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I have a couple questions that I did not see in the old forum or this one, so here goes.
I got the trap at the end of last year but did not put it out until about a week ago. I used both the white millet and some nesting material that I got from sparrows that had already moved into my bluebird boxes. Nothing until I used a VanErt trap and got a female to put in the DRST. Overnight I got a male and a male house finch which I released right away.
1. Where is the best place to put the DRST. I had it out back near feeders to start but this did not catch anything and seemed likely to get Juncos and others. I moved it out front near a couple of the bluebird boxes and got the results above. It seemed like putting it near where the HOSP are (which is near the bluebird boxes) makes sense any reason not too? My neighbors might not like it though :-)
2. I have the usual bird identification manuals and there is a somewhat larger than normal bird in the box that I think is a female HOSP. I cant seem to categorize it as something else. Anyone have any ideas:
You can pretty much put your DRST where you get the best results. If your neighbors don’t like it, maybe you could educate them. It’s worth a try. It can be hard to get the first bird to enter and many people have to catch a bait bird with a Van Ert.
It’s really hard to tell for sure but the bird in your picture looks a little like a female cowbird. The plumage is right anyway.
Gin
Atlanta, GAThank you. I think you are correct about the cowbird which is why I released it. The Van Ert trap is how I got the first HSOP.
I just ordered the Deluxe Repeating Sparrow Trap. After I put in my order, I realized that it might be possible for one of my chickens to become trapped. The back door of this trap is 4 1/2″ in diameter. One of my chickens is a Rhode Island Red. She’s on the smallish side. However, she’s full grown so I doubt that she could wiggle in there- I hope not!
Does anyone have experience with this concern?
Doug, there probably aren’t any chicken people here. There’s no way your chicken can fit into the elevating arm area. The back door is for taking HOSP that you’ve trapped out and eliminating them. It should stay closed the entire time. If you have any other questions, just ask.
Tammy
Yes, of course. I wasn’t thinking.
I do have another concern, however, that may actually make sense. I understand that some birds get stuck in the trap and can get injured. Well, for those who know about chickens, they can stick there neck out pretty far in some pretty small spaces. Is there any chance that one of my chickens could get its head stuck while trying to eat bait?
I still doubt it. A morning dove can get stuck but that’s because his entire body get’s lodged into the trap. I’m guessing your chickens at the least would just reach in with their heads. I doubt they wouldn’t be able to get it out but don’t know for sure. I’ll ask on a purple martin forum and see if anyone there knows. Check back later.
Tammy
I’m not getting very much feedback but I just can’t see it happening. Since you have the trap already…just try it. Only have it out when your home and watch it. I’m not sure how you’ll keep seed in the trap though with chickens around. Give it a try. I could almost promise you that won’t happen. (but not quite)
Tammy
If I can’t keep seed in the trap because the chickens keep eating it, is it not likely that sparrows will be lured into the trap? In other words, what would encourage sparrows to enter the trap without any seed?
Nothing.2 or 3 times I’ve caught a HOSP with nothing in the seed tray but that’s unusual. Do you have the trap? Just try it and see. Elevating it would help your situation. Give it asked surface though.
Tammy
Hi All,
New to this site. Third day with the DRST and after thinking I was doing something wrong, got seven sparrows today.
I dispatched a few and left some for decoys, however just after (of course) handling them I thought about mites/lice and my skin began to crawl (hopefully psychological). Is there a possibility of catching lice or mites from handling the sparrows? Also, I have food and water in the trap for the decoys, but do they really do OK staying in there? Its already warm here in NC, but I don’t want them to suffer.Thanks,
TomDoug,
We have chickens, and although we haven’t had them free ranging around where the trap is because we were trying to get the sparrows interested, by looking at it I don’t think there is any way a chicken can get the seed out of the tray or get caught in it. I built a little enclosure for my trap that will keep rain off it and gets it up off the ground so I’m not afraid of them messing with it too much. I think the biggest problem you may have is the chickens standing on it and pooping making it a mess.Tom, congrats on catching 7. That’s more than I’ve caught with my DRST recently. They do expire more quickly during the hot season. Since you have it somewhat enclosed they might live longer. Sometimes they live longer than other times. I was worried about mites too but people insist that you cannot get them from birds. I’ve been in this hobby for years and have never heard it happen. But my skin does crawls afterwards…..psychologically.
Tammy
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