Plagued by jackdaws

[BooseysMom]

We have always fed the birds and have had no issues before moving to a new area where it seems that jackdaws rule the roost. Every day we put out fat balls for the birds and they come and devour the lot in a matter of minutes, dominating the feeders and bullying their way in leaving nothing for the smaller birds. I have had to stand guard with a water pistol and they're so quick they've gone as soon as I touch the door handle. Today I put out one ball, after checking there were none around, went away to do some jobs, and when I came back it had completely gone and there were two of them there. I wasn't gone any longer than 15 mins so this is the quickest they have been. I am thinking what's the point feeding the birds?
Has anyone else had these issues and have found a solution? It seems that they will get on to any type of feeder. Should I just give up?
Thanks

I put two types of feed out. I hang smaller stuff in my trees for the bluetits and the bullies' (jackdaws and magpies) food on a tray on the ground and they tend to stick to that.

I have them nesting annually in the eaves and they drive me crazy with their fighting.

Just get one of those feeders with fairly narrow bars that only the little birds can fit through.

I've got a massive soft spot for all crows, though, and I love the jackdaws!

You need the feeders that allow the small birds through and keep the bigger birds out. I have this problem with Starlings so have two feeders that only the Sparrows can get into. Love a jackdaw, very elegant birds

The Roamwild range are impossible for a bird larger than a greater spotted woodpecker to feed from, and also squirrel-proof
https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/bird-feeders

Watch their video, once the squirrel/heavy bird puts weight on the pin, their weight closes access to the nuts/seed/fatballs

I am plagued by them also, I had free range hens. They eat any food put out for them unless I stand guard. They will go into the chicken house and steal the eggs and food from the feeder, I have three hens left now which are in an enclosed run and just let out for exercise, when they go I will not replace them as the Jackdaws have made it miserable. I have tried things like a pretend owl, fake dead crow etc but to no avail. The bird feeders were also an issue but I have caged ones now and hanging seed feeders which solved the issue but now I am bombarded by Sparrow Hawks instead 😐

The squirrel proof feeders with the bars around them keep the larger birds out - but you need to choose carefully, I’ve got two and only one really works.

This one works beautifully, only little birds can get at the food:
https://amzn.eu/d/3HxVvMi

This one, big birds and squirrels poke their heads through to the food from the outside, so not much help but does slow them down:
https://amzn.eu/d/0FYboV9

Thanks everyone for all the useful advice and links. I have ordered a squirrel proof one from Amazon.

I do like the idea of feeding the smaller birds and sticking a tray on the ground for the crows.

I just caught them in the act emptying the seed feeder so I got my nerf water pistol out and that worked. But I can't be there every minute of the day to stand guard.

When I was growing up on a farm we would do a crow watch taking it in turns to keep sentry. Then I can remember my uncle coming round with a rifle and shooting a crow then it was hanging from a tree in the yard. This was when things got so bad they were taking chicks as well as eggs. I realise we can't do that now though!