Aussie Finch Forum

Do birds generally get the message if you what Talven suggests?

Depends how smart they are. The smart ones do, the dumb ones don't. Bit like people really.
LML

My Butcherbirds got the message in the end a year ago, 2 feet underground that is.....

I have lots of predatory birds...usually it is juveniles learning to hunt that are the worst...l built a planted aviary with a double roofed section at rear...at front of the section I have panels that come down aprox 300mm below aviary height with perches behind...so my inmates just fly in and up ...they cant see predator and visa versa....after a couple of weeks predators give up and try somewhere else...l do have 6mm mesh also in case any of my young cling to wire they are still not injured by them...

The young Goshawks seeking new teritories are a big problem round here. Less for me with the finches than for Mum with her Budgies. Wire, covered with shadecloth on top and mist net over the front. They still manage to get the odd one - usually a young hen with considerable breeding potential - cant help bad luck.
LML

yes, you need to build a net holder around the top of your cage.
this is like extending the height of your cage about 1 foot - steel tubular - about 15 mm square . weld it to a plate and attach the plate to the cage.
drill holes in the top of the tube. run a wire from point to point and tie the wire tight.
buy a bird net from AMAZON about 1 inch to 1.5 inch square you want., this is not avaliable in Australia anymore i believe. about $40 - $60
and tie . droop this over the wire frame you have built - the tubular steel needs to come out from the top edge of the cage on about a 45 degrees angle, .
about 12 inches to 18 inches long
so when you throw the bird netting over it., the net droops over the side about 1.5 feet .....and on the top.
so the net would cover the entire cage. but not actually touch it. this does work for birds and cats as well as possums.
wont kill the pests or tangle them - they will direct their preyeness elsewhere as the net deters them and makes it too difficult for them.
the butcher birds will hit the net when swooping - instead of the cage. they eventually will stop coming to your cage.

I cable tied flyscreen on.

worked 100%

they still visit and hit the aviary but the canaries just go right up to them now with no fear

Elf - I spy Budgies. Greens and pieds. Do you show? Mother is busy deciding if she has anything fit to try for the State selection.
By the way excellent idea re the flyscreen.

yup. om breeding show budgies and canaries. hoping to show my first lot this yr