In defence of those of us who keep hens (I have 5 Australorps), I think it
is quite possible to keep hens without attracting sparrows. I have kept hens
for 2 years this time without any sparrows; mind you, I did have one or two
sparrows (only) about 10 years ago when I kept hens previously. I have not
recorded a sparrow on my GBS chart for that 10 years. This time I've covered
the run with fine mesh sufficient to keep other birds out, so the only risk
of access is when the door is open (it could also have a spring to
automatically close it). The grain feeder is the 'step on the treadle type,
is not located in the main chicken run and can be isolated from the main run
by a trapdoor. Also, since I kept hens 10 years ago, the house has been
re-roofed and I now cover my gutters against ember attack, so eliminating
sparrow-friendly nesting sites (- they used to try an roost in the eaves of
my former asbestos roof). Don't use a suspended, hanging grain feeder, that
just attracts other birds. Mind you, Crested Pigeons, a native species, are
now common at my place (they were absent 10 years ago). Any sparrow would
have a job on its hands competing with the local Crested Pigeons, which
clean up any grain I happen to spill.
Ian Baird
15 Fairfax Street
O'Connor
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Fennell
Sent: Thursday, 14 February 2013 6:43 AM
To: 'Paul T.';
Subject: Just some sparrows but ...
Sparrow lovers
Next door keeps half a dozen lovely red hens. They also provide for a flock
of at least 20 sparrows that like our bird baths and trees in the back yard.
Not too long ago, a predator took out all their hens, and for some months
there were no hens. The sparrow flock dropped to about 5. However, the
hens are now back, and the sparrows are again up to about 20.
Cheers
Paul
Paul Fennell
Editor Annual Bird Report
COG Databases Manager
026254 1804
0407105460
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul T.
Sent: Wednesday, 13 February 2013 10:12 PM
To:
Subject: Just some sparrows but ...
At 10:45 AM 13/02/2013, you wrote:
>This morning at the Pegasus Riding School, Holt I counted a flock of
>25 House Sparrows ground feeding. It's been years since I've seen such
>a large flock, and it's not autumn yet.
John et al,
I live virtually across the road from Pegasus, and I can definitely vouch
for there being more sparrows around than I have ever seen before. I can
only recall seeing sparrows once or twice in my garden (Ewing St, Higgins)
in the past 16 years, yet I now see them most days, and up to a half dozen
on some occasions. I've been assuming it has been a very good couple of
years for sparrows with the rains, and now they're concentrating into
gardens where there is actual food (i.e the looked after ones)?
Given all the grains and feed that the horses at pegasus get, I'm surprised
the sparrows weren't being muscled out by all sorts of other things. <grin>
Cheers.
Paul T.
Higgins, ACT
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