4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[frogprincess]

Hello,

 

Since the snow, we have had up to 9 moorhens sharing the garden with the chickens. The chickens chuck pellets onto the floor beneath their feeder as they eat and the moorhens eat up the mess. I don't mind too much, as they can't reach the feeders or drinkers themselves, but I am a bit concerned by their dark green poos and the thought that my chickens might catch lergies from their new playmates.

 

I don't think there's much I can do to stop them, other than shutting my chickens in their run the whole time.

 

Has anyone had similar issues?

[Olly]

No, never heard of this! Perhaps the moorhens will depart as the snow recedes, they must have been desperate for food.

 

Could you chuck some pellets in a different place to attract them there, and keep them away from your chooks? I think you're right to be cautious as wild birds can harbour lice and mites and the like, best to keep them apart if it's possible.

[Chicken Licken]

I have a flock of visiting starlings - they ten to come in the spring when they have babies, but they fly into the run and steal the girls pellets. They are also around since the snow! I have moved all the wild bird food - fatballs etc further away as I don't want them to remember that the chickens have food on tap! I don't think I would mind moorhens as much as I do the starlings!

[jos]

Looking out of my window I can see 12 moorhens in the chicken paddock!

Their poos are a real pain... especially as they do them everywhere, including the food containers, and, because I have water containers dotted about the paddock, they stand in these and poo in them too!

 

So at the moment I am trying to put out different food/water containers they can't get to so easily and in the meantime going out regularily to clean up behind them.

 

We have a large pond nearby and I have seen the moorhens wandering up at first light to spend the day with the chickens. Word has obviously got round that this is a good place for free food!

J

[frogprincess]

One of the moorhens just worked out how to reach the feeder. I'm trying to position it so it's too high for them but all right for the chickens.

[whoopsie]

I have visions of a chicken and moorhen battle in the garden! PLEASE get some pics!