Battling Wild Birds: How to Protect Your Chickens from Unwanted Visitors

Ah, backyard chicken keeping - it’s a delightful hobby that often comes with its own set of challenges. Whether you’re a seasoned keeper or just starting out, there’s one constant nuisance that seems to plague us all: wild birds. From clever crows and nosy magpies to ground-dwelling currawongs, these uninvited guests can stir up quite a bit of trouble when left to their own devices. But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this! Let’s explore the common wild bird problems backyard chicken keepers face and, more importantly, how to solve them.

The Wild Bird Conundrum

Picture this: you’ve spent weeks setting up your safe and cozy coop, making sure your chickens are happy and well-fed. Yet, before you know it, those cheeky magpies are swooping in, helping themselves to your chicken’s feed like they own the place. Wild birds can cause a variety of problems in your backyard, from stealing food to spreading disease and even harassing your chickens.

But here’s the good news - you don’t have to stand by helplessly, watching your precious hens fend off these pests. Let’s dive into some practical and tested solutions that’ll keep those wild birds at bay, while ensuring your chickens live their best lives.

Problem 1: Feeding Frenzies

Wild birds are opportunists. Leave food out in the open and they’ll treat your chicken coop like a free all-you-can-eat buffet. And let’s face it - feeding time for your hens can quickly turn into a chaotic spectacle when magpies, crows or ravens get involved.

Solution: Smarter Feeding Strategies

To combat this, you’ve got to outsmart those wild birds! One clever strategy is to use tread-on feeders, which are designed to open only when your chickens step on them. This means your hens get their fill without sharing with the neighbourhood riff-raff. Customers often come in to the shop mentioning how much less chicken feed they now need to buy following their purchase of their tread-on feeder.

Alternatively, you can feed your chickens using a regular “bell” feeder but remove the feeder from the coop between 11am and 3pm. This encourages hens to enthusiastically eat when their feed is available.  The key is to leave an absolute minimum of food on the ground, as even the smallest scraps can lure them in like moths to a flame.

Problem 2: Egg Thieves

Another common issue? Wild birds with an eye for eggs. Crows and ravens are particularly notorious for raiding coops in search of an easy snack. And let’s be honest, no one wants to spend their mornings chasing after a crow that’s made off with breakfast!

Solution: Regular Egg Collection

The simplest (and most effective), fix here is to collect eggs as soon as possible post-lay. The less time eggs spend sitting in the nest, the less appealing your coop will be to potential thieves. Think of it as cutting off their supply as without eggs to pilfer, the crows and ravens are likely to move on to greener pastures (or should we say, more egg-laden coops).

Problem 3: Persistent Pests

Have you ever noticed how wild birds seem to have an uncanny ability to slip through even the tiniest of gaps? It’s as if they’ve read the blueprints for your coop and know exactly where the weak spots are.

Solution: Pest & Predator-Proofing Your Coop

This is where pest and predator-proofing comes into play. Think of it like fortifying a castle - your chickens are the royalty, and you’re the diligent guard ensuring their health and safety. Start by securing the coop and run with strong barrier being fencing as the first line of predator protection.

Secondly, make sure that your chicken run is an all-enveloping enclosure - a mesh covered box if you will. This creates a highly effective barrier that stops wild birds from swooping in like uninvited dinner guests. Using narrow-guage mesh around 1c㎡ will also stop the smallest of rodents and wild birds from entering the chicken coop and run.

It’s also a good idea to check for any gaps or holes in your coop or run where smaller birds might sneak through. A common entry point is under the eaves where birds and mice sneak through the gap created by a corrugated roof. Fill or patch them up to ensure that your chickens aren’t sharing their space with pesky freeloaders.

Problem 4: The Intimidators

Crows, ravens and magpies can be aggressive, especially when they see your chickens as competition for food. These wild birds are clever and can sometimes harass your hens, leaving them stressed and less likely to lay eggs. Magpies are quite territorial and particularly when they have offspring located in a nearby area.

Solution: Scare Tactics

Here’s where a little creativity goes a long way. Hanging shiny objects like CDs or reflective tape around the coop can confuse and deter wild birds, making them think twice before swooping in. Some chicken keepers even use decoys, like fake crows positioned in a “dead” pose, to send a clear message to their real counterparts: "This is not the place for you."

Problem 5: Free-Range Frenzy

If you’re someone who loves giving your chickens the freedom to roam, you might have noticed that wild birds love it too. With more open space, free-range chickens can become an easy target for ground-dwelling birds like currawongs, who are less concerned with swooping and more about lurking.

Solution: Safe Enclosures and Shaded Refuges

While free-ranging is wonderful for your chickens, it’s important to create safe spaces for them to retreat to if wild birds come knocking. Providing shaded areas or small, secure shelters within the free-range zone gives your chickens a place to hide.

Problem 6: Resource Competition

Wild birds, particularly magpies, can also compete with your chickens for food and water, often leading to squabbles or even aggression. These territorial tussles can leave your chickens feeling stressed and unsettled.

Solution: Keep the Peace

To keep things calm, ensure your chickens have separate, well-protected food and water sources. Position feeders and waterers in areas that are harder for wild birds to access. By making it more difficult for wild birds to steal these resources, you’ll reduce competition and keep your chickens content. You might also be able to create suitable water and food stations for the wild birds that visit your property - just make sure that they are well away from your chooks!

Managing wild birds in your backyard chicken setup may feel like an ongoing battle, but with a few strategic adjustments, you can reclaim peace and order. Remember, the goal is to create a safe, secure and stress-free environment for your chickens while keeping wild birds at a respectful distance. Whether you’re using tread-on feeders, reflective deterrents or predator-proofing techniques, each small change can make a big difference. Your backyard is your chickens’ sanctuary so let’s keep it that way!

By addressing these common problems with practical, hands-on solutions, you’ll be well on your way to a happier, healthier flock and a lot fewer unwanted visitors.