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nerissanic
Bronze Member
 England
156 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Nov 2015 : 09:41:02 AM
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Sorry if I'm not allowed to post this on here but for once the RSPCA have actually done something good. I was reading on the net from the express newspaper about a woman who destroyed the nest of three tiny swallow chicks and left them on the floor to die;sorry, I have no idea how to attach the article to this, well, from what I understand from the article she was taken to court and fined over £500 as swallows are protected. While the RSPCA certainly do not normally have my respect nor my support, especially after what happened with the poor horses that were rescued in the peel case, for once they have done good. Just thought I'd draw a'l'ers attention to this as many of you have swallows and martins you worry about each year. Rip little birdies, so sad you didn't have the chance to grow up and fly away; there are some seriously sick people out there :(
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2015 : 11:50:04 AM
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I don't know anything about this case but my swallow population got completely out of control. They had up to three broods a year and they all came back the next year. I had to cover my hay and straw with polythene and wear an anorak with the hood up and get under the plastic sheet to fill the haynets otherwise it was filthy and the horses wouldn't eat. Every morning the horses were covered in dropping; it was a nightmare. Then about three years ago there must have been a storm on their journey as we only had a few return. Sorry, know it seems harsh but I was very glad as it really had become a problem and I was worried about the horses skin with the wet, acidic droppings.
I know what she did was wrong but it has made me wonder if she had some sort of problem with the sheer numbers as they increase exponentially every year. I was so thrilled when we had our first few but not so thrilled 15 years later!
I spent hours one year getting the ladder out every morning and evening and putting a baby back in the nest as it was too full and they weren't yet able to fly. Having done this for over a week I went in one morning and unfortunately my horse has stepped on the poor little soul during the night. They are lovely but you can have too much of a good thing! |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2015 : 6:50:00 PM
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We had swallows in the house we are renovating, the nest was in the corner of one window, all builders refused to take the window out till thay had left the nest, we would check each day as the chicks were quite big by then, by putting a finger in and feeling for body's, on several occasions I had my finger pecked at, when I though the chickens had gone, only to discover that the chicks were flying of in the day and returning at night.
We left it as long as we could then removed the nest and window wile they were out, replaced with new window, poor little chicks kept coming back and flying into the bath room as we had no glass in. |
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Edited by - glo on 04 Nov 2015 6:51:01 PM |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2015 : 6:58:54 PM
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| We usually have at least 4 or 5 nests....only 1 this year. Sad....hate it when they poop over saddles though :) |
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faymouse
Silver Member
United Kingdom
412 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2015 : 12:19:55 AM
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I haven't had so many this year, not worried about those in one of the stables but the ones in the tack room cover everything in droppings so I have to cover surfaces with old feed bags etc!
To me it is a minor problem for the joy they bring each year makes up for it. That first sight in spring when they arrive from their long flight is wonderful a true joy to behold these elegant colourful birds who come back all the way from South Africa and eat the flies! |
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nerissanic
Bronze Member
England
156 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2015 : 09:04:53 AM
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| Yes, lovely though they are, they do/can make a mess. We have some big sheds that we stored hay in so I totally understand what you mean Barbara, we only had 3 nests and the poop they produced was quite a bit! I had a couple fly into my stables this year but it obviously wasn't up to their standards as they didn't stay! |
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ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2015 : 8:18:41 PM
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I always have lots of swallows and not very many flies :) They do a great job. Yes they make a bit of a mess but some old cardboard fashioned into a 'shelf' a little below any problematically placed nests soon solves that. A minor inconvenience in return for entertaining, beautiful and free fly control!
Glad to say my swallow population is slowly but steadily increasing though sadly house martin numbers seemed down this year. Hopefully they will bounce back next year.
My last swallow didn't leave until nearly the end of October this year, hope the little gut makes it. Amazingly horses and I all still pestered with midges and flies today - in NOVEMBER, at 1500 feet, in Scotland. Weird weather...... |
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nerissanic
Bronze Member
England
156 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2015 : 10:17:02 AM
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| Great idea Ali Bali! My lot and myself are also being plagued by mozzies, big ones, the bites are huge, v itchy and get inflamed v quickly. I have 'ordered' a dry-ish but nice and cold, no snow please, winter this year so that hopefully these bugs and a few other pests might die off but so far no luck. My little ponies have such thick coats and my mini especially is suffering with the mild weather so I'm considering clipping her under her neck, just to aid a bit of heat and weight loss! |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2015 : 7:55:36 PM
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| I had literally dozens of nest and they were a major problem; everything was covered in dropping. Just trying to get to the hay to fill the haynets under the polythene I would get dropping in my hair and all over me when in the stables mucking out. I had piles of swallow muck to clear in the morning as well as horse muck. I am not sorry that they have reduced in numbers as I can now enjoy them again. |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2015 : 11:39:56 AM
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There is no excuse for killing swallows.
Whast is a bit of bird poop compared to the pleasure so many people get from these hard working little birds. |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2015 : 6:45:24 PM
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Shame on her and glad she was taken to court for it. I love these little guys and look forward to their return every spring, yes they poo on the horses, hay , straw and everything else but i don,t mind, they are always welcome here. I find it very quiet once they have gone and feel a bit sad as we know winter will be on its way, but love it when they return  |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2015 : 4:49:27 PM
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| Not blaming you Barbara, that comment was for the cruel woman. |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2015 : 7:52:55 PM
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| I love the Swallows and so look forward to their return after such a long journey. The poop is a pain but something I can live with. Shame on the woman who harmed them. I have a House Martin nest on my alarm box and and am hoping this coming summer they return. |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2015 : 07:12:44 AM
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So glad to hear this! It's about time we time started recognising and punishing the 'small' crimes to lower the standards of acceptability and therefore raise expectancy of behaviour and attitude towards animals.
Few
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2015 : 10:44:03 PM
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We also suffer with the droppings all summer, but it's a small price to pay for the pleasure of seeing the birds successfully hatch their broods and bring them up - can't imagine killing them.  |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2015 : 04:00:33 AM
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| Agree Fee....shame the RSPCA didn't get the same treatment when they killed the Peel horses. |
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Woman fined for killing baby swallows
