Sparrows!

[Brom]

It seems the sparrows have found the hen feeder at last. I put it in the run for our hens early this morning along with some fresh water, I went back a couple of hours later to be greeted by the local sparrow population 'Doing Breakfast' in it. By the time I came back with my camera they had done a runner and just left this mess, as you can see they had a really good time.
I think I am going to have to try the on demand feeder again, however, last time I introduced it the girls weren't to keen, the noise of it opening and closing put them off.
I suppose it could have been worse, could have been rats. Eeek!

[Knight of Albion]

That's nature for you. Everything survives in the wild by living off its wits.

No doubt they'll be back - you can't blame them really can you...

If it's that big of a problem, yes, you could go back to your 'on demand' feeder. I'm sure the chickens will soon adapt to it once they get used to it.

[Scarlet]

Are you sure that was sparrows? That's a lot of food to be spread out by little birds...

[Brom]

Well, I presume it's sparrows, when I first saw them there were quite a few in amongst the feed, nestling down as they would in a dust bath. I don't mind the sparrows taking some of the feed, especially at this time of year, just wish they wouldn't make so much mess. I don't know what else it could be as the run is covered with 2in mesh. Hope it's not rats.

[Nicos]

We have them eating from our feeder too...but either my gals gobble up the mess, or they don't leave a mess.
We've seen a sparrowhawk go for the sparrows whilst they are feeding.....and even that hasn't scared them off .

(What I don't like about the sparrows sharing the food is that they could introduce lice or disease)

[RaptorUK]

(What I don't like about the sparrows sharing the food is that they could introduce lice or disease)

Feed the Sparrows a food they prefer to your Chicken feed they love the suet pellets I feed them.