Pesky blackbirds

I am having a terrible time with the blackbirds eating all of my birdseed up and scaring all the other small birds away. How do I get rid of them or just keeping them from eating all the birdseed in just a couple of hours. Saw one the other day on the finch feeder. I have tried to stop feeding for a few days but they just come back in hordes.

Does anyone have a cage bird feed pattern or how to put a cage around the feeder.

Sami

I do not want to harm the blackbirds just want to know if there is a way to deter them so the other small birds are not scared away from the feeders. Just wanted to know if someone has a plan for making the feeders so that only the small birds can feed and not be scared away by the blackbirds and I just cant afford to keep buying the food that the blackbirds consume in one day.

Sami

Hi Sami, If your talking about the Grackles http://www.google.com/search?q=common+grackle&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=V9SpTdavLbHOiAKKwNDvDA&ved=0CEcQsAQ&biw=1898&bih=989
I had the same problem. I had to take down the bird feeders that they were using and only put up a bird feeder meant for small birds like chickadees, finch etc. After a week or so the main group of Grackles left and I'm able to put the other feeders out. It's a pain and it does take some patience.
Hopefully they will be moving on to get busy with nesting season.

This message was edited Apr 16, 2011 12:44 PM

Hi Sami, I made a cage a few years ago using the wire cube shelving. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Whitmor-White-Wire-Storage-Cubes-Four-Cubes-Interlocked/5005200
I use strong wire to loop around the corners, and to make hinges for the top cover. It works really well, the small birds gets in and the big birds can't get to it, unless you sit it on a railing. You have to hang it.

pelletory I have tried not putting feed in the feeders for a while but as soon as I start filling the feeders again they just come back again.

I like the idea of the storage bins. I will look at wal marts for them and try that.. thanks burns.

Sami