Caging Birds : Section 2

BIRDS, MICE, RATS AND MORE ...

Most popular species of caged and pet birds can succumb to fatal infections and/or injuries when housed together with or not protected from other animals such as mice, rats, cavies, rabbits, possums, snakes, cats, dogs, foxes, predatory and highly territorial birds. However, remember people pose the biggest hazard!

- Birds and Mice

Mice are regarded as a major pest in bird aviaries, birds nests and of places where bird food is stored. Mice eat food, sometimes eat and kill nestlings, frighten and disturb birds, especially at night, predisposing injuries and they can spread important disease-associated bacteria. Some of these infections are Coliform infections, especially Pasteurellosis and Salmonellosis.

- Control of mice near birds.

Aviary and cage construction, and placement so as to prevent access of mice and other pests, is the best option.
Once mice have become established in an aviary, eradication of them is difficult. Baits and poisons, if used, must be placed in such a way that the birds cannot get to them and the mice etc. cannot move the baits to where the birds can get them.

Mechanical traps must be bird proof.

Make food containers inaccessible to mice and provide a tray underneath to collect spilt seed and husks.
Keep the cage spotless. Consider removing all seed from the cage each evening and placing some seed in decoy trap outside the cage at night.

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