Bird feeders

skeets

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Oct 2, 2009
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Has anybody seen or heard that feeders should be removed and not to feed the birds because of the bird flu?
I was talking to a guy at the barbers , and he said, and I wasnt listening to closely to where he heard it, on some news media outlet. That they, who ever they are, were asking people to remove the feeders to stop the spread of the bird flu. I never saw anything or heard anything about this, so anyone else hear it ?
 

bearbait

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Haven't heard anything skeets however that doesn't mean it isn't so...at this point nothing would surprise me anymore. :rolleyes:
 

motionclone

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Has anybody seen or heard that feeders should be removed and not to feed the birds because of the bird flu?
I was talking to a guy at the barbers , and he said, and I wasnt listening to closely to where he heard it, on some news media outlet. That they, who ever they are, were asking people to remove the feeders to stop the spread of the bird flu. I never saw anything or heard anything about this, so anyone else hear it ?
I heard about a bird flu going around the wild bird population that can make domestic birds sick like ducks, chickens etc. Im getting baby ducks this year (may5 delivery date) but i still have my bird feeders out. Hope i can find some masks that fit baby duck bills!!
 
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sheepfarmer

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My neighbor a state vet has had to go and "depopulate" some chicken flocks. It is real.
 

sheepfarmer

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I heard about a bird flu going around the wild bird population that can make domestic birds sick like ducks, chickens etc. Im getting baby ducks this year (may5 delivery date) but i still have my bird feeders out. Hope i can find some masks that fit baby duck bills!!
Keep your domestic birds inside a barn or inside a pen constructed to keep wild birds out. No masks required!;)
 

Tim Horton

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Mar 22, 2018
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Up here in our part of the bush we only have a short window of time we can have bird feeders out as small birds will start to be seen a short time before bears come out of den... When bears come out they will wreck everything..
 

Motion

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Ther may be some truth to what they say. I believe any feeders should be cleaned regularly to ensure mold, mildew and whatever gets brought in by birds, squirrels etc. is removed
 

motionclone

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Keep your domestic birds inside a barn or inside a pen constructed to keep wild birds out. No masks required!;)
The plan was to free range. I have a coop and pen set up but we have a pond and lots of wild food for them to forage and eat.
 

imnukensc

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I have a small backyard flock that free ranges daily. I'm not taking my bird feeders down.
 
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skeets

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Sooo if we stop feeding them for 2 weeks we can get ahead of the curve ?
 
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Botamon

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Nevada Department of Wildlife put out a news release last year about taking down the bird feeders due to the bird flu. This year the word is "no need".

The hawks and kestrels have been doing a pretty good job of thinning out the songbird population around my place. This guy sits on my handrail near the bird feeder till an unwary bird shows up....
P1080344rr.jpg
 
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Bmyers

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Our State put out a notice that bird feeders and bird baths should be taken down. If you can't take them down they had cleaning guidelines on how to help reduce the spread of the bird flu.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is asking residents across the state to stop using bird baths and feeders. The recommendation was announced Saturday and runs through the end of May. The new announcement is being issued because of a highly contagious strain of avian flu going through the midwest. The state DNR is saying any resident that finds five or more dead birds in one location should call a department Wildlife Biologist
 

ctfjr

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I have a small backyard flock that free ranges daily. I'm not taking my bird feeders down.
From your own reference:
"There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. We do always recommend that you clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly as a way to keep many kinds of diseases at bay.

We also always recommend that you follow any recommendations put out by your state government, such as the recent request to take down feeders in Illinois. We will update this page as the situation develops."

I guess you have a 'right' to do as you please. . .
 

imnukensc

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BX2380
Sep 10, 2015
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Midlands of SC
From your own reference:
"There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. We do always recommend that you clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly as a way to keep many kinds of diseases at bay.

We also always recommend that you follow any recommendations put out by your state government, such as the recent request to take down feeders in Illinois. We will update this page as the situation develops."

I guess you have a 'right' to do as you please. . .
Yeah, I'm still not taking down my bird feeders and I don't live anywhere close to Illinois. What difference does it make to you? They're not your chickens.
 
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mikester

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Has anybody seen or heard that feeders should be removed and not to feed the birds because of the bird flu?
I was talking to a guy at the barbers , and he said, and I wasnt listening to closely to where he heard it, on some news media outlet. That they, who ever they are, were asking people to remove the feeders to stop the spread of the bird flu. I never saw anything or heard anything about this, so anyone else hear it ?
Do you mean cat feeders? If I removed mine our fat house cat coyote marshmallow won't be able to kill his quota of birds. Too fat to catch chipmunks and squirrels.
 

Jhtractor

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I had a long talk with our meat birds and told them to maintain social distances from wild songbirds and stay 6' from each other. Have two weeks to go on the first group of Cornish Cross Chickens and can't have them getting the bird flu now.
 

Bmyers

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I had a long talk with our meat birds and told them to maintain social distances from wild songbirds and stay 6' from each other. Have two weeks to go on the first group of Cornish Cross Chickens and can't have them getting the bird flu now.
You forgot to tell them they need to wear a mask when they are within six feet of another bird when they can't stay away from each other. :p

I know the egg prices has went up. Previous time we bought a dozen for $0.88 and last night it was $2.18.
 
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