Doves are taking over my feeders! (2 Viewers)

[boxer95]

Hello all,

I am hoping you guys can offer soem suggestions on how I can cut down on the population of doves on my feeders.

when I first moved here last year we didn't have any doves, and I wanted some so I bought everything they love to attract them ugh!!! Millet, black oil seed, safflower seeds, and raw shelless sun flower seeds and made a nice combination platter for them and put it on the ground... within a few weeks I had at least 20 or 30 in my yard every day all day long, and they were devouring everything... I have learned to really dis like this bird, they are eating all the seed on all 4 of my feeders, they are pooping in all the feeders and scaring off all the other birds that want to eat, like all my juvinielle male cardinals, who are so hungry and cute. its just like something out of the movies, its scary how many doves we have now. is there anything we can do to make them go away?

my idea was to move there feeder to the front of the house, and that has not worked, they havn't found it yet and are eating everything in site...


if anyone has any idea's I would love to hear them...

Thanks, Lisa

 

[alarson2]

Hello all,

I am hoping you guys can offer soem suggestions on how I can cut down on the population of doves on my feeders.

when I first moved here last year we didn't have any doves, and I wanted some so I bought everything they love to attract them ugh!!! Millet, black oil seed, safflower seeds, and raw shelless sun flower seeds and made a nice combination platter for them and put it on the ground... within a few weeks I had at least 20 or 30 in my yard every day all day long, and they were devouring everything... I have learned to really dis like this bird, they are eating all the seed on all 4 of my feeders, they are pooping in all the feeders and scaring off all the other birds that want to eat, like all my juvinielle male cardinals, who are so hungry and cute. its just like something out of the movies, its scary how many doves we have now. is there anything we can do to make them go away?

my idea was to move there feeder to the front of the house, and that has not worked, they havn't found it yet and are eating everything in site...


if anyone has any idea's I would love to hear them...

Thanks, Lisa

The doves are all over my feeder too. From sunup to sundown just about. Before I sit down to watch the cardinals at around 7:00 pm, I walk outside and shoo them off. Of course they keep coming back so I go out again and again. Sometimes I rap on the window - that scares them away for a bit-- they eventually get the idea and stay gone for the evening. But, they are back the next morning ready to do it again. I have hundreds of them hanging around all the time. I wish there was some way to feed only selected favorites but I don't think there is. I would guess that the doves eat at least 89% of the feed that I put out. The grackles probably get another 10% and the ones that I want to feed get only1%.

 

[boxer95]

Hello Alan,

I can't view your video's anymore, I get a message that say's I don't have the correct software. at one point I could see all your video's and I really miss them. got any ideas on what it could be?

 

[alarson2]

On April 29th, Apple introduced a new version of QuickTime, version 7. Since then my videos are in that new codec, h264. Follow the link in my signature and install the new version of QT. Restart your computer and try again. Homepages 1 & 2 are in the old format, but Page3 is the new stuff. The video quality is much better- It is well worth the trouble to install the new version of Quicktime. OK? Please let me know how you do viewing them.

 

[Sue Wright]

Hi Lisa & Alan,

We only have the hanging feeders that our Doves can't get to, the only way we can feed them is if we sprinkle food on the ground.

Don't you have the feeders that are like plastic tubes and have nothing for them to cling on to? If you can get them then it 'seems' to me as though the problem would be solved. Or maybe things are different there? If not give the tube ones a try and hanging them in a tree where the Doves can't reach over to from a branch would be best. Hope it'll work, should do.

Sue

 

[peckey]

Hello all,

I am hoping you guys can offer soem suggestions on how I can cut down on the population of doves on my feeders.

when I first moved here last year we didn't have any doves, and I wanted some so I bought everything they love to attract them ugh!!! Millet, black oil seed, safflower seeds, and raw shelless sun flower seeds and made a nice combination platter for them and put it on the ground... within a few weeks I had at least 20 or 30 in my yard every day all day long, and they were devouring everything... I have learned to really dis like this bird, they are eating all the seed on all 4 of my feeders, they are pooping in all the feeders and scaring off all the other birds that want to eat, like all my juvinielle male cardinals, who are so hungry and cute. its just like something out of the movies, its scary how many doves we have now. is there anything we can do to make them go away?

my idea was to move there feeder to the front of the house, and that has not worked, they havn't found it yet and are eating everything in site...


if anyone has any idea's I would love to hear them...

Thanks, Lisa

We have lots of doves here too.
We solved the problem by buying cages that go over the hangers so that, although the doves try sometimes to balance on the tray, they soon give up because they can't reach the seed.
We also bought cages, called sanctuaries, that the little birds love. The doves find it impossible to reach the seed here too.
To compensate them, we have ground feeders that the doves can use.
I don't know what the cost of shipping would be but CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd do send goods abroad and they have these cages.

http://www.furandfeathers.co.uk

 

[boxer95]

Hi Peckey, I got a kick out of your dove feeder... you have lots and lots of them.... I use flat feeders, and ones that look like little houses. I wanted to attract more cardinals and I had heard they really like flat feeders and won't come to feeders like what your using but perhaps that is not true. Do they come to your feeders? I think your idea is a good one. some of my feedersa re 80.00 ones, real nice and I hate to have to go and buy new ones but it looks like I have no other options. they are just a ral pain in the rear, and I am afraid my husband is going to loose his mind over this... poor doves- we have a nice bird store near buy called " wild birds unlimited" maybe I will go and get all new feeders... take care and thanks for the idea.