Magpies

[chrismahon]

We seem to be completely overrun with Magpies this year. Our only coop without a curtain on the nest box (can't be fitted) has again been targeted. Tried pot egg and a rubber egg but without success. Definitely not the hens. The egg has been sliced open with a very sharp beak, the contents eaten but the egg not moved. No tell-tale egg yolk on anyone's beak either. We have now fitted a curtain to the inside of the pop-hole door to see what happens. The door is rather large and faces away from the footpath so escape for a predator is easy.

I saw the largest rat ever (in England) in daylight behind the greenhouse. Put our humane rabbit trap baited with apple there. We use that because occasionally we will catch a blackbird. No rat yet, but 4 magpies in 5 days! And they are still all over the garden, going into the runs to steal the hens food. Saw Lucy Legbar chasing one off yesterday!

Has anyone else the same problem this year?

 

[dinosaw]

We have actually had less Magpies than usual this year Chris, normally have a family nesting nearby so 3-4 youngsters and a couple of adults every year but have seen them far less, perhaps because a family of crows are knocking about on next doors roof. What we have been overun by is pigeons 7-8 at a time in the Hawthorn and the Conifer. Plus side of that is that I am quite partial to a bit of pigeon so a few cheap meals so far this summer. Problem with magpies is they are very bold and intelligent too, will probe and probe to find a way to get at whatever it is they want, we have a hell of a time protecting our strawberries every year.

 

[BabyBantam]

We've had loads of Magpies too, mostly stealing blackbird babies from the hedge but found one in the nestbox the other day when the girls where locked out in the garden. Luckily they are both broody so no eggs, but is worrying it found it's way into the ark & up the stairs.

 

[chrismahon]

Sorry you've had a Magpie inside the coop as well BabyBantam. But at least I know it's not my imagination. Presumably you didn't have curtaining on the nestbox front?

They have also targeted the blackbird nests here and plenty of parents chasing them off. But also saw one leave the nest with a chick and remembered that when despatching the Magpies in the rabbit trap. I caught two last year and let them go and am now paying the penalty for my soft-heartedness (and so are the Blackbirds).

 

[BabyBantam]

Not got a curtain on the nestbox, but do have a 'door' that I can lock. I hadn't locked either the nestbox, nor put the door on the ark due to forcing the girls with a fence to the other end of their garden area (where they have a corner sheltered by shrubs to hide) to keep them from 'bopbopboping' their little way back to the dark of the ark to be broody in peace.
The magpies have been bold for a while now & sit watching the food in the run even when everything is locked up & safe from reach. I even sweep the lawn (very amused children next door) when I move the ark so there is no food left to steal in the grass.
Interestingly, I've now had a Jay in the garden tonight. Never seen one here before.

 

[chrismahon]

Just caught and despatched the fifth one this week in the rabbit trap. Adult this time, so perhaps it was allowing the young fledglings to feed first? The Blackbirds are very peaceful now.

 

[BabyBantam]

Sad really that nature is so brutal.
Humans can seem so silly sometimes, caring so much about chickens that are as daft as a brush. Hubby mowed the lawn today and the girls decided try and make friends with the lawnmower, then completely missed the sparrowhawk wizzing through the garden taking off a baby bluetit.
Bird brains indeed