Sad story to warn people to not leave cages outside unattend

[Fraza]

Just wanted to let everyone know that you should never leave cages outside unattended and I have a story to a reason why ( I wasn't going to tell this because people might say I'm to blame but I'd rather help others )

When I very first got my finches I read online and saw that it's good to have them out in the Greenland so I thought why not so I put them outside pair of zebras and pair of bengalease both with chicks the zeb with 5 week olds and beng with 2 week later that day I went to my corner shop and when I came back I saw three magpies attacking my finches there was a dead zeb and my beng dad had tail missing from fighting for his chicks I got them inside the house after my 2 minute walk to the corner shop and the parents all survived plus 4 chicks and one zeb baby however sadly one zeb had died as it's head was sadly pulled off. The bengalease all survived after coco the dad fighting them off .the other baby zeb survived as the paper in the bottom of the cage curled over and pulled her in causing her to be unseen.
below I have pictures of the dad that fought them off and the one zeb baby I thought I had to keep after it had this tradgedy Who now has her first clutch on the way and this beng dad has his 4th clutch hatching on Friday

[Fraza]

Dad coco

[Fraza]

This was about 4 months ago as the baby is almost 5 months

[lovezebs]

Fraza

Yes, Magpies will attack birds in cages if left outside. Some Crows will too, as well as small Hawks and such.

A Canary breeder whom I know, had them pull some of his birds in pieces right through his large outdoor aviary screen. He had to put double screens all around his aviary to keep his birds safe.

Sorry for the poor birds, and sorry that you had such a sad experience.

[Fraza]

Ino just thought I would share it to warn others like me

[Sally]

Cats will also attack cages left unattended outside. It is best to only set them outside when you can keep an eye on them. Most of our manufactured cages are not predator-proof.

[Fraza]

Yes i know I'm building an aviary instead

[Babs _Owner]

Fraza

What an aweful sight to come home to! Lots of people put their birds on the patio or porch for fresh air. This could have happened to anyone. Thank you for sharing and for the warning.

[Fraza]

Yes this is why because at the time I thought bet they would live to sit out in the sun with real plants and other birds and didn't think magpies where strong enough to break a cage

[TheMadGirl]

I'm very sorry about what happened...
What I've been doing around here is leaving the cages right in front of the window, the window is screened because I have a cat (who doesn't have access to their room anymore by the way, but I have had him for 5 years, so, the screen was already there), has been working very nicely for us, the sun comes in and they are protected as well.

[Fraza]

Yes it's nice for them to see outside but not have predators

[dorothy]

So sorry that happened to your birds, Fraza. I have taken mine out occasionally, but only once I came in to do something; but luckily, they weren't bothered. Normally, I sit out with them for about 15 minutes and keep an eye on them. They do seem to enjoy being outside.

[Fraza]

Yes I've built an aviary now