Anti-Sparrow Measures?

Posted by Brian Adam on July 27, 2010 at 7:26am
We have lots of sparrows eating our chooks' pellets. The feeder was out under the henhouse, but seeing hundreds of passerines developing I moved the feeder inside the house. NOW the little sparrows are going inside the house! I first thought of hanging strips of dark fabric in the doorway, as the chooks already have something similar at the entrance of the laying boxes. 
The entrance way is about 450mm off the ground and has no ramp, just a 100mm wide landing area. The congregate on the landing and pop in. 
Any ideas, anyone? 
Maybe some of that multi-coloured plastic strip that you used to see in the doorway of the corner dairy?

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Replies

  • Petra Dirkx August 12, 2010 at 12:44am
    I have 2 Nosloc feeders and they are well worth the cost. Don't buy off trademe.
    Nosloc have their own website, that way you can contact them and ask all the relevant questions regarding size of nozzles and protected vs unprotected and TM doesn't get a cut ;-)
    Grandpa Feeders or Chooketerias are also excellent for this purpose, but more expensive and a little bit harder to get the chooks used to.
    If you google the above you will be able to find their personal websites.
    Cheers
  • Jenny Freewalker July 29, 2010 at 10:35pm
    l had a look at the nosloc feeders but am not sure which size nozzle to get. l would be putting layer pellets and wheat in the bucket. Would the 3mm nozzle be big enough?
    • Nicki Dunn > Jenny Freewalker July 30, 2010 at 4:38am
      Check with supplier when you order as pellets come in many and varied sizes. They will know from your brand of pellets as to which is the best size for you.

      Quick disclaimer.... I have no benefit / interest in suggesting Nosloc just know they work well
  • Nicki Dunn July 28, 2010 at 1:20pm
    Nosloc is the way to go. Just make sure when you buy the one you get is genuine. The copies (as I understand) aren't sparrow (and other birds) proof.

    Some good traders on TM with them at good prices. You will pay for it in no time with saved food
  • Christy Ralphs July 27, 2010 at 1:47pm
    I have a nosloc feeder that works well for my chooks: http://www.nosloc.com/ I think they are less expensive than the stand on one mentioned by Kate.
  • Kate July 27, 2010 at 11:19am
    I am having the same problem. It has just started. There was no problem all summer but now hundreds of birds sit in the trees waiting for me to open the chooks door each morning. As soon as I leave they all fly into the run to eat from the self feeder bucket I made. I have just started to close the door, locking the hens out all day, and letting them in late afternoon to feed again. I hope this doesnt drop their perfect "an egg a day" record.
    I looked at the self feeder with the stand on shelf that lifts the lid off the food when the chook stands on it, but the price is a killer. Does anyone have plans for building one?
    Kate xx
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