Help - birds going missing

[shayne]

Thanks Polar Gouldians,
I've wired the two cages with 6mm mesh. Haven't had any trouble since....to date.
I've seen the brown tree snake around Katherine but not on my property here in Darwin. Usually brown snakes, whip snakes, olive pythons, and once saw a golden tree snake.
I'm going to rename the cages "Fort Knox". While it's never good to lose birds, at least this is a lesson learnt prior to starting an aviary build.
A fair bit of rain lately so it's muddy around the place, haven't seen any small animal prints. I once saw a reasonable sized lizard on top of the cage, bit like a frilled neck lizard without the frill. Like everyone else, money is on the snake.

[finchbreeder]

Snakes are the reason I made hubby block up the gaps round the avairy doors to 6mm or less. Up and down slots are easier for snakes than squares also.
LML

[shayne]

Polar Gouldians is the winner.

[finchbreeder]

I hope you relocated it a very long way away. But good to know it did not get dinner today.
LML

[Jenk]

I lost half a dozen birds to a butcher bird attack, some of the birds were left headless in the cage others were able to be dragged through the wire and devoured. You should think of covering the cage... Even if a butcher bird can't get at your finches it certainly scares the hell out of them and I've heard some die of shock but not sure if that's true.

[shayne]

Hi,
I also lost three birds to Butcher birds a few months ago. Then one to an Olive python. Then three to what I presume was the snake in the picture. Then I covered the cages in 6.5 x 6.5mm vermin proof mesh wire. Then I lost a bird to what I believe was zinc poisoning from the new wire. I then painted the wire (and cage) in black.
So far so good. Disappointing to lose so many birds but, I've just started an aviary build and have learnt some hard lessons that should make the aviary safe.
The cages in the photos will become my quarantine cages.

[BluJay]

Good on you Shayne. With your determination you will be an awesome bird keeper. I'm truly sorry for you losses. I'm elated you caught the culprit. Darn snakes. Best wishes. Regards.

[POLAR GOULDIANS]

Hi Shayne,
Don't feel too bad about losing a few birds, I doubt there would be anyone on this forum who didn't lose a few birds when they first started out.
I think most people start with the idea that you have to keep the birds in the cage, when the important thing is to keep every other bloody thing out !