Magpies picking my cows

[Robert West]

I am having trouble with magpies/Crows picking the backs of my mature cows. One actually has a whole in her back and is bleeding. The temperature has been -25 and colder for the last week. The cows do not seem to feel it and just stand there and let the magpies do this. Any suggestions beside the obvious(shoot the magpies).

 

[Gate Opener]

I would think that you could put something on the spots that the birds have been picking at. Could try some of the remedies that you use for chickens as long as it isn't something that would hurt the cows. I don't know if you are familiar with chickens but the stupid birds will pick at another chicken if it has an open wound. This is especially true for chicks that are confined.

 

[DiamondSCattleCo]

Grab some dog food, lace it with Ivomec, and stick it on a plate in a tree near your cattle. The birds will go for it, and be no more. Did you Ivomec your cattle? Usually magpies stay away from stock who don't have lice.

Rod

 

[dun]

Usually magpies stay away from stock who don't have lice.

Rod

I was thinking lice, maybe ticks or grubs.
They aren;t just doing it for the sake oftormenting the cows, there has to be a reason. But shooting them would be a good solution also

dun

 

[Gate Opener]

Oops, sorry I didn't read very well. I see now that it was only one that was being picked at until bleeding.

Does sound like some sort of parasite they are going after.

 

[Robert West]

Yes, I did treat my cattle with Ivomec approximately a month ago.
These are healthy,excellent condition, "Clean" cows.
It has now happened to 3 cows.

I talked to a vet in my area , she laughed at me , have never heard of such a thing.

Magpies are scavengers, not carnivores!

 

[Alice]

Magpies are scavengers, not carnivores!

I used to think that about buzzards, too... :x

Alice

 

[-CCC-]

A couple suggestions:

1. Propane Cannon
2. Shooting them in conjunction with #1
3. Soaking some grain in Whiskey and putting it out for them. Go out killing them once they're drunk enough. I had a great uncle that used to hunt pheasant this way.
4. Poison some meat and put it out where they can get it.(Be careful if you have dogs or cats with this method)

 

[-CCC-]

Also, there are some Magpie traps in the article at the URL below that might be of use to you:

http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/Magpies.asp

 

[ENNOT]

Try tying big rat traps on the cows. J/k

But actually, we used to have a problem with them eating the dog food. A guy told me to get a overly sized moustrap and tie some meat and tin foil where it trips the trap, and then hang it on the kennel. I tried it even though I thought he was full of it. Two days later I had one hanging in the trap.

I would figure out a way to poisn them.

 

[Susie David]

We got then up here but haven't seen one around the cows as yet. They do give the dogs fits, seem to be playing with them.
I have seen them clean up after slaughter.
Thanks for the insight. DMc

 

[Earl Thigpen]

Usually magpies stay away from stock who don't have lice.

Rod

I was thinking lice, maybe ticks or grubs.
They aren;t just doing it for the sake oftormenting the cows, there has to be a reason. But shooting them would be a good solution also

dun

My vote would be grubs (if thats what they're called) under the skin. I had an episode like this several years ago before I started a regular program of vacination and parisite control. My birds were the white "cow birds" that would pick at something on the cattle's backs. Vet told me it was some sort of worm just under the skin - and he was right. Their backs had bumps on them and a "grub" under each bump. Maybe yours is something else but I would try some sort of pour on parasite med. Then it won't matter what the birds are after - there won't be anything there for them to eat.