🚫 Why You Should Keep Sparrows Out of Your Chicken Coop

...and How to Do It!

Backyard chicken keepers are used to visitors—friends coming for fresh eggs, kids stopping by to see the hens, and of course… the not-so-welcome guests, like sparrows.

Sure, they’re cute, tiny, and chirpy—but don’t be fooled. When it comes to your chicken coop, sparrows can be a big problem. In fact, allowing sparrows to hang around your coop can lead to a range of issues that affect not just your chickens, but your wallet and your peace of mind too.

Let’s break down why you should keep sparrows away from your chicken coop—and some smart ways to do it.

🐦 Why Sparrows Are a Problem in the Coop

1. They Steal Feed (and Waste Your Money)

Sparrows LOVE chicken feed—especially the good stuff like layer pellets, cracked grain, or seed mixes. A small flock of sparrows can easily eat hundreds of grams per day, costing you extra on feed bills.

Plus, as they eat, they scatter and waste feed all over the coop floor, attracting rodents and increasing mess.

2. They Spread Disease

This one’s serious: sparrows and other wild birds can carry and transmit diseases that harm your chickens, including:

• Salmonella

• Avian influenza

Sparrow droppings, especially if they get into feeders or waterers, can easily contaminate your flock’s food and water.

3. They Bring Parasites

Sparrows can carry external parasites like mites, lice, and fleas, which they may leave behind in the coop. These parasites can quickly spread to your chickens, leading to itching, feather loss, decreased egg production, and even anaemia in severe cases.

4. They Stress Out Your Flock

It might not seem like a big deal, but chickens can become stressed by frequent wild bird activity in their coop—especially if sparrows are darting in and out all day long.

Stressed hens may:

• Stop laying

• Become aggressive

• Be more prone to illness

5. They Nest Where They Shouldn’t

Sparrows often try to build nests inside your coop, especially in rafters, vents, or other high ledges. This leads to more mess, more droppings, and increased risk of mites or lice.

🛠️ How to Keep Sparrows Out of Your Chicken Coop

Now that you know why sparrows are unwelcome, here are a few simple ways to sparrow-proof your coop:

✅ 1. Use Covered or Treadle Feeders

Switch to treadle feeders (which only open when a chicken steps on the platform) or feeders with covers. These make it harder for small birds to access the feed.

✅ 2. Feed Only What’s Needed

Instead of free-feeding all day, offer measured amounts of feed once or twice a day. Remove any leftovers in the evening to avoid attracting sparrows and rodents.

✅ 3. Secure the Coop with Hardware Cloth

Seal up all small gaps, cracks, or holes larger than 1 cm (½ inch) using hardware cloth, not chicken wire (sparrows can squeeze through chicken wire easily!).

Focus on:

• Vents

• Eaves

• Windows

• Gaps around doors

✅ 4. Hang Bird Deterrents

Use shiny or reflective deterrents like:

• Old CDs or DVDs

• Mylar tape

• Wind chimes

• Plastic owls or hawks (move them often to stay effective)

These can scare sparrows away without harming them.

✅ 5. Keep the Area Clean

• Clean up spilled feed daily

• Don’t leave food or scraps lying around

• Keep compost or grain storage areas sealed and tidy

Less mess = less reason for sparrows to visit!

🧡 Final Thoughts

While sparrows might seem harmless, they can bring a surprising number of problems to your coop—from wasted feed and disease to parasites and stress in your flock.

The good news? With a few smart changes, you can easily discourage sparrows from hanging around, protect your chickens, and keep your coop running clean and smooth.

– The Chook Manor Team 🐓✨