Just a reminder to all that snakes are now out and about again... Its not just mice we have to worry about it, its the snakes as well... After going in and out my breeding room a number of times today, only within the last hour did a unwanted guess visit me... Where it has come from I do not know... Sitting in the bottom of one of my cabinets with two dead budgies next to it was a snake, a dugite or brown spotted snake as it is called...

 

http://members.iinet.net.au/~bush/ID_index.htm

 

We got the Armadale reptile place on Albany Rd to remove it for us... I lost a beautiful violet hen and a spangle blue cock, they had no nest (a good thing in this case)... I was and still is very upset that I lost them but glad it was not me who got bitten or Jason as he often sits with me in there...

 

So just a reminder to all, just because you are not near the bush doesn't mean they wont find you...

 

 

 

my beautiful budgies... Fly free and to a better place...

I am really sorry to hear the snake got to your birds....

 

 

happier to hear you werent hurt.

 

Our dugite recently didnt get into the birds aviary but they can get through the smallest cracks.

 

Ken discovered afterwards it had eaten one of his quails.

Edited January 27, 201015 yr by KAZ

Oh gosh so terribly sorry this has happened How upsetting that would be! Lucky there were no more casualties and even more lucky that you weren't bitten too.

 

:rip: little budgies

Thanks guys... I know Kaz, its not fair... :rip: And I was looking forward to seeing what young would come from that pair too... Was hoping some nice spangle blues or violets, after looking at the gentics for it...

 

Now I am a little worried to step into the breeding room, thinking there is more... The smallest move from nothing is now making me jump...

Sorry about your loss, that's horriable, I always worry about snakes everytime I go out to my breeding room and I have never seen one yet but they have been seen around the house. Big brown ones very deadly. :rip:

Thanks guys... I know Kaz, its not fair... :rip: And I was looking forward to seeing what young would come from that pair too... Was hoping some nice spangle blues or violets, after looking at the gentics for it...

 

Now I am a little worried to step into the breeding room, thinking there is more... The smallest move from nothing is now making me jump...

 

Any improvements you can do to stop any more getting in ? Photos of the aviary so we can advise ?

Edited January 27, 201015 yr by KAZ

Yikes! :rip: I am so glad you weren't bitten. Sorry about your birds

im glad i dont live in aussie, sorry to hear about your birds :rip:

Sorry to hear about your loss, the warning is timely. I had a friend in Qld once who kept losing birds in his birdroom. When his sons came to visit they found a python living behind the breeding cages. Clearwing

Sorry to hear about your loss, the warning is timely. I had a friend in Qld once who kept losing birds in his birdroom. When his sons came to visit they found a python living behind the breeding cages. Clearwing

 

Scary :rip: :fear :fear

Sorry for your loss :rip:

 

I had a Red Bellied Black Snake in my chicken coop the other day that surprised me when I went inspecting for eggs...... On the up side in my case I no longer have mice in the chicken coop.

 

I have snakes of my own so I solved the problem by putting a few of one of my snake eating snake species old shed skins in the coop.

I have snakes of my own so I solved the problem by putting a few of one of my snake eating snake species old shed skins in the coop.

Do the potential snake-prey get scared and slither away? Or is it the smell that repels them? :rip:

Thanks guys... I know Kaz, its not fair... :rip: And I was looking forward to seeing what young would come from that pair too... Was hoping some nice spangle blues or violets, after looking at the gentics for it...

 

Now I am a little worried to step into the breeding room, thinking there is more... The smallest move from nothing is now making me jump...

 

Something farmers use to see if there are snakes around is quite simple but effective, it will catch the snake and then you can call the snake catcher in.

Get an empty Milo tin ( the medium sized one) or something similar with a removable tin lid, needs to be tin. Put a tiny hole in the base of the tin big enough to poke some thin rope through and tie a knot in, pull it back down into the tin so the tin can now hang freely with the rest of the length of rope hanging out the bottom. Now take the lid if the tin and cut a hole big enough for a snake to put it's head into but not too big (keep reading and you will understand how big to make the hole)smooth the edges of the hole so it doesn't cut the snake. Now take a raw chicken or even better duck egg (shell and all, not broken open)and palce it in the tin and replace the lid back onto the base. Lay the tin on it's side on the ground and tie the long end of the rope to something (maybe the leg if a cage or a chair).

The snake will sniff that egg out put it's head in the tin swallow the egg whole and tadda!!!!

you've caught your snake, the rope tying the tin to whatever anchor you choose stops the snake from rolling the tin out of sight while it is trying to get out. Now call the snake catcher, it's safe for the snake catcher to pick up as it's head is in a tin and by making the edges of the hole in the tin smooth doesn't hurt the snake.

This is a tried and proven method and works on all snakes. The snake is released with a pair if tin snips, just in case anyone askes.

Lib

Thanks Lib... Now I have a reason to finish my milo quicker... Hee hee... Better get more milk... :rip:

 

Wow, just a bit scary Clearwing... I bet your friend was trying to work out what was going on... I know I would have...

 

We spent sometime this arvo visiting neighbours and just informing them to keep an eye out for snakes now that the weather has kicked in... Some neighbours were really surprised that there was one in the area... Alot of families are going to have talks to the kids tonight too about the dangers of snakes and what to do... Abit of a worry for families and pets too, not just birds...

 

I have two dogs, hate them at time... LoL... But would have been so upset too if they had gotten bitten...

Edited January 27, 201015 yr by LittleBudgie2005

Well, we had a visit from the neighbours behind us last night and it seems that the snake had been living in their shed... They found a dry skin... yuck...! And I have check and double checked for gaps around my breeding room and there is nothing... So the only way the snake got in was through the front door during the day... As I have one wire door and the other side net (helps with air flow and sun light)...

 

My neighbours were worry when they found that snake skin because they also have two young kids that were outside yesterday too... Scarey but luck no one was hurt...

 

Did my rounds this morning and was so scared about another snake I wore my steel cap boots... Oh with PJ's on too... LoL... Other half just laugh... *shakes head*...

ouch that aint good, I hadnt thought about snakes, there has been a few snakes in the area because we have a little creek not far from here and a man made one to feed it that comes right up near behind my house (which only has water when it rains.) I have even seen snakes in my backyard about 5-6 years ago. Good thing my budgies stay high and because all my perches are hanging from the roof, they shouldnt be caught easily. But the quails litterally are sitting ducks.

 

May be a stupid question but can snakes get through 12mm x 12mm gaps?

I found the snake in the bottom right cabinet... So it fits through that gap... Sorry about the picture on side...

 

Forum member DrNat posted this once too Nov 21st 2008

During storms, snakes look for shelter and it is common that they will chose an aviary because there is food there also.

My house is fairly protected and has just had some really good rain. I thought my breeding area was snake proof because it is all screened and enclosed, but apparently not. The snake probably chose to shelter in my aviary breeding room because my house is quite protected from the weather. It ate two of my best birds, a pair of yellow double factor spangles. Take extra precautions to snake proof your aviary particularly during storms. I think the snake must have got in under one of the doors, so I am getting windstoppers for the bottom of the doors to prevent that.

 

 

and forum member Jade posted this

i had about 12 breeding birds, and numerous babies at different stages.

My flock was going strong and i was breeding peids, cinnamons, spangles, lutinos, halequins, and the list gos on.....

 

then one horrible night about three years ago, a ten foot carpet snake got into my avery and consumed all but two of my budgies. putting my budgie breeding on tempory hold.

Edited January 28, 201015 yr by KAZ

We have snakes in the garden, sshhhh... don't tell mum she doesn't know. I don't think they can get my bird, though.

ouch that aint good, I hadnt thought about snakes, there has been a few snakes in the area because we have a little creek not far from here and a man made one to feed it that comes right up near behind my house (which only has water when it rains.) I have even seen snakes in my backyard about 5-6 years ago. Good thing my budgies stay high and because all my perches are hanging from the roof, they shouldnt be caught easily. But the quails litterally are sitting ducks.

 

May be a stupid question but can snakes get through 12mm x 12mm gaps?

Don't know about a 12mm gap Rodiss, but years ago my kids came racing in and said a tiger snake was in the toilet. It was an outdoor country "dunny" and it was coiled around the beam above the door!! they don't have legs but can still get in high places. Hanging perches could still be at risk.

They are very cunning and can get anywhere if they are hungry enough and want to... If you live in an area where snakes are often found, I'd definately be looking at way of stopping them. And Ratzy, I'd look at getting the snake removed from your shed before it realises your aviary is better accomodation!

We have snakes in the garden, sshhhh... don't tell mum she doesn't know. I don't think they can get my bird, though.

What kind of snakes Ratzy? Teeny green grass snakes that like grasshoppers and insects or something that might find your budgies a tasty meal?

 

Maybe it is time to let your Mum in on the secret and get them removed by a professional?

 

How would you feel if they bit one of your other pets or even you?! :wine

We have snakes in the garden, sshhhh... don't tell mum she doesn't know. I don't think they can get my bird, though.

What kind of snakes Ratzy? Teeny green grass snakes that like grasshoppers and insects or something that might find your budgies a tasty meal? :rofl: Maybe it is time to let your Mum in on the secret and get them removed by a professional? :rofl: How would you feel if they bit one of your other pets or even you?! :rofl:

Renee, basically they are part of life here. We have poisonous snakes like tiger snake copperhead, brown ect. The only non-venomous snake we get in Vic is the Murray River Python. If we get a removilist more will just move in so why bother? We live next to a bit of bush too.I don't have an avairy, just a massive cage outside! They can't get in. The snake has moved to the vegie garden in the compost heap.

Nasties over here too Ratsy - Dugites mainly but also Western Tigers. Carpet Pythons tend to like budgies a fair bit too.They find it pretty easy to get into aviaries usually BUT if they get in and then happen to eat a budgie, they can't get out again for a while - until the budgie sized lump get partially digested anyhow!I've had to remove 2 snakes from the aviary over the past few years. One baby Dugite and one big mother dugite (hope the neighbour liked them ) ...... luckily no budgie snacks were had.

Edited February 1, 201015 yr by nubbly5

No pythons round here. The snakes usually stay put in the vegie garden or shed.