So, we have had our patio aviary for 2 days now, and have had a butcher bird visit 3 times and this afternoon a set of myner birds. I'm so worried for our budgies.

 

Today, I fixed an Owl to the top of the aviary and some shade cloth to the open bars except one front panel that I need open for access. The myner birds didn't seem worried about the owl, but luckily I was there and scared them away.

 

I have read, rubber snakes are good and well has hanging CD's. Will hang up two cd's tomorrow morning, and try and get a rubber snake.

 

Do anyone have any other ideas I haven't mentioned.

 

I should also add, the bar space is about 1cm-1.5cm. And it's not a huge aviary. It's hexagonal 1.1m wide and 1.8 high. It is covered all the way done on all but one panel with shade cloth.

 

Any ideas are appreciated.

Assuming the shade cloth allows for ventilation, you could try perspex cut to size on one or two sides. I have this for my patio avaries in Melbourne ( for colder weather) and use fly screen toggles to hold the Perspex in position.

 

I think I have solved my problem. I have made a pull down screen out of shade cloth that can be tied up when we are home, and let down and secured when we aren't.

I heard that if the budgies have a place to go where they can actually hide and can get out of sight of the butcher bird or whatever then they'll be safe.

Myner birds are harmless toward budgies, have had them hanging round my aviaries for years, without any dramas, they're only ever intested in surplass food scraps lying about. I know they are introduced feral birds here in Australia, and we would be better off without them, but seems they have set up here for good.

Edited June 1, 201410 yr by trefto

I have the exact same issue with Myna birds and had put out a rubber snake to scare them away, which worked for about 2 days. One day while I was rotating my rubber snakes there was a massive wedge tailed eagle perching in a tree watching the birds. I had a heart attack as I have a small dog outside who does a good job at scaring away the birds who attack but I knew this bird could kill her easily. When it saw me it freaked out, swopped down and took my rubber snake!!!! I don't put them out anymore because I don't want him to come out incase. Pretty amazing though! I have lined my aviary with breathable fly netting which you can get for a pretty good price at bunnings; It is made of tiny wires so it takes a while for a Myner bird to peck it's way through and by the time it tries to do that my lovely dog would have scared it away. I totally recommend doing this as one of my budgies was grabbed and died after a heart attack :( since doing this I haven't had any issues like that with the birds, except for when they pretend to swoop which gives them a little scare, once again nothing serious and they eventually get used to.

Hope this was helpful :)