Protection from Cats:
Cats are a threat to birds as they kill them for food. These include loose pets, feral or strays cats. Pet owners and savvy backyard birders only need to take simple steps so as to protect their birds from cats. You don’t have to give up your pets. There are several methods which can be used for controlling the birds’ habitat and the behaviour of the cats. The number of injured and killed birds in your yard will be minimized.
How to control Cat Behaviour
It is hard for one to train cats to avoid the hunting behaviour which can injure or even kill wild birds. The easiest way on how this can be achieved is by minimizing the interaction between the cat and the birds. The population of feral cats which can prey on the birds …show more content…
Birdbaths and birdfeeders should be kept at least 5 meters away from shrubbery. A cover which can reveal approaching predators should be used. Feeders should be kept 10-12 feet from covers which are dangerous.
2. If there are shrubs or hedges near your yard which can conceal predators, install a wire fence in the front to prevent birds from being attacked by predators.
3. Identify any access points in your fence and repair or block them to prevent the cats from sneaking in and preying on the birds.
4. The design of your bird house should be secure so as to deter predators. The roof should be steep and no perches. Nesting boxes should be kept at least 8 feet from the ground so that cats do not jump into the box.
5. Shrubbery and brush piles should be checked on regular basis for fledging birds and ground nests since they are more vulnerable to the prowling cats.
6. Feeders should be supported by metal or plastic poles. This will ensure that cats get no support to climb to the feeder. Baffles can also be used for protection of the birds against hunting cats.
7. Ground feeders or low feeders should not be used as they make it easy for the cats to catch the birds.
Always clean your …show more content…
Although feeders should be cleaned on a regular basis, it should be done more frequently once a disease outbreak has occurred. To minimize the spread of the bacteria, identify any surfaces which birds come into contact with and clean them thoroughly. Examples of these include feeder poles, perches, trays and others.
2. Clean the Ground
Most birds usually like to forage on the ground. They will also eat the seeds which have been spilled once the feeders have become crowded. The ground beneath the feeders should be cleaned thoroughly. Plants and grasses should be trimmed short so as to reduce the infected surfaces.
3. Feeders should be removed
If many feeders are offered for the backyard birds, some of them should be removed in case a disease outbreak occurs. This will encourage the dispersal of local bird population. Birds from different flocks will always assemble at different feeders and this will lead to a faster spread of diseases. If there is no food source, then the spread of the disease will be less since they not come into contact more often.
4. Inspection of the food supplies
The stores of birdseed should be inspected for mold, mildew, spoilage and other signs which can cause diseases. If you suspect any seed, do away with it so that it doesn’t get into contact with the birds.
5. Spreading the
Cats are a threat to birds as they kill them for food. These include loose pets, feral or strays cats. Pet owners and savvy backyard birders only need to take simple steps so as to protect their birds from cats. You don’t have to give up your pets. There are several methods which can be used for controlling the birds’ habitat and the behaviour of the cats. The number of injured and killed birds in your yard will be minimized.
How to control Cat Behaviour
It is hard for one to train cats to avoid the hunting behaviour which can injure or even kill wild birds. The easiest way on how this can be achieved is by minimizing the interaction between the cat and the birds. The population of feral cats which can prey on the birds …show more content…
Birdbaths and birdfeeders should be kept at least 5 meters away from shrubbery. A cover which can reveal approaching predators should be used. Feeders should be kept 10-12 feet from covers which are dangerous.
2. If there are shrubs or hedges near your yard which can conceal predators, install a wire fence in the front to prevent birds from being attacked by predators.
3. Identify any access points in your fence and repair or block them to prevent the cats from sneaking in and preying on the birds.
4. The design of your bird house should be secure so as to deter predators. The roof should be steep and no perches. Nesting boxes should be kept at least 8 feet from the ground so that cats do not jump into the box.
5. Shrubbery and brush piles should be checked on regular basis for fledging birds and ground nests since they are more vulnerable to the prowling cats.
6. Feeders should be supported by metal or plastic poles. This will ensure that cats get no support to climb to the feeder. Baffles can also be used for protection of the birds against hunting cats.
7. Ground feeders or low feeders should not be used as they make it easy for the cats to catch the birds.
Always clean your …show more content…
Although feeders should be cleaned on a regular basis, it should be done more frequently once a disease outbreak has occurred. To minimize the spread of the bacteria, identify any surfaces which birds come into contact with and clean them thoroughly. Examples of these include feeder poles, perches, trays and others.
2. Clean the Ground
Most birds usually like to forage on the ground. They will also eat the seeds which have been spilled once the feeders have become crowded. The ground beneath the feeders should be cleaned thoroughly. Plants and grasses should be trimmed short so as to reduce the infected surfaces.
3. Feeders should be removed
If many feeders are offered for the backyard birds, some of them should be removed in case a disease outbreak occurs. This will encourage the dispersal of local bird population. Birds from different flocks will always assemble at different feeders and this will lead to a faster spread of diseases. If there is no food source, then the spread of the disease will be less since they not come into contact more often.
4. Inspection of the food supplies
The stores of birdseed should be inspected for mold, mildew, spoilage and other signs which can cause diseases. If you suspect any seed, do away with it so that it doesn’t get into contact with the birds.
5. Spreading the