Help - Crows !

[badger]

I have always fed the birds in my garden and love to watch them. Not very exciting food, just hanging feeders - one nuts and one seed. Suddenly I am inundated with crows which come back as fast as I chase them off, all over the tree taking the food and frightening the little birds. What can I do? Too near houses to offer target practise

[Liz]

Oh I know how you feel as have the same problem.

Do you find they come more in the mornings? We took the feeders down overnight as they were bombarding them in the morning.

Since doing this there seem to be a lot less of them coming into the garden so hoping they've gone elsewhere. Maybe to your place Badger by the sound of it!

[badger]

Gee thanks Liz - I really didn't invite them. There have always been lots around here but it's only recently they've started using me as a free shop and they come all day - if there's food they come, often around half a dozen. My poor little birds don't stand a chance

[Liz]

They are a flipping pest as, as you say, they stop the wee birds getting to the feed.

They would go when I shooed them away but came back not long after. The problem is I think some are nesting not far from us. Also, there are Rooks nesting in a couple of chimneys so will be fun when they hatch!!!!

[catran]

Oh I know how you feel as have the same problem.

Do you find they come more in the mornings? We took the feeders down overnight as they were bombarding them in the morning.

Since doing this there seem to be a lot less of them coming into the garden so hoping they've gone elsewhere. Maybe to your place Badger by the sound of it!

Do you get the seagulls as well? Crows have just started to come this year and they appear to be extremely hungry and they sure do have fights with the seagulls and as you say mornings are the worst and our poor little birds, the gulls are even in the bird bath drinki g the water.

[Liz]

Do you get the seagulls as well? Crows have just started to come this year and they appear to be extremely hungry and they sure do have fights with the seagulls and as you say mornings are the worst and our poor little birds, the gulls are even in the bird bath drinki g the water.

No, thankfully, we don't get seagulls coming into the garden. I have to confess, and will probably get shouted at for this, but we throw bread etc out in the field next to our house and this stops them coming into the garden looking for food.

Thankfully, they are getting plenty to eat in the fields just now with the farmers cutting the grass.

[badger]

Oh don't! We have lots of seagulls flying over but they haven't been in the garden yet. Doesn't bear thinking about.

I bought a cage for one of my feeders today just to see if it worked and seems OK so far. Took a bit of adjusting before the little birds could manage to perch on the feeder inside but they soon got the hang of it so I'm going to get another one for the nuts and hope that does the trick. It's a bit weird seeing birds in cages hanging from the tree but they don't seem to mind. I'll let you know how it goes

Expensive business this bird feeding.

[Liz]

Glad the cages are working Badger. Where did you get them?

Yes feeding birds is a very expensive hobby. Lovely though to see, and hear, them in the garden.

[Liz]

Badger I thought you might be interested in these. http://www.birdfood.co.uk/products.p...d=2&nav_id=147

I think I will invest in some when I can afford it.

[Kenn]

Where are your feeders located badger?
I have a bird table and the feeders hang underneath it in order that the larger birds have no way of getting to them although I do have a Hooded Crow who will make a quick dash for the tray at the top.I also have Collared Doves and a Wood Pigeon that come to the ground under the feeders to gather the seeds and grains rejected by the smaller Finches,Siskins and the like.
In my previous home, the feeders were in amongst the ivy on a wall giving the larger birds no chance to sneak in for a quick meal.

[ducati]

Interesting question, why do you feed birds?

And why not Crows? They have to survive too. And their staple diet is Leatherjackets. I noticed someone on the Gardening forum looking for a way of killing off Leatherjackets so if lots of Gardeners are doing that it might account for the crows being desperate.

Why not set up a seperate area to feed larger birds, might be interesting

[badger]

Interesting question, why do you feed birds?

And why not Crows? They have to survive too. And their staple diet is Leatherjackets. I noticed someone on the Gardening forum looking for a way of killing off Leatherjackets so if lots of Gardeners are doing that it might account for the crows being desperate.

Why not set up a seperate area to feed larger birds, might be interesting

I suppose I feed birds because I like to see them - expensive hobby! There are far too many crows and I'm not aware they are endangered like the smaller birds.

Do you have any suggstions for telling the birds which are their own feeding areas? Little signs? Pictures?

[ducati]

I suppose I feed birds because I like to see them - expensive hobby! There are far too many crows and I'm not aware they are endangered like the smaller birds.

Do you have any suggstions for telling the birds which are their own feeding areas? Little signs? Pictures?

Easy peesy. Write one sign in Crow (if there are lots of them BTW they are Rooks) and one sign in small bird i.e. Finch Sparrow Siskin etc.

[badger]

Where are your feeders located badger?
I have a bird table and the feeders hang underneath it in order that the larger birds have no way of getting to them although I do have a Hooded Crow who will make a quick dash for the tray at the top.I also have Collared Doves and a Wood Pigeon that come to the ground under the feeders to gather the seeds and grains rejected by the smaller Finches,Siskins and the like.
In my previous home, the feeders were in amongst the ivy on a wall giving the larger birds no chance to sneak in for a quick meal.

They're hanging in a small tree, which is what I always did in my last garden but for some reason I never had a problem there. Don't know where else to put them here and the crows seem able to hang on to the feeders so occasionally they get broken. Don't mind the doves and pigeons so much as they stick to picking up seeds from the ground, like yours.

I'm thinking of getting nyjer seed as well as there are a few finches and presumably the crows wouldn't try that. The birds are my only pets and I'm getting quite cross

[annthracks]

I have always fed the birds in my garden and love to watch them. Not very exciting food, just hanging feeders - one nuts and one seed. Suddenly I am inundated with crows which come back as fast as I chase them off, all over the tree taking the food and frightening the little birds. What can I do? Too near houses to offer target practise

Can't you do what I do and wedge the food (or feeders in your case) into the smaller branches of the trees?

I find the crows and seagulls can't get to the food although it doesn't stop the "rodent" starlings...

[badger]

Don't think that would work with mine as they manage to break them and seem very persistent.

Also getting very cheeky! Haven't had time to fill the feeder today for various reasons so they rang the front door bell. I rushed to answer and found the button pushed in so it carried on ringing while they flew away.

Liz - I got it at Pets at Home but please don't tell anyone as I want to buy another tomorrow. They're not ideal as you have to make sure the bottom of the feeder touches the bottom of the cage as otherwise it seems they can't hop onto the perch. Will have to change the way it hangs.

[Liz]

Ha ha Badger I love the idea of the crows ringing your doorbell!

Okay your secrets safe with me so here's hoping you get another one from Pets At Home.

I have very big feeders so can't put them further into the tree so they are open to the bigger birds like the crows.

Aw Annthracks I love starlings! I think they are cheeky wee things and, whilst they can shove the wee birds out at times, they don't stop them getting fed in the way that the crows do.
Also, due to the weight of the crows they often break my feeders. Especially the seed trays.

Here's hoping you have found the solution Badger.

[badger]

Now got two of those squirrel cages and they work really well. Little birds absolutely love them, hopping around inside. I suppose it gives them something else to perch on. Crows came back today and are looking very puzzled and a bit cross but haven't managed to figure out how to get the food so fingers crossed they won't.

Two problems so far. The bottom of the feeder needs to rest on the bottom of the cage as if it hangs above the birds don't seem able to hop onto the perches to feed. Also I've got them wired to branches and it seems you are supposed to take the whole thing down to fill so have got to get some quick release clips to fit on the cage. All a bit trial and error.

Definitely worth it just to see how happy little birds are

[Leanne]

I've always thought that the reason we don't get crows is because of the dogs/cats but no, I've just seen the cockrel chasing them off! If you want a guard cockrel just give me a shout