Big Cage

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:34 pm

Does anyone have trouble with having a cage outside. Im always afraid that if i opened the cage one of my finches would escape. Usually though, they just fly to the other side of the cage. i dont have any trouble getting to the food and water but trying to reach the nest on the other side is hard. I guess i will just have to bring the cage inside everytime i try to band the baby finches. Eventually i hope to build an aviary big enough to walk in.

lyderbug · Post by **lyderbug** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:30 pm

As far as the little stinkers escaping while you have your hand in there......it happens.

I was adjusting a branch my birds' cage when one of them snuck right passed my arm( i have thin arms) and through the opening where I put their water. I didn't see her escape she flew so fast....I just sorta noticed there was one less bird in the cage.

I would just as soon take the cage inside to clean and such.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:39 pm

I think that i will be bringing my cage inside to clean as well. i would hate to lose one of finches. See i want an aviary big enough to walk in, that way i can close the door behing me and not have to worry. But then in a cage that big i would be in there forever trying to catch them.

jabo322 · Post by **jabo322** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:05 pm

Hi jamezyboo21. I used to keep my cage outside, in front of my dining room window. It was a great location in my mind, with a large awning overhead to protect them from the weather, morning sunshine in half the cage, fresh air and a great view. I had to replace a nest basket that had fallen, and I waited till it was completely dark, thinking I could sneak it in while they slept. Well, the little stinkers woke up, and one managed to get out through a tiny opening between the cage door and my shoulder

. I should have brought them inside before the attempt, but we live and learn.

However, they faced another danger that I couldn't imagine in a thousand years. I lost 2 finches overnight to something that pulled them right through the bottom grate of the cage. After burying what remains I found, I was late for work, but swore I would bring the cage with my remaining 2 finches inside as soon as I got home. I work part time, and since it was daytime I thought they would be safe. How I regret that decision. When I got home 4 hours later, another one (my favorite) was dead

. I suspect rats, but I don't suppose I'll ever know for sure.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 pm

Awee..Sorry for your loses. I would hate for that to happen to mine. I think the wire i have is good though. its only 1/2 '' wire and i dont think anything can get them, hopefully. i have mine on the back porch with a tarp covering all side except for the bottom and only the front of the cage is not covered during the day and sometimes its not covered at night when it is not cold. But yeah, Iwould be scared to open the cage at night i will always open mind when it is really bright

and always clean it inside the garage if they got out it would be fine because theres not really anything in the garge for them to hide at.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:34 pm

No mater the hassle I ALWAYS bring the cage inside before doing anything in the cage.

its NOT worth the risk...

And as for things getitn the birds, shoot youd be amazed where a cat paw can get to, Its sad ya lost your birds either way,
Some lessons are indeed learned the hard way

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:41 pm

I already have visitors that come to my cage. cardinals and mocking birds. one of my zebra has a song just like the black-capped chickadee that comes by the cage and there is a black cat i have seen sitting by the cage. Now i completley cover the cage at night.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:50 am

Sorry for your loss, jabo322. It is amazing what can get into your cage. I had a snake get in a flight cage one time, and it ate 3 Star finches. I have had birds killed by a cat (mine). And when I had the mouse invasion, I could see into the bird room at night and see mice crawl thru a 1x1/2" opening like it was nothing. I suspect a possum got a bird one time, and I've heard racoons are really bad.

Even with a walk-in aviary, the best thing is to have two doors, with a safety vestibule between them. That way, no bird can get any farther than the vestibule.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:43 pm

What's a safety vestibule?

jabo322 · Post by **jabo322** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:54 pm

A safety vestibule is an area between 2 doors leading into an aviary. You close one door behind you before opening the door that leads into the aviary proper. That way, if any bird flies out the door it cannot get any further and can be quickly recovered.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:14 pm

oh. well i guess i dont have that

my door is only big enough to stick my arm in.

williep · Post by **williep** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:16 am

jabo322 wrote:When I got home 4 hours later, another one (my favorite) was dead . I suspect rats, but I don't suppose I'll ever know for sure.

Jabo I also lost my first 4 birds in my large aviary due to rats!! They ate through a piece of netting near the roof and literally hunted and killed the 4 birds in one night. The last one was killed in the early morning just as I went to feed them and I noticed the rat running on the perch and catching it as it landed. Before I got to him, he was dead. Needless to say my aviary roof is now reinforced and completely rat proof.

In my other aviary (completely outside) I placed the cage on a concrete base that was about 1' wide and rats still managed to dig in through the corner. In this case I lost a pair of orange breasted Zebras and haven't been able to find another pair since

I have now redesigned my substrate to a solid concrete slab through which no rat will burrow in 100 years and after that i designed my breeding cages to be 100% rat proof, I still see rat droppings now and again but it usually goes away in about 3 days (Isn't rat poison great)

Anyway, enough rambling about the pests, I'll also rather bring the cage in to work in and completely cover is at night, just ensure there is still some ventilation.

jabo322 · Post by **jabo322** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:38 am

I'm sad you lost your birds that way, williep. Rat's are certainly smart and persistent, it's what makes them a superior rodent pet, imo. I would like an outdoor aviary someday, and when I have it I will make sure it is as rat-proof as I can make it.

williep · Post by **williep** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:47 am

Yes Jabo, there's no doubting their intellect but what really surprised me is that they were more interested in killing the birds than eating their food. I left the seed in there for a couple of days until I had time to fix the hole and NOTHING they didn't eat 1 seed.

I guess meat has more protein so that’s probably why.

jabo322 · Post by **jabo322** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:49 am

williep wrote:Yes Jabo, there's no doubting their intellect but what really surprised me is that they were more interested in killing the birds than eating their food. I left the seed in there for a couple of days until I had time to fix the hole and NOTHING they didn't eat 1 seed.

Hmm, that IS surprising. They are smart, do you think maybe they figured the jig was up and it might not be safe to come back for a while? I know they eat seed, I've seen them INSIDE birdfeeders, stuffing themselves.