Aussie Finch Forum

Went out this morning and found one of my young painteds dead on the floor of the aviary. It was right near the wire and had one leg totally missing! Have never seen any butcher birds in our area, we do have a local hawk who's around every day or so culling the doves that sit around all day eating my chook pellets ,but couldn't see how he could have done it. Any ideas anyone?

no idea but sorry to hear

hawks pretty much scare the life out of them , not really much to eat on a finch, I am going to hazard a guess and say puddy tat..especially if its young and going up the wire in fright makes for an easy target.......pete

Have seen mice eat birds, an idea?

Bunnings sell large Plastic Owls for $9.99 in the garden centre area for scaring birds away, I bought a couple and put them on the roof (out of site of my birds) and we have not seen any wild birds near the avairies since.

Another mystery Redwing ...No ideas from me but sorry you lost another bub .

Not good I know The feeling have had the same things happen in the past. I have a butcher bird hanging around my aviary at present

If it's not a butcher bird sounds like a rat.

I agree - most likely a rat, especially if it occurred at night.

Also agree "RAT" at night, bird on wire, rat grabs foot, chews it off, shock and blood loss kills it!
Has happened to me a few times. (Not me personally, but my birds) ( I would probably feel a rat chewing my own foot off ! )