Sparrows in my shed

[obee60]

OK, so I know it's an age old problem, but how do I stop flying mice from crapping all over my tools, benches and everything else in my shed?
I've got a 5 metre wide roller door up one end that's only open for vehicle access. Up the other end is a 2.4 meter wide roller door that's open 24/7 to allow my dogs in etc.
I tried one of those dangly, beaded curtain thingies and they simply walked through. Then I made a shade cloth curtain, but they just wait until a bit of a breeze blows a corner up and wham, they're in like Flyn.
I even tried entombing the nests they made in expanding foam, but they just wait a few days and try again.

[Wood Butcher]

Cement Powder and Icing sugar is effective, but no good if they can get into spaces you can't clean out.

[obee60]

Thanks Wood Butcher - I'll try that one. I've done the whaet bait bit, but I've gotta be careful with a new pup around.
I might even try shooting a couple and hanging them so their mates can see.


Cheers.......Obee

[Ivan in Oz]

Indian Mynas are their main concern,
but also
Starlings
and Sparrows

http://www.indianmynaaction.org.au/
http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/myna/

They have a good Wooden Trap design which is very basic,
but foolproof with the right food and weights.

[Ivan in Oz]

http://www.abirdshome.com/pm/spartrap.htm

Yariable for many,
Just change the Hole sizes
and
Counter Weight

[echnidna]

mousetraps with suitable bait are good for sparrows.
just tie them to something with a bit of cord.

[Tonyz]

This could work or be a crackpot idea but go to the local discount shop and get a few plastic snakes. Hang them in the rafters etc.
We live on a country dirt road and for a laugh one day put a big plastic bugger in the middle of the road got hit at least 8 times.

[obee60]

Thanks for the ideas..........I'll give them a go.
As for the plastic snakes Tonto. We also have a problem with swallows trying to nest all along our front verandah. The little buggers even started building a nest directly above our front door. So I put a plastic snake up there. It kept them away for 2 years, until they figured it was either dead or friendly and they started building again. Now I wait until they've toiled for a few days and knock the partially created nest down.

We also live on a dirt road, but I don't know if I'd be game enough to try the big plastic snake on the road trick. We get that many real snakes around here and if the neighbours found out I'd put a plastic bugger on the road, they might organise a linching party.

Cheers........obee

[Ivan in Oz]

We get that many real snakes around here and if the neighbours found out I'd put a plastic bugger on the road, they might organise a linching party.
Cheers........obee

Hmmm,

Don't quite understand,

Out here many farmers welcome the Constrictors and PYTHONS into their Barns, etc
They DO keep the Rat/Mice numbers down.
Perhaps Sparropws as well?

Oh! And Bluey tongues,
I believe ...........................[hearsay Wives Tale]
that Bluetongues keep the poisonous Snakes away/ dead

They Still do not like the King Browns, Tipans etc

[Ivan in Oz]

OK, so I know it's an age old problem, but how do I stop flying mice from crapping all over my tools, benches and everything else in my shed?

I was Correct

just ask me

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ht=Acre&page=3

The one from Reeves


Why

[fenderbelly]

This could work or be a crackpot idea but go to the local discount shop and get a few plastic snakes. Hang them in the rafters etc.
We live on a country dirt road and for a laugh one day put a big plastic bugger in the middle of the road got hit at least 8 times.

I tried the plastic snake deterent on the outdoor furniture to keep the maggies from crapping all over the back of the chairs.

It worked for a couple of days then the maggie would fly down grab the snake and throw it off the chair.

Have now got the added problem of the swallows roosting under the verandah and crapping everywhere.

[Sebastiaan56]

Obee,

I spent years trying to get rid of sparrows from food warehouses. The only thing that really worked was changing strategy every few days. So try the model snake, works for about a week, try a model of a raptor, works for about a week, try different entrance barriers such as shadecloth and strip curtains, they work for about a week each, and then mix all of them up randomly. Ultrasonics dont work, thin nylon line works well on beams, etc at about 15mm apart. Birds cant see it and get spooked when they try to land. Not too practical for a bench however. If you leave one deterrent around too long and the birds get used to it rest it for a couple of months. Block off any entrances except the one you use regularly.

Poisoning is probably illegal where you are and only creates a vacuum where more birds will move into.

good luck, its not easy

Sebastiaan

[echnidna]

ratsack works

[obee60]

Ivan In Oz.
We don't welcome snakes around here. Unfortunately we mainly get Tiger Snakes here and they're mean buggers. We've had 6 dogs killed in the area in the past couple of months alone. I stood on one a few years ago and managed to jump out of the way before it tried to strike. It chased me down the road a bit and looked lke a cobra with it's head falltened. It was the most evil creature I've ever seen. I swear the rotten thing was spitting it was that angry. And do you think I could find a stick or even a rock to dispatch it with - nope.
The only good snake around here is a dead snake when it comes to tigers I reckon.
I've heard the tale about blue tongue lizards keeping snakes away. I don't know if its true or not, but I don't mind them hanging around.

Cheers............obee

[lockwood116]

We also had a problem at our place with swallows and fitted some "Toilets" under their nest, easy to make and effective. The sheet metal raised edge makes them sit facing outwards, so they poo onto the board.