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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 2, 2016 4:06:32 GMT
Here we go again folks... It's that time of year when those nasty filthy sparrows are converging on a couple of my coops --- eating the chicken feed... pooing in the waterers - which that is my BIGGEST pet peeve...
Well, in a little way I got my own back today... (Hmmm-maybe I need to contribute that phrase to the thread titled "Phrases never heard anymore"... )
I was doing a bit of work in the kitchen today but had the telly on in the sunroom with it switching from camera to camera from the chicken coops. I happened to look at it at one point and I swear - in our original coop there were probably 24 or so stinking sparrows in that coop eating feed and drinking/pooing in the water fount...
I was mad and a woman on a mission... We've got some outdoor cats that are good hunters and some juvenile girls that are learning... On my way out to the coop I grabbed a younger girl that has exhibited an interest and we "snuck" out to the coop. I got to the front of the coop - threw her in the "pop door" and closed it without a single sparrow escaping. Oh my - the noise that ensued! I ended up putting two more of our best hunters in the coop and what a field day they had!!
I hope I don't sound sadistic or anything like that... It did bother me when one of the kittens got a sparrow and I saw it die... I don't like such stuff... BUT - when there are sunflower seeds and corn at the bird feeders and instead these filthy birds decide to infiltrate my coops where my precious birds reside - you're gonna get it...
I'm hoping that the sparrows "remember" what they went through -- I hope I won't have to deal with them anytime in the near future... A couple of years ago I was going through this crud and started going out there with the . 410 and giving them what for... After that - those sorry sparrows would see me coming on the path and totally take off! Tells me - they have capacity as far as memory goes...
Time will tell...another day...another page...
~Mari
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Post by Skandi on Dec 2, 2016 6:05:37 GMT
If the cat can get in there normaly.. the cat will remember if nothing else! My cats do not go near the chicks/ducklings, the adults have taught them well, but they can get in there after rats and mice, and I see them scouting around on occasion.
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Post by bergere on Dec 2, 2016 12:07:22 GMT
Good for you Mari! I do hate killing wild birds, but you have an over population of them, and they can bring diseases to your poultry.
Hopefully your kitties will keep hunting and the birds will find safer food else where.
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Post by shellymay on Dec 2, 2016 13:16:12 GMT
No problem with you doing what needs done, bergere said it best and that is that the sparrows can bring in Avian Flu and other nasty stuff and you could lose chickens if they catch something from the sparrows, not to mention the cost of feed they are going through....GRRRRR this makes me mad and I don't think you have seen the last of them.....
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Post by paquebot on Dec 2, 2016 17:25:06 GMT
There is a sparrow trap which might be a good investment. We've got one and sometimes there are 7 or 8 caught at one time. We don't want them around the pigeons due to several potential diseases common to sparrows. www.sparrowtraps.net Martin |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 1:14:03 GMT
There is a sparrow trap which might be a good investment. We've got one and sometimes there are 7 or 8 caught at one time. We don't want them around the pigeons due to several potential diseases common to sparrows. www.sparrowtraps.net Martin Thanks so much for your input and the link paquebot, I kind of dread the answer to this question - but - once they are in the trap is it possible to release them several miles away without them returning or do some people drown them? I anxiously await your answer... Thanks, Mari |
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Post by paquebot on Dec 3, 2016 1:38:03 GMT
There is a sparrow trap which might be a good investment. We've got one and sometimes there are 7 or 8 caught at one time. We don't want them around the pigeons due to several potential diseases common to sparrows. www.sparrowtraps.net Martin Thanks so much for your input and the link paquebot , I kind of dread the answer to this question - but - once they are in the trap is it possible to release them several miles away without them returning or do some people drown them? I anxiously await your answer... Thanks, Mari You'd have to release them on another continent to be certain that they didn't fly back. A thousand miles is nothing to the sparrow family. We found that we didn't have to take them out alive. Leave them in overnight and they will die from stress. Martin |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2016 1:42:14 GMT
A mad woman with a loaded shotgun, a cat under her arm, running for the chicken coop would 'bout scare me to death.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 1:51:18 GMT
This morning when I left the house on my way out to open up the coops... one of the juvenile cats who spent some time in that coop yesterday was following me and meowing at me the entire way... It was so cute - after I opened the pop door and all of the chickens ran out - she was in there in no time!
She was so funny yesterday... She's about half grown - I'll have to take a pic of her and post it soon.
Well anyway... yesterday it was getting about that time to lock up so I went out to that coop and let myself into it as fast as I could... I had opened the pop door but the sparrows were still freaking out and were staying high up in the coop. They were getting tired and I hate to admit it - but - I entered and stayed on the west side of the coop scaring the sparrows into going onto the east side of the coop where my juvenile girls were sitting...
That little girl had so much fun playing with the sparrow she caught... She carried it around and played with it while I was locking up all of the coops. A couple of times - she lost track of it and I'd find it for her again and throw it to her - once again to play with...
I had the telly and the cameras on today... I saw only one sparrow in there... I do know in time it will get bad again but I look forward to throwing the cats in there and watching them have a grand time...
I know... I'm just a mean "ole Mari....
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 11:50:15 GMT
A mad woman with a loaded shotgun, a cat under her arm, running for the chicken coop would 'bout scare me to death.   You do amuse me so! |
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Post by aoconnor on Dec 3, 2016 13:52:00 GMT
I have a lot of sparrows around, too. I don't worry about them as much as I do rodents, which are quickly dispatched by our barn cat. I don't like to kill anything, I'm just a wimp I guess.
Sparrows are mentioned in the Bible several times, and at times when my hubby is really down, a little sparrow will land a few feet away from him, or will alight on a windshield wiper or similar, and just sit quietly. My husband gets a lot of comfort from the scripture that says Not one sparrow shall fall to the ground without God, and we are of more value than many sparrows. That was paraphrased a bit....
Anyway, I don't begrudge anyone from taking care of their place, it is bad to have other animals bring in disease that could impact our domestic flocks. I prefer to sparrow proof my areas, wire and closed doors when necessary do us well. Mostly our sparrow issue is in the cold of winter when a warm, inviting coop seems better to them than the cold of their world. At those times I make sure to lure them away from my coops with a feeder placed in a heavily treed area away from our coops and barn. Seems to work pretty well...
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Post by here to stay on Dec 3, 2016 14:17:03 GMT
Would a strip door be possible to keep sparrows out? Something heavy enough that the chickens can push through but the small sparrow coukd not?
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 14:31:55 GMT
I know where you are coming from aoconnor , Really, I don't like to kill ANYTHING - but when there are roughly 2 dozen birds in there eating and pooing in the feeders and the water founts while I have multiple bird feeders and bird baths up here at the house it just tees me off - you know? The thought of them giving my chickens disease really does concern the heck out of me. If it wasn't for that-I wouldn't have such a problem with them. (Well, except for the poo in the water founts-yeck  ) The trouble of it is - the birds in this coop free-range. I can't sparrow proof it unless I were to build yet another outside pen with chicken wire and have them penned up for the entire winter. I've done that with 2 other coops - the ones that the hawks target this time of year... I hope that my thread has not upset you or anyone else... It's just so frustrating that a lot of these birds choose to do this... Perhaps I need to start putting a little chicken feed on the feeders up here at the house? ~Mari ETA - aoconnor, those verses are also very memorable to me... Heard them quite a bit when we were kids in Sunday school... Matthew 10:29 - Matthew 10:31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (And no, I didn't know it word for word either-I just looked it up  ) |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 14:35:39 GMT
Would a strip door be possible to keep sparrows out? Something heavy enough that the chickens can push through but the small sparrow coukd not? Interesting - I'd be willing to try anything that might work... You mean like strips of material or plastic? Have you done this - or know of anyone who has? |
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Post by here to stay on Dec 3, 2016 14:58:56 GMT
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Post by Woodpecker on Dec 3, 2016 15:17:44 GMT
Mari, if I were you I'd try the bird feeder away from the coops like aoconnor suggests, to try &a distract the sparrows. Is it only sparrows? I know you don't like to purposely kill anything...sparrows aren't my favorite bird, but they are mentioned in the Bible. Oh, what a dilemma! I hope the bird feeders work for you and your 🐓🐓🐓🐓
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 15:24:15 GMT
Thanks so much! I just finished reading through that and will definitely give it a try. Thanks again, Mari |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 15:38:19 GMT
Mari, if I were you I'd try the bird feeder away from the coops like aoconnor suggests, to try &a distract the sparrows. Is it only sparrows? I know you don't like to purposely kill anything...sparrows aren't my favorite bird, but they are mentioned in the Bible. Oh, what a dilemma! I hope the bird feeders work for you and your 🐓🐓🐓🐓 I can't remember if I showed you a pic of the front of the house... But yeah, DH built a large covered platform feeder that sits maybe 40-50 feet south of the sunroom (in the woods) and there are also 2 hanging feeders out that way as well. I keep them stocked with sunflower seeds and some ear corn. I did just purchase some cracked corn and will put some of that out today. And yeah, it's just sparrows that go into the coops! We have plenty of goldfinches, titmice, nuthatches, chickadees, jays, cardinals, etc... Have NEVER seen any bird other than the House Sparrows in a coop. I just wonder if some of them prefer chicken feed... |
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Post by aoconnor on Dec 3, 2016 16:51:28 GMT
Hi Mari-in-IN, no, not offended at all:-). Just suggestions to rid the sparrows from your area. I put chicken feed in my bird feeders away from the house, the theory binge the sparrows like it in the coop....they might go away to eat it in the woods! |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 17:12:20 GMT
Hi Mari-in-IN , no, not offended at all:-). Just suggestions to rid the sparrows from your area. I put chicken feed in my bird feeders away from the house, the theory binge the sparrows like it in the coop....they might go away to eat it in the woods! Good, I'm glad you're not.... Yeah, I'm going to put some chicken feed on the platform feeder today... I've got the tv on with it changing scenes from the 4 cameras out there... Guess what?! The two juvenile cats that I threw into that coop 2 days ago are in there messing around! Now they are sitting right inside of the pop door... That's going to be quite the deterrent! Go girls! ~Mari |
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Post by hobbitlady on Dec 3, 2016 19:27:49 GMT
A mad woman with a loaded shotgun, a cat under her arm, running for the chicken coop would 'bout scare me to death. You do amuse me so! Me too! I so enjoy it when I'm bleary(not a morning person!) and having my coffee and while reading here first thing after I get up, I come across a "funny". Mari-in-IN, being so angry was unusual to start with and woke me up a bit,and using her cats to good advantage was a great idea but the @deerjohn, comment was an "unexpected" reply and made me laugh out loud! Love it!!! Thank you! Anyhow...I hope the scent of cats and death does the trick for you Mari-in-IN, but I've appreciated the other replies for their solutions too.Good things to know about. And of course we all have to just do these things. I just got 4 mice in traps all at the same time from my shed and I didn't even "like" That (except that they are gone now!). Sparrows would be harder but we all hit our limits when "Nature" intrudes on OUR personal spaces.We all know how much you love the natural world,and birds overall Very much,so I don't believe you've upset Anyone that does any sort of gardening or homesteading. |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Dec 3, 2016 20:19:50 GMT
Me too! I so enjoy it when I'm bleary(not a morning person!) and having my coffee and while reading here first thing after I get up, I come across a "funny". Mari-in-IN , being so angry was unusual to start with and woke me up a bit,and using her cats to good advantage was a great idea but the @deerjohn , comment was an "unexpected" reply and made me laugh out loud! Love it!!! Thank you! Anyhow...I hope the scent of cats and death does the trick for you Mari-in-IN , but I've appreciated the other replies for their solutions too.Good things to know about. And of course we all have to just do these things. I just got 4 mice in traps all at the same time from my shed and I didn't even "like" That (except that they are gone now!). Sparrows would be harder but we all hit our limits when "Nature" intrudes on OUR personal spaces. We all know how much you love the natural world,and birds overall Very much,so I don't believe you've upset Anyone that does any sort of gardening or homesteading. Oh dear hobbitlady, You know me so well... I appreciate your kind words and your funny post. I just had my husband read the post that @deerjohn wrote and he did indeed laugh out loud as well! Yeah, I really don't like killing as well... I'm even getting squeamish in regards to killing spiders and they TOTALLY freak me out! I'm just VERY protective in regards to ALL of my animals... I didn't have kids - perhaps this is a pseudo type of "maternal instinct"? My neighbors know it as well. We share a lane with Daniel and many of our neighbors have joked that they know they had better not drive down it lickety-split and take out one my chickens because they know I will hunt them down and they will have you know what to pay! Ahhh, I'm a mess... ~Mari |
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Post by ceresone on Apr 11, 2017 18:48:30 GMT
Oh, My, I shoudnt tell this--but none of you know me or my family--so--the cat reminded me of it. one of my granddaughters has a 17 year old daughter that know more than anyone, so she moved out and got a job and a boyfriend. mom rented a new place with 2 bedrooms.. her daughter asked if she could move back to attend college this fall. gd said ok, but no boys in her room. day after she moved in, her daughter and boyfriend vanished. she opened the door, 2 shapes under the covers!! she promptly raised the covers--and threw the cat under!! it wasnt talked of-and never happened again.--guess they felt rather like the sparrows
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Post by steveinpa on Apr 21, 2017 19:48:11 GMT
The only good sparrow is a dead sparrow. They are a non-native invasive species that wreaks havoc on bluebirds and other native species. I tolerated them until a few years back. I had a family of beautiful tree swallows that had taken over one of my bluebird boxes. The parents would hover over me as I worked in the garden turning up insects as I weeded. It was almost magical to watch them.
Then it happened...
I went out to the garden and they were gone. I looked at the box and there was no activity. When I checked inside I found dead babies and a dead parent with it's eyes poked out. That's what sparrows do to bluebirds, swallows, and other native species. Even if they don't take over the nest they kill all competition. They've also killed my bluebirds on more than one occasion.
Since then I've been on a mission to eliminate them from my neighborhood. I bought one of the traps Martin linked and built two. I also keep my pellet gun handy as a shotgun wouldn't work so good with my neighbors. One cannot relocate them because it just moves the problem elsewhere and they multiply quicker than bunnies.
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Post by ceresone on Apr 21, 2017 22:44:31 GMT
guess my funny bone is mixed up today--i have a few neighbors i would like to relocate too..
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Post by wally on Apr 21, 2017 23:39:05 GMT
Good kitty.
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Post by dustawaits on Apr 24, 2017 17:04:27 GMT
I had to put screen strips over the doggie doorway. So far it has worked , no birds have come in nor butterflies either.
Before the strips I was getting birds frequently off the porch plus countless butterflies and bees.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Apr 24, 2017 18:23:23 GMT
I had to put screen strips over the doggie doorway. So far it has worked , no birds have come in nor butterflies either. Before the strips I was getting birds frequently off the porch plus countless butterflies and bees. I like this idea except it probably won't keep out skunks, which is why I don't have a dog/cat door. |
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