Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Silvermorgan Moon]

In the last few weeks I have noticed the pellets going down really quickly. Today it has all gone in 12 hours!!!

 

I have two hens and 3 bantams with 2 Grubs, usually filled max twice a week. They free range 7am - 7pm at the moment and I think during the day the local pigeons are feasting on layers pellets!

 

Any ideas on how to stop this?

 

I thought about taking the grub inside while my chooks free range and putting it back in when they are in their runs but would that be fair?

 

Any ideas welcome

[Red girl]

I have also noticed pellets going down fast . So far I have seen a family of blackbirds,starlings and sparrows all helping themselves

[chickanne]

For two years I had no problems at all but last year mummy blackbird taught baby blackbird how to use the grub and it went downhill from there. Now, there is a line of birds (blackbirds, robins, sparrows) sitting on the fence waiting for me to open up. Not only does the food go down more quickly I am worried about disease as well. Have now got a small treadle feeder that the girls learned to use quickly. However, I preferred the grub as I could easily take it in at night (thinking vermin). Treadle feeder is fine but little birds still flying in and out after crumbs so no improvement in overall situation. Also, the girls often push bark chippings under the treadle so feeder will not open properly. Waiting for next bright idea/spending opportunity .......

[Egluntyne]

Might be worth putting whizzy flappy things near the run to scare them away. Sandcastle windmills and campsite windsocks have been mentioned before as remedies for this type of situation.

[Silvermorgan Moon]

Thanks Egluntyne, I will try some windmills and see if that works