30/01/2026
It is must to snake proof your avairies and cages,as you can see this a decent sized boy and can still squeeze through. Please keep your birds safe
Let's talk about outdoor and snake safety! 🐍
🖼️ Photos like this are incredibly common during the warmer months in Australia. This bird was lucky, the owner intervened before the snake could get the bird but many are not. We often see posts where the snake has gotten in, eaten the bird and then been found later unable to exit the cage.
🦜Cages like the one in the photo ARE NOT designed to be snake / predator proof. They are indoor cages only. Large snakes can make themselves VERY flat and can easily enter these cages through the gaps between bars.
If you want to house your parrots outdoors you need to ensure you have appropriate cages / aviaries.
They need to have square wire. The gauge and opening of the wire used is important and needs to be considered based on the species you are housing.
25mm openings are generally considered adequate for large species such as Macaws, but snakes large enough to harm smaller species can gain access through 25mm openings. Additionally smaller snakes will sometimes attempt to consume birds too big for them. Although they may not successful eat the bird they will kill them in the attempt.
9-10mm openings are the best option for keeping snakes out but you need to ensure the gauge (wire thickness) is suitable for the species you are housing as larger birds or species with strong beaks like Alexandrines can easily break smaller gauge wire. As an example 3.15 gauge is usually recommended for Macaws as a minimum. In addition to your wire openings you need to ensure any narrow gaps are closed ie: gaps where trays or food bowls are slid in and out.
🙅Please DO NOT use cages you can purchase in pet stores as outdoor cages. They are not predator proof and eventually you are likely to lose birds to snakes or other predators.
