[rufty]

Hi,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but:
I traditionally have a wild bird feeder up over autumn/winter period. This year I have yet to fill it up out of concern for the chickens. This is because I'd heard that you don't want your chickens around wild birds if you can help it to minimise parasites and therefore no wild bird feeder in an area your chickens will be free ranging.
Yes you'll still get wild birds either way but at least this way you are minimising it all you can.

Any thoughts? I'm probably being to paranoid I know but...

[Sassy]

Personally I would not feed the wild birds near to domestic birds for the reasons you mention. Also you will encourage them into the hen run and they will eat your chook feed in large quantities!!

[Geo]

Personally I would not feed the wild birds near to domestic birds for the reasons you mention. Also you will encourage them into the hen run and they will eat your chook feed in large quantities!!

We are plagued by wild birds . A few Sparrows would come into the chicken run and take some food which was okay, or so I thought.
I now get 30/40 at any given time raiding the food dishes and I will now have to buy chicken wire to fit over the weld mesh to try and stop them getting into the run.

[rufty]

Humm in that case then that leaves me with a lot of wild bird food unused.
I wonder if the girls could have it/would like it as a treat?

I don't know anyone else who has a bird feeder to give it to...

[Geo]

Rufty feed it to your hens they will love it. Geo

[8doubles]

Hi,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but:
I traditionally have a wild bird feeder up over autumn/winter period. This year I have yet to fill it up out of concern for the chickens. This is because I'd heard that you don't want your chickens around wild birds if you can help it to minimise parasites and therefore no wild bird feeder in an area your chickens will be free ranging.
Yes you'll still get wild birds either way but at least this way you are minimising it all you can.

Any thoughts? I'm probably being to paranoid I know but...

I do not usually put out food for the wild birds as they eat the hen food, they also get wormed eating the mix which the hens had !
The chances of stopping a wild bird passing on any ailments is virtually nil unless you keep them indoors so they have to co-exist.
Keeps the hens on their toes mugging the blackbirds for worms or the spadgers for bread !

[Aunt Sally]

I had my wild bird feeders over a flowerbed which the chickens did not have access to.

[Geo]

lots of weeds in the flower bed AuntSally