[Helenaj]

Hi folks. I am having some trouble with crows pinching feed from the feeders. At one point I was going through so much, I thought if my hens had eaten that lot they would not be able to fit into the nestbox, let alone lay an egg! I'm concerned not only for the loss of feed, but the potential disease they can bring.

Both my husband and I game shoot and have plastic decoys etc, two of which are birds of prey. If I place these in a prominent place to scare off the crows, would it also upset my girls as I know they go spare if they see one flying around. Has anybody tried this and is it any good.

[joyfull]

not tried using decoys sorry. Have you thought of getting treddle feeders - the crows should soon get the idea that there is no easy food available.

[Helenaj]

I bought one tredle feeder, but some of my girls are so small (Thuringians) that they can't operate them - they weigh about the same as a large crow.

[Sassy]

Crows are very intelligent and would soon learn to use treadle feeders. If you watch crows feeding in a field where there is a gas gun you will see them take off a split second before the gun goes off!! :blink:

[Springlands]

The starlings have learned that if enough of them stand on our treadle feeder they can get at the feed.    I had to rescue one starling recently that had managed to climb up into the treadle - took me ages as I did not want to hurt it.