Rats in the aviary

trevorama · Post by **trevorama** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:49 pm

After a year without incident I now have a rat problem in my aviary. I buried chicken wire around the base "thinking" it would keep any critters out, and not realizing rats burrow underground. But now they have killed some of my birds etc. Does anyone have any ideas on how to combat this problem? I've been using traps but they don't seem to be working very well. I'm so frustrated and depressed over this. Thanks,
Heather

Post by **Sally** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:47 am

Rats are difficult to deal with. Several members have had problems with rats lately. Yes, they burrow underground--they can also squeeze thru fairly small spaces. Inside your aviary, you are limited, as you can't set traps unless they sell some 'no kill' types for rats. Chicken wire probably is not tough enough to keep out rats, they can chew thru thin wire. Some people install a wire mesh floor to their aviary, others run the wire mesh down underground and flared out for at least a foot, I think, or maybe it is more like 2 feet.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:34 am

if you are able to remove your birds from the aviary for a couple of weeks you could put down some baits and also use a few traps

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:26 am

Hello, There is a post a little further down on this page "general questions" titled Mice by Hoji. Lots of info on control, her mice turned out to be rats and she did catch them. There is lots of info given by members on there. Good luck.

trevorama · Post by **trevorama** » Fri May 01, 2009 1:05 am

We caught all the birds two nights ago (about 50) and brought them indoors in cages. They are a bit cramped, but alive and that's the important thing. Some of my poor birds were killed and now we're on a rat hunt. Within the next week we will be pouring concrete in the aviary to replace the dirt floor. It's been quite a tragedy, but hopefully the concrete will keep the rats out.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Fri May 01, 2009 1:23 am

Good luck and may those rats R.I.P.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 01, 2009 8:03 am

Good luck on your hunting expedition.

Seems like a lot of people are having rat problems lately.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri May 01, 2009 9:09 am

Hopefully the concrete will resolve the rat issue for you so your birds can be put back in their aviary.

Yes, quite a few people are having the same problem within the past few weeks. I guess I'm lucky that I have my birds inside despite the mess they make.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Fri May 01, 2009 9:32 am

I don't know your plan on the floor but if you plan on having live plants in aviary make sure you keep in mind one member thinks the rats were getting into aviary tunneling up thru the plants ,just a thought. Good luck

trevorama · Post by **trevorama** » Fri May 01, 2009 10:55 pm

Thank you for your words of encouragement! I know my Euroopean Goldfinch will be very happy to be back outside. He hates being cooped up. He's definitely a loner.

James · Post by **James** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:50 pm

For those of you who want a dirt floor in your aviary you can do what my niece did when she built an out door rabbit habitat. she fond some galvanized mesh that had 1/4" squaresand was made with12 gage wire and put it down 18" deep so her rabbits could burrow. It was still good when she moved 3 years later she took it with her.

James