Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 12:06 am Post subject: Can I remove a mother in a nest box???
Hi.
I've just discovered a hen in a nest box on some eggs... I've also just discovered a mouse in the cage..
My question is can I remove the hen and the best box or does she need the male partner???
I'm not sure which bird is the partner but am worried the mice will get to the eggs otherwise. I will work on preventing the mice getting in as soon as I can but what do I do in the meantime??
Any help will be appreciated
Its not a good idea to do anything that may upset the sense of security of the parents, espec if only 1 st or 2nd batch of eggs.
It is also not a good idea to have other birds around the nest boxes of a breeding pair.. kakariki can be rather intimidating to other birds within 4 plus meters of a nest box.
This results in a hen spending too much time off/ out of the nest letting eggs cools down.
We have trapped a pair and their eggs/ chicks in a nesting box in the morning, dismantled the flights, moved them 100 miles, re assembled, re hung the boxes, and unblocked the holes... they have carried on as if nothing happened.. These are well established pairs.
You say "cage" I get the impression you mean a aviary or flight ???
nesting boxes should be hung on walls where vermin cant get access...
You may like to re locate the nesting boxes to such a position.
A regular prevention maintenance program is part and parcel of keeping birds.... poison stations around the aviaries is a must.
A kick board that goes a good 300 mm above ground and at least 200mm under prevents most, including tunnels. Small mice may still get into a flight, but tend to get trapped in there as the eat so much they cant get out thru the mesh.
If tunnelling is a big issue.. and have earth floors, I suggest putting down a mortar floor.. 2x 20L buckets will do a flight 1.2m x 3m... adding a little quick set, can do it with the birds in the flight.. they are too scared of the new floor, by the time they get nerve up, its set enough.
Float out so drains to middle, put a 9L bucket with drain holes in the bottom recessed into the ground... put a fine mesh (mice cant get thru) put the water trough over the top.. excess water from say automatic water timer, or washing floors drains away easy.
If boxes are located well, mice are more of a expensive drain on your seed/ foods than any thing else. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
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