Vermin Proof Feeders

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Hen-Gen

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Yes, they worked for a few years but now gangs of starlings are going in through the pop holes and emptying the feeders. If I go into the sheds during the day it's like a flock of bats whirling about. I can't find an obvious solution. A friend suggested closing the pop holes and then going in with a tennis racket for a kind of terminal Wimbledon! Not really in to this kind of mass slaughter though happy to do so with mites or male chicks. Is this blatant specism?
 
No, M. Treadle feeders is what I have. I can only assume that they've discovered that if they land on the treadles in groups then their combined weight is sufficient to open them.
I've also tried keeping the hens in for three or four days. I see starlings turn up and try to get in and then fly off. But when I do open the pop holes it's as though the message goes round and they all turn up.
 
I was told that if you shoot the 'lookout' starling, which is the one at the highest spot looking out for predator hawks, they will all leave. Tried it in England and sure enough they did all leave. They didn't come back either that year, but did return the next only to get the same treatment. Sounds harsh but losing large quantities of feed is not only expensive but runs the risk of disease and parasites like lice and red mite.
 
Don't know your setup or constraints on your time but could you not feed twice daily and hang around until the feed was gone, (about 10 minutes).

Hen-Gen said:
A friend suggested closing the pop holes and then going in with a tennis racket for a kind of terminal Wimbledon! Not really in to this kind of mass slaughter though happy to do so with mites or male chicks. Is this blatant specism?
Click to expand...

Aye. It would having nothing on this though. The way to get 100,000 birds in one go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ7vQhhJr9g
 
Icemaiden said:
That's sick. Why would you do that?
Click to expand...

If I remember rightly, they are finches and that is in Africa. Every year they arrive like locusts in their hundred millions and eat everything in their path. Whether blowing them up actually has a meaningful effect on the population I'm not sure (as they are back next year in the same numbers.) Probably just as much an excuse for the men to get out the dynamite.
 
That's right Rick, they can strip an entire crop in an hour.

This longer video gives a better perspective on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q2PPGEqxUE
 
Hen-Gen said:
Perhaps I could ask the government of North Korea to target us with an ICBM!
Click to expand...

Don't do that Hen-Gen. I've heard they are a bunch of Starlingists.
 
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