FINCHforum

I am just SICK....I had five babies yesterday in a nest with dad feeding, all healthy and precious. (outdoor aviary) I went to check on them tonight because I didn't see parents in the nest and found an EMPTY nest! I couldn't believe my eyes. They were not tossed out, there were no bodies on the ground...just gone! What could have done this? I've seen posts about lizards eating babies, so could they be the culprit? How do you keep lizards away??? I'm just sick about this loss...

Could it be other birds? Maybe lizards or snakes? Hard to know for sure unless you saw it yourself.

Very sorry for your loss
Hope you can figure it out for future success

I am very sorry for your loss. That would be heartbreaking

debbie276
I don't think it's other birds. I have other birds on nest without problems....so far. I think that for all 5 to be gone in one day out of the same nest, it had to be a predator of some sort. I see lizards in there a lot of times, but never had birds (or eggs) disappear like this. I will be going inside tonight to "hunt".....

I am so upset...angry...confused!!! So early in the season to start out with this kind of issue. I'm worried because I don't know what it is and afraid it will happen again. Geeze.....

I just want to say I'm sorry. I don't have any experience with outdoor aviaries and can't offer advice but I'm truly sorry.

Vera Thank you for your kind words...

Thank you Madcat Hope I can figure out what happened and try to avoid it happening again...

Jen

I am so sorry for your loss.. . I sure hope you are able to find the culprit. Heartbreaking.

So sorry for you loss....

How big is you mesh on the aviary? mice and even rats can get through 1/2", is there a floor to the aviary or is it sitting directly on the ground?

If you are using 1/4 inch check for small gaps and holes.... if it sits directly on the ground check for holes in the dirt. Small thin snakes can get through the 1/4"

Agree with Cindy that this smells like a rat. Sometimes you can actually see the rat poop along their runways.

I use a solid rodent bait called "RAMIK Bars" placed in a few wooden finch nest boxes on the ground around the outside of the aviary. I use these small dark places to exclude my other pets and the wild birds.


Lizards mostly eat bugs and greens but if you suspect snakes, there's another product you can try called "Snake Stopper". The liquid applicator it comes in, attaches to your garden hose. It acts as a natural repellent when you spray it all around the place.

Because of your post, I plan to recheck my own rodent control measures this morning.

I know this kind of loss is a real heart breaker but I'm sure you'll see 5 more eggs very soon.

Paul

Jen

How frustrating!! Did you find out anything on your "hunt" last night?

I would move that nestbox to another spot. If it was a small reptile it will take a day or two to digest that much food and it will may come right back.

Babs Paul's Amazing Birds cindy lem2bert
Thank you for your replies. So far I have not figured out who the culprit is. cindy my enclosure is 1/4" square. Not sure what could get into this size wire. I checked all around my aviary and don't see any digging at ground level. I looked everywhere for entry areas and thought there were a couple of places that were possibilities but they were pretty small. I didn't take any chances and blocked anything I thought may be a possibility.

I also purchased moth balls and wrapped a few in old rags and tied up the top with rubber bands and placed them around the aviary. Since this is an open outdoor aviary, can the smell hurt the birds? There is lots of air flow, but I worry because birds are so tiny. What do you think?

I will be going "hunting" shortly to check on my babies. Any comments are welcome!

Well 5 babies devoured all at once really sounds like a rat. I would just bait that guy so my birds were safe and then worry about how he got in later.

Just a warning, you do not want the mothballs near the birds (inside the aviary), they are toxic, naphthalene. It is the same product used in the 8 and 1 mite protector discs that hang on cages and not recommended since naphthalene can cause neurological, breathing issues and I know of a few cases where people have lost birds due to the discs. I assume when you said around the aviary you mean on the outside.

They are not to be inhaled or ingested.... a safer solution is get a dried snake repellant and put that around the aviary. Several friends of mine with outdoor aviaries use the product to keep snakes at bay, you need to reapply often.

Mice, rats, raccoons will climb the wire... any spaces, gaps at the roof line? Mice and rats and even snakes can get in through the tiniest of spaces, especially mice. Maybe set up human rat and mice traps to see what is actually getting the babies.

Rat snakes can climb straight up a tree.

In my experience, snakes are more interested in eggs. If you don't address this rat problem your losses will only increase.

Paul