Ratsnakes!! Ugh!

[buttonquailtx]

So this morning I woke up and went to check on some of the button quail outside. I had a bachelor group of buttons outside in a cage I thought was snake proof. And to my supprise and horror, there was a 4 foot Texas ratsnake in the cage with the quail and only 2 out of the 5 quail left. And sadly, there were two eggs in the cage, so I sexed one of the whites wrong and actually had a hen. These were beautiful birds, and I am sad to have lost them when I thought I had prevented this.

I normally don't advocate killing nonpoisonous snakes, but they tend to remember where food is and return stronger than ever to pick off any other birds they can catch so easily.

I brought the last 2 quail inside, but the damage is done.

Lesson learned, small wire doesn't mean snake proof!

 

[Quailsong]

How small is your wire? 1/2" should be enough to deter most predators. Anything bigger & a lot of creatures can get in such as snakes, weasels, etc. 1" wire space is enough for raccoons to reach in & rip the heads off most aviary birds (even as big as chickens).

Sad for your loss. I'm glad a couple did survive though.

 

[James the Bald]

Sorry about your quail. I've been considering making a tractor to keep my quail in during the weekends when I'm outside doing yardwork, but I've seen a large black rat snake in our neighborhood. And it's too fast or me to catch.

 

[buttonquailtx]

Thanks. It's 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom and 1/2 by 1 inch galvanized wire for the rest. Crazy that a 4 foot snake could get in through that small of wire. He couldn't get out tho.

Luckily I used 1/4 inch hardware cloth for the coturnix, so I've never had snakes in with them.

I use wire bottoms on all my outdoor quail cages to make cleaning easier. Inside I use shavings for bedding.

I think the only reason such a large snake got in was because it was severely skinny. It probably had been missing meals, and with 105 degree weather it lost too much weight. It was almost all skin and bones, poor thing. I hate having to kill any wild animal, but I can't stand to lose my birds. They are as much pets as egg making machines. I don't normally put buttons outside, but since I am low on hens, these boys were being way too loud to keep inside, constantly calling for mates. If I didn't do something, my better half would have had me sleep outside with them, lol. Nothing like losing sleep to make people grumpy.

 

[Quailsong]

Thanks. It's 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the bottom and 1/2 by 1 inch galvanized wire for the rest. Crazy that a 4 foot snake could get in through that small of wire. He couldn't get out tho.

Luckily I used 1/4 inch hardware cloth for the coturnix, so I've never had snakes in with them.

I use wire bottoms on all my outdoor quail cages to make cleaning easier. Inside I use shavings for bedding.

I think the only reason such a large snake got in was because it was severely skinny. It probably had been missing meals, and with 105 degree weather it lost too much weight. It was almost all skin and bones, poor thing. I hate having to kill any wild animal, but I can't stand to lose my birds. They are as much pets as egg making machines. I don't normally put buttons outside, but since I am low on hens, these boys were being way too loud to keep inside, constantly calling for mates. If I didn't do something, my better half would have had me sleep outside with them, lol. Nothing like losing sleep to make people grumpy.

Ahh I see. Yeah a skinny & hungry animal will take risky actions.

I can understand the noise issue. Like your partner, my ears are similarly sensitive enough that I don't think I could take that calling either. Despite what occurred recently, I think you did pretty good with your predator prevention. I would def switch out the 1/2x1 wire though. Nature is changing/adapting around us, so tweaks (esp wire sizes) are needed to keep up w/ such changes. Best of luck.

 

[buttonquailtx]

All the buttons are inside now. If I ever have to put them outside again I will use 1/4 inch hardware cloth covered in aluminum window screen on the sides of the cage. Unfortunately, I will still have to use 1/2 inch hardware cloth for the bottom.

I'm not having snake problems with the coturnix. Probably because it would take at least a 6 foot snake to swallow one of those heavy quail.

Where we live there are so many snakes, and ratsnakes are the most common. It doesn't help that they are one of the meanest snakes I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with. Don't get me wrong; I love most snakes. I breed sand boas, but they aren't mean.

 

[Quailsong]

All the buttons are inside now. If I ever have to put them outside again I will use 1/4 inch hardware cloth covered in aluminum window screen on the sides of the cage. Unfortunately, I will still have to use 1/2 inch hardware cloth for the bottom.

I'm not having snake problems with the coturnix. Probably because it would take at least a 6 foot snake to swallow one of those heavy quail.

Where we live there are so many snakes, and ratsnakes are the most common. It doesn't help that they are one of the meanest snakes I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with. Don't get me wrong; I love most snakes. I breed sand boas, but they aren't mean.

Awe, that's a shame you've so many snake issues there. In Canada I'd be lucky to see any in my yard. I think we've only one deadly rattler in Ontario but I've never seen them. Everything else is just tiny grass/garter snakes. I get what you mean though - in my case, I love spiders though I'd be upset if one up & killed some of my pets/flock. =/

If the bottom is floating (as in, not directly touching the ground/grass) maybe there's something you could string under the cage to deter them. Razor-sharp wire comes to mind, as they might try to use it to hold on to but it could cut their scales, perhaps. Could string barbwire around the legs, maybe. Not an expert on snakes, though - just offering an idea, maybe you can expand on it.

 

[buttonquailtx]

Unfortunately I can't put up anything that might hurt any of our pet dogs or cats. I am very lucky that I have wonderful dogs that don't bother the birds. If I restrict access by putting up a fence then the dogs won't be able to protect them from larger predators such as coons.

Luckily, in this small area of Texas, nobody within 10 miles from here has seen rattlesnakes. We have an overabundance of copperheads and an occasional coral snake, but none of the more dangerous rattlesnakes or water moccasins.

From now on, I am keeping all buttons inside. They are just too small, and have more predators because of their size.

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

There are multiple threads in the "predator" section on how to use bird netting (that cheap black mesh you can buy at Walmart or Home Depot). Check it out. Apparently snakes can't get out of it.

 

[buttonquailtx]

Thanks.I will check it out.