2 Quails or not 2 Quails ?? That is the question ??

[FinchDegg]

I will be constructing an outside aviary in the early parts of next year. But i keep having the same comments popping up at me ...

Even if you keep it clean and tidy you will always come into contact with rodents (mice etc).

Theres not a single outside aviary that doesnt have a rodent problem.

Theres no single method that will deter rodents from making an appearance.

I personally thought other than the obvious ways of trying to deter this "pests" i could try a more natural method of keeping Quails scampering around the bottom of the aviary and outside flight 24/7 picking off anything that my finches will waste hence no seed/food then theres nothing for them to come for.
Anybody with any good methods or solutions to this problem your advice would be highly appreciated
Thanks

[L in Ontario]

I don't think the Quail will keep the aviary 'spotless' of seeds, etc. There are definite deterrents and precautions to having mice in an aviary. Do a search on here as it's been discussed several times before... and I'm sure others will offer their suggestions. I don't have an aviary outside so I don't worry about rodents.

[monotwine]

Quails have their pro's and con's if you thinking to use them as vacuums to keep seed from lying around. I thought to use them in such a manner too, but beware they don't only take offerings of fallen seed. They fly too if they are not happy with the fallen offerings and will be gluttons of any live food offered to your finches, outcompeting them.
There are plenty ways of keeping your aviary rodent free. I am lucky to be one that has no such problem to date. Keeping my fingers crossed and my cats and dogs on guard! LOL

In SA the large breeders use electric fencing around the solid base (brick & mortar with reinforced steel sheeting) of their aviarys to keep away any unwanted small visitors. Bit excessive for a home hobbiest though!

Quails mess as much seed as they eat. Additionally their eggs and young attract rodent attention as they become another food source, unfortunately.
If your major concern is rodents if it were my aviary I would rather invest in all possible means of rodent deterent within the construction of the aviary and keep Quails if you like them as pets.

[FinchDegg]

thanks for the advice,

i wouldn't mind going for the electric fence solution but as far as i'm aware its illegal in the uk to use electric defences here, i know 1 person who got a hefty fine for putting in electric fence around the top of his garden fence to keep cats of his beloved garden (which personally although i dont mind cats surely it should be upto the land owner to decide how best to protect his garden).

I think its just best to add extra concrete and double lay blocks etc

thanks again much appreciated

[cindy]

You could run a thick piece of clear plexi glass around the outside of the aviary, maybe 2 to 3 ft from the ground up.

Drill holes though the plexiglass ( tape both sides of the plexiglass to keep it from splintering) the size of your bolts and attached it directly onto the outside wood frame. Doing this will keep the seed from being flung out and will keep mice from squeezing their way in.

[Zebra Finch Fan]

Just keep some cheapest Quail you can get in the bottom of the aviary, they may not help keep the place keen, but if you've got rodents, you might as well encourage them to eat the cheap birds on the floor, rather than the good ones in the nest.

[Hanlou]

I'm not far from you in Derbyshire - and this is something that really puts me off having an outdoor aviary too (that and the neighbourhood cats - I can sympathise with that man though I don't hate cats - I also don't want them on my garden but that's another story! ).

Something I have thought of was an Electronic Repeller - there are cat versions of this too that I keep meaning to buy!

It's a thought to help keep mice / rats away as they don't affect birds apparently - the Rspb recommend them for this reason.

We are still trying to deal with a wild mouse problem round here that ironically became a problem when someone local decided to get rid of their bird aviary - they were living underneath the aviary - so I would advise taking all precautions necessary. Mice can get through any gap over 1cm and baby mice can squeeze through gaps smaller still. Next door neighbour's have a rabbit and I saw the mice swarming all over the hutches - they can climb wood with no problems whatsoever.

Plexiglass is the best idea as you could try and prevent mice / rats from climbing using this. You could use Corrugated Plastic as a slightly cheaper option though this would be easier to gnaw - I have pet mice and use this as a playpen as they can't climb it! x

[cindy]

A freind of our saw a shopping mall being torn down, he spoke to the owners and asked if he could purchace for a small sum the glass from the store fronts. Some of the sections were like sliding doors other were about 3 feet high.

He built an aviary, the small sections served as a great barrier all around the bottom of it. He had enough large sections to build a greenhouse with plants, waterfalls, butterflies and lots of finches in it. It was all tempature controlled. Amazing what he did with some recylced glass panels that would have been destroyed in demolition.