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Post by kim1 on Nov 4, 2004 17:31:55 GMT 10
Ok, I know this is a happy site, but I just need to have a winge to people who understand, 1 week ago a 10 year old boy turned up asking to buy one of my handraised babies, his mum called in to say it was ok if the kid was allowed to pay if off, I said ok, as the boy is quite a nice kid, and he has just about paid the bird off. the other day he dropped in with a freind to handle his bird which I'm happy with, but heres the problem- the kid he turned up with came back with 5 freinds to see the birds, and I said "Ok but I don't want you guys to bring any more freinds back" I came home yesterday to find the aviary door open and a couple of my handraised babies on the roof, I blamed my kids for leaving the door open. Today I came home and walked out the back and here is 3 kids I've never seen with my bids, one was jumping on the trampoline holding Ollie to his chest and the other 2 where just walking around as if they owned the place , I gave them a lecture and sent them on their way and got a nice dose of swearing in return, as well as threats that they will be back when I'm out, etc, I rand the police, who said that it may have been idol threats and there is not much they can do about it. They said to lock the gate, but the gate was locked the little toads climbed the fence, I am locking the aviaries now, but man am I steamed.
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Post by pollyparrot on Nov 4, 2004 18:27:37 GMT 10
yea i think i have the same problem i understand totally i lost my princesses awhile ago then found the kak avairy open thought i was going mad until some really odd woman who lives up the rd came and said" oh when those budgies hatch can i have one" i said how do u know i have budgies and she said "oh i just guessed " now thats odd to me i think they have been coming over and geting in the cages iam mad but i have another dog since then and she seems to keep em out ,
could u chat to the parents ??
but by the sound of it they wouldnt give a darn
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Post by AussieBirds on Nov 4, 2004 19:27:16 GMT 10
I know it can be a pain in the rear end but I all my aviaries are double padlocked I know locks are meant to keep honest people out but there are too many dishonest people around.
John
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Post by josiedownunda on Nov 5, 2004 6:12:35 GMT 10
Hmmmm.......sounds all too familiar. Darn kids these days seem to be sadly lacking in the respect department. Sadly I think it was a kid that released my pastelface. A boy that goes to school with my daughter had been giving her a very hard time about her size and weight to the point she was coming home in tears. I spoke to the school principle who in turn spoke to him. That night my birds are set free! Coincidence?  ??.......looks a bit more than that to me! Problem is there is no way I can prove it so it has to stay as just my suspicions. But if he ever comes near my place the little beggar will not know what's hit him!! Jo-Anne |
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Post by hillcresttiels on Nov 5, 2004 6:23:33 GMT 10
Hi Jo-Anne I dont want to bring up sour memories for you regarding your losses but I am curious to know if you have learnt anything from this terrible situation eg would you do anything different with your aviaries as i have had thieves 2yrs ago take 3 of my stud cocks cheers Frank |
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Post by josiedownunda on Nov 5, 2004 6:38:14 GMT 10
Definately Frank! All my aviaries had there doors locked with padlocks already and I do have a dog so I guess I had a false sense of security regarding intruders. The 3 cages that have external nestboxes will have to have locks fitted to the boxes. Also I will only be using those cages to breed my less valuable birds....ie those i breed specifically for handraised babies. My pastelface birds will only breed in my smaller aviary that has nestboxes under lock and key and would require either wire to be cut or removed to get access without a key.
I was thinking about sensor lights too but they would not have worked on this person anyway because of the position of the cage and the easy access through my back neighbours yard. An electric tape run around the cages may be an interesting alternative though. Run a tape round the aviaries that gets turned on only when we are out or at night. That should liven up anyone that wants to mess with my birds!
Jo-Anne
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Post by hillcresttiels on Nov 5, 2004 7:00:32 GMT 10
I have a sensor light and it works great I also use video surveilance but the buggers knew what they were doing you may also want to consider not for security purposes but for breeding a night lite,those cheap solar powered garden lights placed around the aviaries are very useful especially with night frights chers Frank  |
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Post by Catbird on Nov 5, 2004 12:34:42 GMT 10
Hey Kim,
I used to have the same problem where I used to live. The kids would hang over the back fence and see me inside the aviary with the h/raised birds. They'd ask questions and I was happy to tell them anything they wanted to know. But one day I came home to find the aviary open (lucky the door was on a slant so it fall back and rests in place). That was when I started putting locks on the aviaries and have ever since. That seemed to deter them.
I also had a neighbour who would sneak into my back yard and play with some h/raised pet birds I had on our verandah. It puzzelled me for months because I kept finding things moved in their cage, or they'd be really flustered, the back gate would be open or their door slightly ajar - until I had to stay home sick from work one day and saw someone in my backyard! I felt so violated that someone could think they could just walk in and out as they pleased. Really peeved me off!
Don't put up with it!!
- Claire
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Post by parrotpotential on Nov 5, 2004 20:19:55 GMT 10
Buyers can sometimes be a pain can't they.
All our aviaries are padlocked and a padlock on our side gate. Our handraised birds are in the house and so are our pets. Hubby won't let me put the sun conures outside for fear they'll get stolen. Shouldn't have to be this way but it is.
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Post by pollyparrot on Nov 6, 2004 5:41:02 GMT 10
lol sounds like u need a bigger house to put all the birdies in:)
i have 3 oops 4 indoor birds too
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Post by kim1 on Nov 6, 2004 14:51:26 GMT 10
I've always worried about mine being stolen but this is the first time somthing like this has happened, I now got 13 of my most special ones inside with us, they love it but sure takes some keeping up with the cleaning even if they are in cages or on top of their cage , or on the curtain rods, or on the lounge or climbing up my leg while I write this. MMMM something has to be done.
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Post by josiedownunda on Nov 6, 2004 15:00:21 GMT 10
Seeing you mentioned al the cleaning involved....I spent all morning scrubbing the wall in the kitchen behind the bird cages.........it is amazing how high those birds can poop....I sure they run a comp to see who can shoot the highest!!!LOL...gotta love handraised babies!!
Has anyone got any brilliant ideas on how to make the job easier or any hints on what they do to protect the wall? The paint on mine is getting thinner all the time!
Jo-Anne
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Post by fischer on Nov 6, 2004 15:27:08 GMT 10
Hi Jo-anne, any good cleaning agent for paint I could name will have the affect of taking more paint off and leaving shiny patches. . I do have a suggestion, could you buy a piece of laminex to put behind the cages, against the wall, not attached so it can be removed easily for cleaning. There are a lot of cheap building supply places around now, and most sell sheets of second grade laminex at a reasonable price. Hope this helps, Tony |
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Post by parrotpotential on Nov 6, 2004 16:22:34 GMT 10
Jo-Anne
In our birdroom, I've put up cheap $2 plastic shower curtains on the wall behind the cages. With sun conures that love to poop outside of their cage this has been a great saviour. Just wipe down the shower curtain or replace it. We also have an inbuilt bookcase and I have one in front of it of the bookcase to stop the tiel dust getting in there. Well, I did until Steve took it down, lol.
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Post by josiedownunda on Nov 6, 2004 16:41:12 GMT 10
Thanks guys for those ideas! the shower curtain may do the trick. I have some old ones here and I could run a line between 2 large pics I have on the wall to hang it off too. Lucky some of us here have brains hey!...mine has gone on holidays I think...it gave up waiting me for me to take it!!!LOL
Jo-Anne
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Post by Zack on Nov 6, 2004 21:28:38 GMT 10
Hi all, sorry to hear about everyone's problems with theivery. I haven't come across it yet, thankfully, but after what I have read here I don't think I will take the chance! My aviary is getting locks on it straight away.
Jo-Anne, you mentioned you are going to put locks on the boxes that are attatched to the outside of the aviary, there isn't anyway of securing/enclosing the boxes to the aviary is there. I was just thinking that they may be able to take the box and all???
Kazz
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Post by josiedownunda on Nov 6, 2004 21:41:34 GMT 10
The box is attached with 4 very long screws so for them to be undone would take a bit of time. I use the screwdriver drill to undo them and it is fairly quick but it would take too long using an ordinary screwdriver...if in fact they had one on hand.
There is no way to put the boxes inside because of the door size and the way they are attached. we built them specifically for outside boxes thinking it would be easier for us to inspect eggs and chicks etc. It worked great too.....i guess I was just too confident that no-one would do the wrong thing by us! And as usual I was wrong!
Jo-Anne
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Post by Zack on Nov 6, 2004 21:59:23 GMT 10
Hi Jo-Anne, I am so sorry about your babies. I don't supose you have heard anything??
It doesn't say much for their morals and ethics does it.
If I could help you out I would. I can sympathise with you totally. Let me know if there is anything I can do...even though I am miles away.
Kazz
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Post by parrotpotential on Nov 7, 2004 19:32:25 GMT 10
Hey Jo-Anne, let me know how you go with the shower curtains and if it works. Also, I'd love any other suggestions too. I'm always open for other options.
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Post by josiedownunda on Nov 7, 2004 22:32:15 GMT 10
Hi Kazz
Unfortunately i have heard nothing about the birds. I did think I saw the mother and teh cinnamon chick 2 days after they disappeared but that may have been just wishful thinking. I rang local vets and pet stores and put an ad on teh radio and even put one in the school newsletter but it has been futile.
I am resigned to the fact now that they are gone forever but I do still have 2 of the chicks which are doing extremely well. They weren't too keen on me taking over feeding duties though at 5 -6 weeks of age but they are getting better and are feeding themselves well. I have them inside so it is easier to feed them and also so I know exactly where they are every minute.
I contacted the breeder I bought the male from in the hopes of getting another but she hasn't replied. One of my chicks i am handraising is a wflutino cinn pearl like the hen I lost and is a nice one too so I will be keeping her as a replacement...she is actually a half-sister.
As they say 'life goes on'! It is sometimes not easy but I have learned from this so it was not a total waste. No-one is ever going to catch me being complacent again.
Jo-Anne
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??.......looks a bit more than that to me!
