blackbirds and sparrows eating them

 

No cats - due to vigilant doggy. A few butterflies, not enough tho.

[abwsco]

We seem to still have loads of birds but they come in cycles like the siskins - they go away and come back and goldfinches too - have the usual dunnocks, and the tit family and blackbirds all the time and my robins too.

The thing we dont have and the buddlia is out is butterflies at all - normally its covered unless they are late this year. Anyone else the same?

 

Come to think of it I don't think I've seen any butterflies this year either

[MadMitch]

We have had to stop feeding the wild birds this month so have not had any for the last couple of weeks.

We have seen huge quantities of birds this year averaging 100-150 feeding at any one time. Unfortunatley with these quantities came problems and even though I religiously clean my feeders and drinkers we still had an outbreak of trichomoniasis which has seen me picking up around 10+ dead finches and siskins everyweek.

It is very sad to watch them in this state, all puffed up and lethargic, trying to eat and drink but not being able to swallow. I keep putting them in boxes (even though you are not supposed to touch them) so that they can die in peace without being tormented by my cats.

We are currently working with the institute of zoology (sending little bodies for post mortems) as the amount of deaths was so large.

We cannot start feeding again for 2 months to give all the sick ones time to die.

[abwsco]

We have had to stop feeding the wild birds this month so have not had any for the last couple of weeks.

We have seen huge quantities of birds this year averaging 100-150 feeding at any one time. Unfortunatley with these quantities came problems and even though I religiously clean my feeders and drinkers we still had an outbreak of trichomoniasis which has seen me picking up around 10+ dead finches and siskins everyweek.

It is very sad to watch them in this state, all puffed up and lethargic, trying to eat and drink but not being able to swallow. I keep putting them in boxes (even though you are not supposed to touch them) so that they can die in peace without being tormented by my cats.

We are currently working with the institute of zoology (sending little bodies for post mortems) as the amount of deaths was so large.

We cannot start feeding again for 2 months to give all the sick ones time to die.

 

Oh Michelle, that's awful

 

We're lucky if we have more than 10 birds in our garden at a time.

[dancing cloud]

I have loads of butterflies/moths/frogs/bats/hedgehogs, but nowhere near as many wild birds as I used to. The numbers were declining long before the hens arrived, so I don't think there is a connection.

 

The only thngs missing now the hens are here are everyone else's cats. They seem to recognise and accept my two - the younger one likes to sit with them - and watching a chicken chase away a strange cat is hilarious

[AJuff]

Here in Hexham we have lots of birds. Blue tits, sparrows, robins and blackbirds all nesting and successful hatches. Lots of lovely bats about too fluttering around over my head at dusk. What we haven't seen a lot of this year is bees and butterflies. Bees normally swarm round the lavender but they have gone?

[Valkyrie]

They tend to keep a low profile at this time of year. A lot of frazzled parents will be moulting, so they stay under cover, particularly the blackbirds and robins. However we had a large flock of long tailed tits zipping around at the tops of the trees yesterday. We haven't had many butterflies although the whites are growing in number.