Hey guys, we have large numbers of blackbirds around these parts, and as you might know they can carry diseases. So they are not good to have around our livestock and crops. Do you know a good way to control them because they are completely out of control. Would a .22 work or should I shoot into the flock with a .12 gauge with bird shot.

my suggestion would be if you have a reloader. take some 3 1/2 12 gauge shells and reload them with #8 shot and then just flock shoot them with a mod. or imp. cyl.

I use my .17 mach 2 for birds. A 22 would work good. I don't know much of anything about shotguns.

I used to have the same problem in a small garden my family had when we lived outside the city. A decent air rifle or .22 would be fine, that's what my dad used to use. If you really want to sock it to them try explosives. Just kidding...

Check your local game laws. Some places you cannot legally use a rifle for birds.

I like a 12 gauge with #8. Even if they are way out of range a good blast and dusting encourages them to find a safer area. My mentality is to associate my place with danger to them so they will go somewhere else. On the other black birds, I think they are starlings. I use a 22 with low velocity shorts or cci cb rounds. They are only good for 30 yards or so but are silent. I have a pellet rifle but it scares them off when it's shot. They are more persistent. The only way I found to get rid of them is death. They are just in small groups though.
Buying chickens will lessen the food source for birds. If you get a hardy breed they can survive on what's there and not cost you any more on the feed bill. This will also cut out a lot of the food source for mice and rats which also spread disease.

my advice is to get a good air gun then if thats not wat u want and really want to get rid of them fast i would use 12 gauge 7 1/2 shot thats wat i used one time it knoed them down great have fun with that hope they go away