Another fledgling disaster

[Shameless_phantom]

Sorry to hear of your loss! I recently lost 4 birds to a bunch of butcher birds! I was devastated, i really lov my birds and am finding it hard to find birds for sale around here. I have also had rats ganging up on our chickens when they are asleep and eating them alive so i would definantly say a rat, although i would have thought the rat would have eaten pretty much the whole bird???

[Redwing]

Thanks for everyone's ideas think the rat one sounds the most likely. We do live near the river in an old suburb and rats are a constant issue. The young tend to still sometimes land on the wire if they get a fright and it would be a simple matter for a rat to then run up the wire and pull the leg through ......... Wonder if that also explains the one with the broken leg. Anyway have just put out some more of the wax blocks, so will know for sure in the morning if there's any around at night time.
Something's wrong with Jimmy also(the runt), think he's missing some primaries as he's not flying up to perch with the others tonight, but looks chirpy enough. Will check his wings in the morning.

[nathan morley]

Redwing that sounds terrible, I think it sounds like a rat tho , once I had 3 gouldians fledglings an they all jumped in the water bowl an drowned so it happens sometimes

[Redwing]

Yes Nathan it's really sad when something happens to healthy babies. I've started putting wire over the water dishes just before young are due to fledge, especially painteds as they spend the first few days mostly on the ground.

[finchbreeder]

Sorry to hear that. Hope you solve the problem with the baits.
LML

[Redwing]

All you can do is keep the numbers down Finchbreeder, there are so many fruit trees in everyone's back yards they have a year round supply of food.

[mackstaa]

It pretty much sounds like its a cat. A rat is gonna eat more than just a measly leg.
they jump at the wire at night and the birds, startled, fly everywhere including into the wire, cat puts paw over birds leg, pulls it through.
Happened to me a few times, so far so good this year with purple fountain grass covering the front 50cm of the wire ..cats

[nathan morley]

Thanks redwing I will try that beacouse I have 2 gouldians chicks fledging soon

[Tintola]

cat puts paw over birds leg, pulls it through

i would have thought the rat would have eaten pretty much the whole bird???

The rat can't get the whole bird as it has pulled the leg through the wire, a rat is far more capable fo hanging onto the wire and inflicting damage than a cat.

[Tintola]

It pretty much sounds like its a cat. A rat is gonna eat more than just a measly leg.

To mackstaa........ Don't you think a cat is more likely to eat " more than just a measley leg" and have you actually seen the cat in action as I think your problem is also a rat.