Thanks Glyn ----- Original Message ----- From: Glynn Jones To: Adastra discussion group Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 4:54 PM Subject: Re: [Adastra] House Sparrows
Grit (stone) is used in the crop to grind up food items, it will not strengthen shells. I think crushed shells from marine shellfish (lime rich) are given to chickens for their eggshells. Glynn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: Adastra discussion group <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, 27 February 2012, 14:56 Subject: [Adastra] House Sparrows Hi Patrick My sister has terrible problems with house sparrows pecking mortar out of her house walls. This has been going on for sometime and has caused quite a bit of damage. My mother recalled her grandmother giving their chickens grit to help strengthen the egg shells, and she suggested that my sister tried leaving some out for the sparrows too. Here what my sister says: 'Yes the grit did seem to help, we put it on a saucer where we feed the birds. Although the first lot disappeared quite quickly this saucer is still there. I wondered if the timing could be egg laying related as they don't seem to be touching it at the moment nor attacking the walls. Although our mortar is limestone I have seen them pecking at more modern properties. In some places they have dug out beak deep trenches on our house walls. Eating it is one thought and another is smoothing or sharpening their beaks. I haven't noticed the bluetits doing this but they do tend to eat "softer" things seeds, insects etc and sparrows like anything including grain which is a bit tougher.' Annie
