Nesting birds

[pamcho]

I think birds have nested in the onduline roof if one of our field stables. When all flown how do I deter this from happening again as horses are currently unsettled

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

The horses will get used to it.

 

[pamcho]

The horses will get used to it.

Do I need to do anything about the nests later in the year or droppings etc if I can get to them

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

Do I need to do anything about the nests later in the year or droppings etc if I can get to them

Only if you want to.

 

[pamcho]

Only if you want to.

I am guessing I should because of hygiene?

 

[Goldenstar]

Just leave them be the horses will get used to them.

 

[BigRedDog]

Do I need to do anything about the nests later in the year or droppings etc if I can get to them

Leave the nests, swallows will come back to their nest next year.

 

[Burnerbee]

You’re really lucky to have them - if they are swallows / swifts etc their numbers are in major decline so please don’t do anything to put them off coming back next year. Horses and birds have lived alongside one another since time immemorial.

Swallow, swift and house martin populations have nearly halved, finds UK bird survey

Reduction in insect numbers contributes to drop, and there are declines across more than a third of bird species surveyed

www.theguardian.com

 

[paddy555]

just leave them. ATM I probably have around 15 or more swallows flying inside the stables over horses all the time. Many of those perch in the horse's stables overnight. They scream their heads off all the time. In fact it is chaos ATM walking into my stable block. When the young hatch there will be lots more. The horses soon get used to them. I don't worry about the droppings, just remember to look where I put my hands.

We have had this situation for well over 30 years and the numbers increase year on year as more come back and vie for space and nests.
It has never done any of the horses any harm. Good for them to get used to the birds.

 

[Gloi]

I love the ones in my stable. I have 2 nests in mine and some others in the next door one. They make a racket and just miss my head but it's lovely when all the babies have their heads poking out waiting for their dinner.
I don't mind grooming the white blobs off the pony.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Encourage them - they eat flies !

 

[Goldenstar]

The baby swallows sometimes land on my horses back when they are learning to fly .
It does horses good to ignore stuff .

 

[Chuffy99]

Swallows eat huge numbers of insects, they help keep our mosquitoes under control

 

[pamcho]

Thank you everyone

 

[JenJ]

Thank you everyone

You don't need to do anything except spam your facebook with daily videos of the babies popping their heads out