I started puting my 4 spur thigh torts out again now on warmer sunny days, but I have noticed that my garden gets visited by 2 magpies at least once a day, they are hoping in and out of my torts enclosure..they don't appear to be harming them and they are too large for them to carry off...I'm really worried though as although I have put posts up with rattly stuff on to ward them off they still persist, and I am now obsesed with watching the garden!! I would hate to have to bring torts back in on a table now as they have a really big lovely patch of garden to roam on and it would be imposible to cover it with anything, and I dont really want to seperate them into smaller spaces as they have always lived together...help!!

I would be careful and place some netting over their outdoor enclosure just to be on the safe side

i would also be careful and as clive says put a net or somthing over it as ive known magpies to take meerkat babies before and so even though they cant pick up the tortoises they will most probably be trying to peck them and stress them out etc
stu

i know a lady that lost a 7cm scl hermanns tortoise so you should be VERY carefull! climbimg pea netting is cheap and covers quite a large area. shouldnt cost much to magpiue proof it. let us know how you get on

Brilliant..I didn't think of pea netting I only thought of wire mesh which would cost!!..they are in a 24ft x 12ft enclosure..huge amount to cover and awkward in shape..wish there was something else I could do but seems unlikely, unless any other ideas?? will be quite difficult but looks as though they may be in over weekend as meant to be very cold so I will sort something out...I can't believe they could pick anything so big up!!I've had torts for donkeys years and have never has a problem like this! Reall worry but they are well worth it, appreciate all your help.

Yes plastic netting and some tent pegs, The green netting will not look too bad and you should be able to remove it easily to acess your enclosure

[quote=courtneysmum;1600407]Brilliant..I didn't think of pea netting I only thought of wire mesh which would cost!!..they are in a 24ft x 12ft enclosure..huge amount to cover and awkward in shape..wish there was something else I could do but seems unlikely, unless any other ideas??

Hi, Pond Netting is in bigger sections and is lightweight, and is reasonably priced. We got ours last year from B&Q, but most garden centres with a pond section will sell it. We tied lengths of string across the pond and draped the netting over, I'm sure you could do the same thing with the Tortoise enclosure, not pretty, but effective!

Thanks for all your help..I went to B & Q and got some netting..I managed to secure it across 20 feet of enclosure and left 4 feet for access and fixed it one side to roll it back.
Only problem is I have to get on all 4s (not a pretty site!) to collect them at night and to do any maintanence..as I am an endurance runner my knees are 'shot' so could be painfull!!.
Looks fine though..Gaylord who has been in the family for 55 years may object as he hates change!
I'm sure those flamin magpies were watching..!Sue x