How to not attract mice and rats to outdoor aviary

[Vera]

I would like to have an outdoor aviary but I hate mice and rats and dont want to give them any reason to be close! I am concerned the bird seed would attract them. Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions how this can be managed? Thanks

[Rox]

Vera, I wish there was a simple and easy answer for this but there isn't. Birds are unfortunately messy and spill seed onto the ground and this is what attracts the mice. A lot of people when building aviaries dig deep foundations and put down a thick layer of broken glass before laying down concrete. This is to prevent the mice digging in. Wire size also needs to be as small as you can get to prevent them getting through. This won't stop the mice from visiting your garden though as the seed will still attract them.

I have planted aviaries and never laid down glass or concrete. Each winter I get mice arriving and after trying to be nice and set humane traps, I have ended up put bait traps down. Not nice but it's an unfortunate reality for me if I want to keep mice out. Next time I build aviaries, I will know better

[debbie276]

With my aviary I put all the food in their coop with only the water out in the main flight area. This was one of my major concerns when we designed mine, not to attract predators and rodents, so all food is in a closed off area. Works very well.

[Vera]

Thanks for the information. I want to have an outdoor aviary so I can have more birds but the mice/rat thing is a BIG deterrent for me!