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Magpies

DustyIrl
edited August 2010 in Vermin Control
Anyone ever have trouble with magpies or grey crows taking eggs? I have with magpies, not greys though.
Cheeky they are.
Just wondering did anyone have same problem???

Comments

  • john
    edited November -1
    Magpies and grey crows will also take young chicks also. I've the larson trap out again. Theres about 10 pairs down along the road from here. People just don't realise how much damage these birds do to song birds and wild game.
  • DustyIrl
    edited November -1
    "john" said:
    Magpies and grey crows will also take young chicks also. I've the larson trap out again. Theres about 10 pairs down along the road from here. People just don't realise how much damage these birds do to song birds and wild game.
    +1 John,
    Iv the larson trap out too but something knocked it over so tis empty now. Cant get a call bird as most people around here only start in the spring.
    Iv never had them take any chicks on me but have seen them taking blackbird chicks from the ditch outside my house. Wiped them out :x
  • P & F Fitzgerald
    edited November -1
    Ive had a lot of trouble this year with Magpies and grey crows taking eggs, I had some chicks disappear, I assume its the same culprits.
    What is the best way of dealing with them
    P@F Fitzgerald
  • DustyIrl
    edited November -1
    Well P&F,
    A larsson trap is the best way. The cost a lot of money from poultry supplies shops. Easy and cheap to make your own, and you can buy the springs for 5euro. Google larsson traps. We were catching nearly a mag a day in ours at one stage last year.
  • Seabhac
    edited November -1
    I'm having difficulty catching any thing in mine. I need to catch a call bird. Any tips? I put eggs, meat, bread etc in but no luck.
    Thanks
  • john
    edited November -1
    Give it another while. They'll be pairing up to mate soon and get territorial. Easier to catch them then. Try make a nest out of some dead grass an place a few egg inside. Usualy does the trick for me ;)
  • DustyIrl
    edited November -1
    I do what john says with the nest and eggs. It should work soon as the songbirds will be laying.
  • longfordchook
    edited November -1
    used to be plaged with rooks
    started to stake a few dead ones out
    problem solved they give the runs a wide berth
  • monea
    edited November -1
    would wait a while to put out the larsson trap,most might have paired up,but if you can still see the big flocks of them flying around looking for a new territory.they learn so fast about the trap.when in these big groups they can see it work,and if they have they will never go near one
  • john
    edited November -1
    Well. got a call bird at the weekend. Caught 2 already. Anyone need a caller?
  • shanejryan
    edited November -1
    Had a larson trap two years ago, was after catchin about 16 magpies when my dog managed to kill the call bird somehow, think he gave it a heart attack, I just put some tin cans with a small bit of dog food in the trap, worked a charm
  • john K
    edited November -1
    put eggs where magpie can see smare them with mustard up on roof or hen house good spot
  • john K
    edited November -1
    o yea i also make cement eggs and the get fed up trying to lift them
  • emma
    edited November -1
    "DustyIrl" said:
    Anyone ever have trouble with magpies or grey crows taking eggs? I have with magpies, not greys though.
    Cheeky they are.
    Just wondering did anyone have same problem???
    yeh a magpie was going into my chicken house and making holes in almost all of the eggs but i thought it was the hens doing it until i saw a dirty magpie fly out of the henhouse when i walked over to it!
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