Aussie Finch Forum

I went into the aviary today, took a look, only 3 zebby chicks! the little fawn was missing. also found a very much dead jacarini cock, basically nothing left on the bones, only knew it was a jacarini by the leg bands.

they were both in places which would be inaccessible to birds of prey, currawongs, etc.

anyone? the young are too early to be removed for their safety. and if adult birds start going down, then I might have to look at selling the lot until I can get my new, mouse - proof aviary up.

Yes mice are carnivorous. We have a mice plague in my area at the moment, and yes my breeding results are close to zero. The thing you have to do is make sure the nests are in the most inaccessible to mice areas and constantly stamp in or dig over the mouse holes. Having a Jack Russell that catches a mouse or 3 a day helps too. But it is difficult and heartbreaking. This area is prone to 3 - 4 yearly mouse plagues so I just weather the problem. So all this lovely lack of cold weather is not all beer and skittles as the saying goes.
LML

they built they're own nest next to the wire in the covered flight.

Man I hate mice, Lucky there's still 3 left in the nest ... Any droppings in the aviary?

haven't checked, it's a bedding -floored aviary.

worried about the remaining 3 though

They are an evil creature. Both carnivorous and cannibalistic. If there is no food they will eat each other.

Bait stations work well on the little buggers, as they eat anything.

Jay sorry to hear of your misfortune. Sounds like you need to put out some Ratsack and get that new improved aviary of yours built soon.

Having battled mice for too many years to remember I still can't wipe them out.These days I continually bait.
If you can't locate some bait stations simply get a plastic ice cream container and cut a 30mmx50mm section from two edges.
Then place your bait under it and the mice should do the rest.
Place the container against a wall.
These days I use the red wax blocks and cut them in half.
If you can keep the little mongrels out of your seed trays and eliminate spillage AND keep baits available then you will possibly control their numbers.
It is wise at times to change your bait, Use Rat Sac or Tallon but mix a little Peanut Butter with it.
I have a bottle of liquid Bromokil and it gets mixed with choclate biscuits,peanut butter,margerine.
Just looking for variation.
I have my doubts about mice actually attacking nestlings but they do foul the area and disturb your birds.

I have had mice problems for about the last 4 weeks, i have concrete floor and were still geting in. Then found one in my walkway we scarred each other so i watched where he went and he was that small he squezzed thru the wire with ease. Then a week later found one nesting in a nest box in one aviary with the birds. And did that scare the life out of me when i was checking the boxes.
Since have put protection up for the weather so that should have stopped them if they had anymore floating around.