Aussie Finch Forum

Just wondering if anyone can give me advice on night terrors. I've lost a newly hatched diamond dove and a double bar over two separate nights. The finches have built a nest which they go into at dusk and even if I go into the avery they won't come out. I suspect cats are disturbing them as we've had a lot more cat activity in the garden since getting the birds. Trappings not really an option as I know most of the people who belong to the cats and they are aware of my views on the issue. Is there anything I can to to prevent the birds from hurting themselves and their young?

Electric fence worked for me!

Air riffle in the tookus

Blinds on the aviaries work for mine. They still get the occasional fright and go banging around the aviary for a while, but on the whole the blinds stop anything getting to the wire.

Electric fence worked for me!

An electric fence is by far the best solution. Depending on how large your aviary roof is, an hour or two of set-up time and you will have a long lived time of great breeding results and happy finches.

Hate to ask stupid questions but where would you put the electric fence? I have a 16mo daughter who adores the birds and spends a lot of time at the aviary looking in (bird was one of her first words and one of the main reasons we got the finches). I'd hate for her to get a zap. We have been talked about getting clear plastic blinds for winter but put the aviary in a sheltered spot instead.

Read this !!! http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtop ... 45&t=15719

Ratsac does the trick.

I have no mercy when it comes to cats.


Trapping them then sending to the rspca helps also.

Nah. Don't poison the buggers. Cats just do cat things and intemperate actions can bring a world of unintended consequences raining down upon your head and shoulders.

I've got a solar panel and a battery ready to go. Just need the Frightenin Lightnin unit. Easy to rig up simple shock treatments.

We've put binds up, tried trapping and put "deterants" on the roof. We watched the cat walking around for about 30 min last night while it checked out the aviary, took the food out of the cat trap and made a mess of the garden. The birds were quiet the whole time so I guess what they can't see doesn't bother them. Thank you everyone for your help.