Feeding the Masses
Birds Are Like Dogs And Kids…
OK. So I’m not exactly feeding the masses – I’m just feeding a few birds that have decided, for some odd reason, not to leave for warmer climes just yet. It only feels as if I’m feeding the masses.
Here’s an observation recently. Some context first: I started moving the food and water out to the dogs side of the fence in the morning – near the protection of the pine trees, so that the chickens are — well — protected. I noticed that lately, all the small brown birds are hanging out in this one pine tree, located close to the building and the food (makes perfect sense.)
When I am not physically around, these small birds go into the building and flap around, check out the inside of the coop, and eat whatever fine morsels are hidden among the wood shavings. The chickens don’t like it much and they squawk about it when there are just too many little birds flying around in there. Then I need to go and wave them all out to bring peace back to the flock. And this happens several times a day when the doors remain open.
Back to the point here: being the responsive animal caretaker that I am try to be, I put down an entirely separate feeder (same food as the chickens) and water just for the wild birds, near where they tend to hang out – along the fence, on the roof edge, and in the pine tree. I do this to entice the birds to stay outside and eat from their own bowls. This is what I’ve been seeing every day:
That’s right. Nothing. Nothing, but the bowls of food and water. Now I do realize that this little observation may be confounded due to the shape and/or location of the bowls. So tomorrow, I’m going to switch around the locations and observe what happens. If I need to, I may go ahead and buy a few more shallow trays and another water pail.
But here is my theory and it explains what I have seen the dogs do and what I KNOW kids do…and that is they ALL tend to want, take, use what the “other” has. It doesn’t matter if a particular Thing is identical in every way, be it bones, toys, food, treats, seed, feed…all these little animals just tend to want, take, and use the other guys stuff first — and to the greatest degree possible. That’s what I think these little birds are doing.
And frankly, the chickens don’t like that either, as they hurry back and decide what to do about the little seed urchins, after noticing all the brown birds clamoring around their stuff…
After some clucking about, they commissioned Ruby Redhead to guard the food and water:
I don’t notice that chickens have this same “scarce resource” mentality. Chickens seem to act a bit more civilized, especially with each other (sharing food and taking turns) and although they do take dog food from the dog bowl, I have no reason to suspect they view it as anything but theirs to take.
Notice they don’t even check out the “birds” food…
But as soon as the chickens leave their food source, look who comes back…the feed snatchers…
Update: Just like I said — chickens can be civilized…
Oh dear, you do have a problem (or 2, … or several). I think you might be right about the birds wanting what your girls have. They aren’t just jealous/greedy, they’re clever. If they eat what the chickens have they will still have their own reserves for later. Winter is approaching after all so keeping food in reserve makes sense.
Are you serious that your chickens don’t demonstrate this behaviour? My girls sure do. I can offer one chicken a leaf and she’ll sort of nip at it, then the other girls come running and it’s devoured. The same leaf left on the ground would be ignored by all. This happens when I put their standard feed in my hand. It tastes better from my hand than from any feeder and better still if there is competition for it. As for their “sharing”, I certainly have a head chook and when I put out treats all 3 gather and gobble and then my head chook makes a sound and the other 2 back off (this happens when the treats are about half gone at which point I assume HC realises there is a limit to the goodness). If the 2 minions are slow to skeedaddle, they get a nip for their troubles. I have taken to supplying 2 treat plates to foil this bullying which means my 3 chickens spend an inordinate amount of energy running between plates as the HC realises the lowlies are nibbling up the other food – and so it goes.
I am surprised your chickens are overwhelmed by birds. My chickens (and I have only 3) manage to keep all other birds off the ground in my yard. The put their head down and charge anything that lands in their space. One will charge and when the others see what is happening, they join in. They chase away everything from single ravens which are almost their size to flocks of nosy miners that are quite a bit smaller. Of course by “flock” I mean about 4 or 5 birds at a time. Perhaps your sparrows simply overwhelm your girls.
In the end I wouldn’t worry about the wild birds too much. Your girls get flustered but I’m sure they’ll figure out that they are losing some feed which will magically be replaced and that the small birds are no real threat.
Good luck achieving harmony.
Love the post. Very well written and funny.
Thank you for your kind remarks! I appreciate you taking time to read my blog!
go on buy them a bird table or sallow dish that swings in the trees here is a link for you http://www.haiths.com/wild-birds/ and they will love the crumble they do 2 have a great weekend
Good idea! Thank you for the link. I had food trays in the summer, but took them all down. Maybe I need to put them back up!