[RobH]

Hi all, I have noticed that the local pheasants have started to join my chicken at their feeders (layer pellets).  Whilst I don’t mind as especially the male birds look very nice I’m worried about any knock on effects. The main thing I am concermed about is decease but also the numbers increasing and them eating me out of house and home!
Does anyone else have this problem?

[joyfull]

I have collard doves, blackbirds. robins, infact loads of different birds eating mine. Yes wild birds do carry diseases so I have tried to place my feeders undercover (my chickens all free range) and this has stopped most of them except the blackbirds.

[Mosslane]

Hi RobH, we don't have chickens but we do have a problem with pheasants. They come in after the bird food we put out and are becoming a real nuisance. They have taken a liking to my crocus flower heads and have destroyed most of them. We have bought a catapult and have trained our dog to chase them but we can't do anything else because they belong to our landlords and shooting season is over. I would love to find a permanent solution but the garden is too big to fence off.

[thebumbles]

Hi

I too have this problem.  My hens have their enclosed run and have their brekkie in there, then around mid morning I let them out to free range.  Within 15 mins or so, the wild birds turn up, including the pheasants, jackdaws- who finishes off the brekkie in their run!  I was wondering how to deal with this problem, because you can't close the door to run., as they  go in to lay whenever they need to. I suppose all we can do is take up the food, but was told to let the girls have access to layers all day.  It is a problem and a disease risk!  Was thinking of making the door to run much smaller, like pop hole size, but can the pheasants get through still?
Any ideas?