So we are not up to outside enclosure temperatures here for our Russian yet in Oregon. However we have had some nice warm days where supervised outside time has been great. However, yesterday we watched as Stellar's Jay came to really check Frankie out. Like brazenly check her out even with the whole family out there including our two noisy little boys. Should we be worried about Jays this summer? Frankie is adult and pretty big for a Russian about 6 inches across (wider than normal due to poor nutrion in earlier life) but that Jay seemed aggressive. Maybe a chicken wire cover even while we are around this summer.... I will read the enclosure posts...but anyone else have Jay issues?
Danger with Jays?
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Yes! Here in California, central coast. I've put DonaTello outside in his pen and I can see it from my computer. The pen is right by the screen door so I have a "birds-eye" view of it. I have seen blue jays sit on the pens side and "yell" at him. Then fly around yelling and landing on the other side. I chase them off but they ARE very aggressive! I have seen some really good covers for outside enclosures on here, maybe make one just to be safe.
I'm talking like 4 or 5 of them at a time, not 1 or 2. I keep a close eye on him when he's outside.
I'm talking like 4 or 5 of them at a time, not 1 or 2. I keep a close eye on him when he's outside.
A jay won't hurt him. They are awesome birds, VERY VERY smart. I had one trained to eat out of my hand.
I've never had a problem with them as far as my boxies, and Cherry Head go, but I was minding my grandson and he was in his playpen, and I was sitting right next to him reading. One came right down and took his cookie. I couldn't believe it. They're beautiful, but so un-afraid.
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you can string twine across the top about 6 inches apart to keep them out of there, that is what we did at the fish hatchery to keep cormeronts away when i was a volunteer there
Jays can be aggressive birds. I would go for safe over sorry, and cover the pen, not just because of the Jays, but other possible intruders. More worry if it was a hatchling, but why risk it? Plus remember Russians are great climbers themselves, something to keep in the back of your mind when making or remaking outside enclosures.
latshki said:
I'm going to just "slightly" hi-jack this post to...
That sounds like a quick and easy way to deter birds from landing. I might try that over my pond if I ever see that heron fishing in there again!
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Maggie Cummings
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2Paisan I live in Oregon too and have Jays and a hawk who check out my smaller tortoises when I put them outside. So now I am building a new enclosure for them (if it ever stops raining) and I will cover them when they are out. Where in Oregon are you?
TortieGal said:
Ditto.
A crow is MUCH bigger than a Jay, and they only kill hatchlings that still have soft shells.
Again, Shelly, there is much more to the world that what you see at your house. The crows and ravens out here regularly kill baby sheep and goats. They literally peck their eyes out. Not to mention domestic rabbits and any other defenseless living thing they come across. I've had jays on the outside of my wire sunning cages, trying to get at my sunning lizards.
The right advice for 2Paisan is still "better safe than sorry". How is protecting ones animals from POSSIBLE harm, not the way to go?
The right advice for 2Paisan is still "better safe than sorry". How is protecting ones animals from POSSIBLE harm, not the way to go?
Tom said:
Can we can safely assume that your tortoises are all fully bubble wrapped, protected by armed guards and 24/7 video monitoring? Couldn't hurt, you never know what's out there.
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emysemys said:latshki said:
I'm going to just "slightly" hi-jack this post to...
you to the forum, Latshki!!
That sounds like a quick and easy way to deter birds from landing. I might try that over my pond if I ever see that heron fishing in there again!
Thanks, I never really knew why i hadn't posted much before and I've been a member for few months
well thanks and fishing line works great too and you won't notice it from afar
Shelly said:
Nice.
You can safely assume that I make sure no predators can get to my animals.
They don't have to go through the shell they're pointy beaks can peck at there legs and head. If a jay is in your yard a crow could easily be two. If they’re small enough to pick up they will carry them away and drop them on rocks to bust them up.
M
Maggie Cummings
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Crows and Ravens have helped to decimate the Gopherus agassizii population in the Mojave desert. It used to be you could drive thru the desert and there'd be loads of dead tortoises under every telephone pole. The birds pick the tortoises up as they are walking around and fly over to a pole then fling them at the ground cracking them open, then they'd eat the innards...
So hadn't even thought of it before but we have a bossy pack of big crows and an occasional coopers hawk. We are doing a simple cover this year for outside. I think the "better safe" approach is right for us. Thanks all. Jeesh I wouldn't have thought of the birds before....
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