Snake in the bird house!!
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:35 am
My bird house is an old farm shed, pole barn, corrogated metal siding and roof, pea gravel flooring, and definitely not predator proof. While cleaning cages, I happened to glance over at the cage that had my Star babies in it, and noticed something peculiar about the fake plant in the corner. On looking closer, there was a snake curled up in the plant, sound asleep! Looked at the finches, and three were missing. 
I was able to catch the remaining birds, then carried the cage outside, and by this time, the snake had decided he'd had about enough of me. I usually hate killing anything, but I was so upset at the fact he had eaten three of my babies. I finally managed to kill it (a normally harmless Texas rat snake); it was even striking at me. I measured it later, and it was a full 3 feet long, which really isn't big for a rat snake, but big enough.
Not knowing if there were more snakes around, I had to make new arrangements really fast. I live in a small house with 4 cats and 2 dogs, so keeping the birds in my house wouldn't work very well. I do have a small room off the back porch, and that will be my new bird room. It does need some work, but for now it will do. At least it has a cement floor and is more predator proof.
Now, the cages I have are the standard 30x36x18 economy cages, with 1/2" spacing on the bars. What I realized is that these bars are fairly flimsy, and the snake was able to easily push thru the bars to enter the cage. So if anyone has this type cage, and they are kept anywhere a snake might be able to get in the building, beware!
Once again, I had to learn something the hard way.
Maybe this should have gone under Housing. If so, and the mods can move it, maybe that is where it should be.
I was able to catch the remaining birds, then carried the cage outside, and by this time, the snake had decided he'd had about enough of me. I usually hate killing anything, but I was so upset at the fact he had eaten three of my babies. I finally managed to kill it (a normally harmless Texas rat snake); it was even striking at me. I measured it later, and it was a full 3 feet long, which really isn't big for a rat snake, but big enough.
Not knowing if there were more snakes around, I had to make new arrangements really fast. I live in a small house with 4 cats and 2 dogs, so keeping the birds in my house wouldn't work very well. I do have a small room off the back porch, and that will be my new bird room. It does need some work, but for now it will do. At least it has a cement floor and is more predator proof.
Now, the cages I have are the standard 30x36x18 economy cages, with 1/2" spacing on the bars. What I realized is that these bars are fairly flimsy, and the snake was able to easily push thru the bars to enter the cage. So if anyone has this type cage, and they are kept anywhere a snake might be able to get in the building, beware!
Once again, I had to learn something the hard way.
Maybe this should have gone under Housing. If so, and the mods can move it, maybe that is where it should be.