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

[merlina]

A very large (say 30/40 birds - it looks large) flock** of jackdaws has spent much of the past couple of days in a tree in the field at the end of the garden

 

The hens are not happy about their new neighbours and periodically stop, look disconcerted, stare at them and sometimes do some growling (at least I think it's growling)

 

Should I be concerned? We hear horror stories of crows vs lambs etc - or can the girls look after themselves?

 

**apparently the correct collective noun is a clattering or train, but that just sounds strange!

[Chickabee]

Jackdaws can be found in fields, woods, parks and gardens. They're social birds and roost communally in woodlands. They're widespread and common across the UK, except the Scottish Highlands.

 

When to see them

At any time of year. Jackdaws often join up with rooks and carrion crows in autumn and winter to roost together in huge numbers.

 

What they eat

Insects, young birds and eggs, fruit, seeds and s"Ooops, word censored!"s.

 

Population

Europe UK breeding* UK wintering* UK passage*

 

Copied from RSPB web site

[The Dogmother]

They will make your hens nervous, but they'll get used to them being around. I've not heard of jackdaws taking full grown chickens before.

 

We have a tame one at work and he's very clever.

[gavclojak]

We have a flock of parakeet's that flock in a tree above our enclosure and my girls don't like them one bit especially the high pitch shrill like noise they make!

[jacquiefrost]

My girls spend the best part of their free range time chasing other birds from the garden. Mostly robins, sparrows, blackbirds and wood pigeons.

They are so funny to watch as they catch sight of one about to land and hurtle off down the garden to chase them away.

 

The robins have started tormenting them now though!

[daxigirl]

Parakeets, sounds so exotic, all I've got is unruly young Starlings pooping for England overnight and squabbling over the feeder.

[gavclojak]

I know they do sound exotic, I don't mind them but my neighbours hate them, they look very pretty but are so noisy, they come over the same time every evening. X