I have an outdoor Aviary approx 7 ft x 3ft with a half dome on top. It doesn't have a base. At our other place we had it on a slab of concrete which was conveniently already existing in that back yard. We have lived at our new place or 2 years now and had it sitting on some 30x30cm concrete pavers which have gaps in spots (was created by previous owner for decoration to put outdoor bench on so gaps are enough for a rodent to get thru) and create an uneven base but it does the job. There have been times I have considered pulling it all apart and buying larger pavers and getting it more level but it's a big job.

 

I've had two incidents over the past month where I have noticed excessive amounts of blood from one of my birds. I have 2 budgies, 3 tiels. Just yesterday one of my tiels was dripping blood everywhere and was aggitated by his foot. The blood is coming from the tiels I believe and after asking for help from experts on another forum it's been suggested I have predators......which I never ever considered until now but I do notice holes among the seed on the bottom where it looks like rats/mice have dug their way in. We live near wetlands and I know we have mice/rats around. I need to URGENTLY create a base that is quick and affordable to install. My DH is super busy so I cant have a big job like repaving or concreting coz he just doesn't have the time. I am thinking of taking the birds out and putting them in a cage for the day. Tipping the aviary on it's side and putting mesh or aluminium tray or something (what??) on the bottom and secure it somehow. Any ideas suggestions on how and what to use to keep rodents out and where to get it from (Bunnings at my doorstep). I am so worried with all the blood I am surprised my babies haven't bled to death. I need to get onto this strait away and have it sorted so that Saturday when my DH is home we can get stuck into it. I dont want any

 

Michelle

break some glass up so it fits in the holes pour in then on top of this put some cement and sand mix on top the damp of the earth sets the cement of and the glass stops them clawing it

Could I ask....are your budgies and tiels in together ? It sounds like it. They can be aggressors to each other as well. Budgies to tiels mostly. But addressing the mouse issue if you have a rodent problem.... Mice climb up, around, over and through the mesh. Depending on mesh size they can just go through. How big are the holes in the avairy floor ? Mouse size or rat size ? Are there droppings evident anywhere ?

One solution......a batch of concrete poured over your existing slabs in a layer. If you dont want to shift all the birds to do it.....use a sheet of shadecloth to divide the upper half of the aviary and keep birds up higher while it sets.

Hi yes, budgies and tiels in the aviary together but have been for a good 6 years this same community so I am confident it is not within the pack. I dont have breeding boxes.

 

The holes look mouse size however mice can crawl thru the smallest of smallest holes so I figured rats probably could too ?? Is a mouse likely to attack a bird though? I thought a rat might. I really dont know much about either's 'hunting' ability.

 

I'll have a better look in daylight for droppings.

 

I dont want to just poor concrete in the aviary. Would make it very difficult to move and would prbably look terrible with the pavers as the pavers extend past the aviary. As I only have 5 birds all up, they are reasonably easy to catch to transport to a cage I'm not worried about that aspect, moreso about how to seal the bottom which is where i"m sure they are coming thru.

We have a mouse problem in our large aviaries that we constantly have to keep on top of too. I dont think mice will attack your birds but apparently rats will. Mice will invade nesting boxes and cause problems there but as you have none of that shouldn't be a worry. Mice can be an aggravation that causes "night frights" so that birds get injured through the night.

Here is some useful info for you.

 

http://www.voren.com/95-05-01.htm

mice wont attack but a rat certainly will and take the bird if it catches it a friend lost 3 birds to rats before he realized he had a problem the hole was only a little bigger than a mouse hole he put cement down and the rat chewed back through it the glass certainly stopped it

Thanks everyone, yes I am sure it's rats. I hear them in my roof and given we live nearby wetlands it's going to be an ongoing problem. I put bait and that up in the roof and under the house, but it's an ongoing battle.