CharLeila Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 Im having a big problem with Starlings constantly eating my girls' layers pellets. I know its only cheap but i'm forever filling the 'grub' up. Does anyone else have this problem and if so, what do you do about it? Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 I'm assuming your chooks are freeranging as I don't think wild birds would get the food if it was in a WIR ?? Would a crate/box on it's side help? If your grubs were under cover, the wild birds wouldn't see the food and probably wouldn't come down to take it ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 How about a treadle feeder? The starlings wouldn't be ale to open it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 We have a robin which now flies in through the larger mes sides of our new Omlet WIR and gets one pellet at a time from the grub. It has got so bold it even does it when one of the chooks is drinking from the adjacent glug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 we have a solitary disabled pigeon who visits every morning and evening, he never eats from the feeders but Hoovers up the spilt food. He has a club foot and despite having a son who shoots we all watch him. As my son states..if you are bright enough to find the chook food and not tell your mates you deserve to live! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackie45 Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 We have a group of about 4/6 jackdaws which lurk about the run. Sometimes a hen will run after them but now they seen to ignore the jackdaws. We are getting a bit sick of them especially as Charlotte is not well and we don't know about any contamination with the wild birds.The jackdaws nest on nearby chimneys and we have high trees around the garden. We have tried taking the food away but it's not fair on the girls and besides we want some eggs. Any suggestions gratefully received. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharLeila Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 The treadle feeders are quite expensive! Found this though - http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=61-automatic-wood-chicken-feeder May give it a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Found this though - http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=61-automatic-wood-chicken-feeder May give it a try I struggled with the plans to that one but adapted that plus videos online of similar wooden feeders and came up with The one is this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharLeila Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Managed to cobble this together yesterday. I'll have to wait and see how my girls get on with it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Blimey! Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Fantastic you'll probably need to weight the stand on bit down for about a week until they understand where the food it. (your request for a treadle feeder has been locked as we assume that you no longer need on ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharLeila Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Would still like a metal one really but can't justify spend £30 - £40 on one! The one I made still needs a bit of adjusting as the lid doesn't close very well. Took about 3 hours and a thumb vs. saw fight but got there in the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo2cat Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Try this website www.grandpasfeeders.co.uk They are very pricey but worth a look if you are having problems. For what you are forking out on extra feed for the starlings it may pay for itself in a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
