ajm200 Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 When we lost our previous chickens and decided to take a break our garden became over run with magpies. They have their place in the eco-system but large numbers in the garden soon saw off the little birds (I will never understand why one of the collective terms for magpies is a ‘charm’ - they are far from charming!). The bird feeders remained full and the smallest bird we saw was a blackbird. The chickens mastered scaring them off a week ago and the little birds are returning. We have two male robins now - lots of fights there. A female robin (cause of the fights), bluetits checking out the nesting boxes and some sparrows and what I think is a wren. Sight isn’t good enough to see clearly at the distance needed this am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I noticed something similar but with cats rather than corvids. As the chickens respond less the cats are coming back and sitting under all the nest sites that have developed. I don't mind the cats because they help control the rats that it amuses our neighbour to encourage but it's a bit sad to see them hunting, especially the sparrows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 I always chase cats out of the garden. Cats are lovely but no longer welcome. after my little girl caught toxoplasmosis and lost her sight to it for 3 months. She recovered thankfully but with extensive retinal scaring so we never want a repeat of it. i hate seeing the magpies creeping along the bottom of the shrubs listening for baby birds. They get chased off too. Had advice today on putting electrical fencing around the perimeter of the garden so that will be a plan for later in the summer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 I’ve moved all my bird feeders round the front of our house away from the chickens since Avian Flu became a feature. Shame because I liked seeing the birds. Just not worth it these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Mine aren’t in the best places for the small birds any more either for the same reason. Ironically if restrictions came into place again and the chickens were confined to their run the little birds would have their feeders in better places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Yes! Same here. And I’m sure it’ll be back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 It's this Newcastle Disease thing that they have been warning about, but only to be vigilant for the time being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 We have a big garden and the wild birds are fed well away from the cube. It’s just the cheeky robin who sneaks into the run for a snack. Maybe the new products under development should include the option for wire with smaller holes to keep the rates and small birds out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 A little bird. They were sunbathing in the watery sun this morning. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 We have a rat problem at the end of our close - several of my neighbours have reported seeing them and they've been at our compost heap (we trapped on in there with a snappy rat trap.) We don't compost peelings/organic food waste now and have had to remove the bird feeders too. I have put a peanut butter filled one (bird butter!) out though as it doesn't scatter bits and so feed the vermin too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
