My First Aviary

[dillster 0]

Hi everyone. I am buliding my first aviary, sooo excited! Any advice would be great. Dimensions are 1.8m across the front, 1.2m deep, and 2 m high, and a safety section of 50 cm on the right side where I will put breeding cages.

thanks dillster

Edited October 6, 2011 by Finnie

[Dave_McMinn 0]

how big will the slab be you are laying to put it on?

 

which way will it face? Is there an option?

[dillster 0]

it will be on stilts and it will face north

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Really? Stilts? Why?

 

Why facing North? Can you get it facing east? Always better to get the morning sun.

 

What are you making it from? Material wise?

 

If it is on stilts, how will you get into it?

 

What will the floor be made of?

 

What sits underneath the aviary? As in, what do the stilts sit on?

[**KAZ** 0]

Almost pointless having a safety area if you are building a suspended aviary as you wont be able to step into the safety area.

 

Why dont you sketch some plans or ideas so we can see where you are going with this ? and then advice will be more specific.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

Sketch might help. i am having trouble picturing it

[dillster 0]

Really? Stilts? Why?

 

Why facing North? Can you get it facing east? Always better to get the morning sun.

 

What are you making it from? Material wise?

 

If it is on stilts, how will you get into it?

 

What will the floor be made of?

 

What sits underneath the aviary? As in, what do the stilts sit on?

 

 

okay yess stilts and i have no choice witch way to face it

we are making it out of wooden fraim and the stilts are only 15cm tall so that answers that the floor sheet metal and underneth will be u i dont know yet what do you think

 

Almost pointless having a safety area if you are building a suspended aviary as you wont be able to step into the safety area.

 

Why dont you sketch some plans or ideas so we can see where you are going with this ? and then advice will be more specific.

 

well answered that i wll draw it tonight and post tomorrow

[Daz 0]

Sounds like you have a mission.. Good on you. I look forward to seeing the sketches.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

If the stilts are only 15cm tall, why are you bothering with them at all?

 

The metal floor is a good idea as it cannot be chewed through. How will you clean out the aviary? Will the metal floor be able to take you weight? I am assuming you plan on being able to enter it. If the answer is yes, then once more I ask - why stilts?

[dillster 0]

okay the the bulider (dad) i talked to him to day and the floor no stilts old alaminam ladders cut up and the floor will be ply 20mm painted with water proof paint

 

If the stilts are only 15cm tall, why are you bothering with them at all?

 

The metal floor is a good idea as it cannot be chewed through. How will you clean out the aviary? Will the metal floor be able to take you weight? I am assuming you plan on being able to enter it. If the answer is yes, then once more I ask - why stilts?

 

walk in to yes i will put wood shavings on the floor and they will be changed every week

[maesie 0]

the floor no stilts old alaminam ladders cut up and the floor will be ply 20mm painted with water proof paint

 

Can't see this working long term... will rot through in no time, even with the 'water proof paint'.

 

 

A concrete slab would be your best bet. Is this an option? My aviary used to be on paver's but we had issues with mice, so ended up concreting it. Best decision ever!

[Dave_McMinn 0]

so your weight cannot be supported

 

water proof pain or not, I can see the wood rotting. i think you should rethink this

[dillster 0]

here we go sketches">">"">

Edited October 3, 2011 by maesie
Removed multiples of the same photos. You need to rotate it before uploading.

[Dave_McMinn 0]

with all the moisture, I really think you need to reconsider the flooring. The slab is a pain, i know, but it is the best idea. My brother-in-law just did a small slab for their aviary and put a drain in for hosing out. Looks great.

[**KAZ** 0]

Floor is better either concrete or concrete paving slabs. If you go with the gap between floor and earth it will allow a colony of rodents to dig and and live under the aviary.

Mesh down to ground level allows rodents into the aviary. You need tin up to at least 2-3 ft up the sides all round to stop rodents and possible snakes.

Extending roof sheeting out over the front a reasonable distance will help stop rain coming in, wetting floors and damp creates opportunity for disease like coccidiosis. Hawks and predators are less likely to strike the wire front of an aviary if there is an overhang of roof sheeting.

Think hard about your actual measurements as what may seem like a good breeding area may be a bit tight and squeezy and not be all that practical once in use.

Edited October 4, 2011 by **KAZ**

[GenericBlue 0]

kaz gives some great points tips and suggestions id take them aboard also id not leave a gap between floor and ground

if concrete slab is not an option

then mouse wire underneath the area you wish to place aviary build the ground up with gravel about 4 inches high on the inside of your aviary then pave this will stop damp and mice and you get a solid floor

this is the way i should of done it and id be having no issues right now

only i pop riveted stanisteel messing to bottom my shed all way around to keep the mice out and now i cant fix the stupid thing as i cand just move it back and then build the ground up and repave

think hard and long once you have done it its harder to fix

[macka 0]

The floor,if you can't afford to have a concrete

slab,you could use a marine ply floor & sit it on

stumps about 200 mm off the ground.

I pressure watch the floor & squeegee out the

water & then spread a 15kg of Kitty litter on the

floor,in the winter time,in the summer I just let it dry,

I do this about every 3 months,

The only thing you have to watch if it rains,

from the wrong direction.But that not a problem,

If you have a shade cloth certain,you can drop

down if it looks like the rain is coming from the EAST.

[dillster 0]

with all the moisture, I really think you need to reconsider the flooring. The slab is a pain, i know, but it is the best idea. My brother-in-law just did a small slab for their aviary and put a drain in for hosing out. Looks great.

 

 

okay new plan went to work with my dad to day and cut up the ladders for under the floor the ladders sit on the ground and then marine ply screwed on to the ladders also made some right angled brackets for the up rights on the way home we went to my pops house he has a farm and in the old dariy there is heeps and heeps of tinber ply and what ever you can think of we found 2 sheets of ply for the walls on peice of marine ply for the floor 11 2, 3 beems and one 4, 2 beem for the pitched roof we just need to by some mesh from bunnings so the hole thing is going to cost a fortune $35 for the mesh :D we will stert work this week end yay

 

Floor is better either concrete or concrete paving slabs. If you go with the gap between floor and earth it will allow a colony of rodents to dig and and live under the aviary.

Mesh down to ground level allows rodents into the aviary. You need tin up to at least 2-3 ft up the sides all round to stop rodents and possible snakes.

Extending roof sheeting out over the front a reasonable distance will help stop rain coming in, wetting floors and damp creates opportunity for disease like coccidiosis. Hawks and predators are less likely to strike the wire front of an aviary if there is an overhang of roof sheeting.

Think hard about your actual measurements as what may seem like a good breeding area may be a bit tight and squeezy and not be all that practical once in use.

 

 

the roof will extend the open sides

[**KAZ** 0]

I just want to say...............lucky you have your Dads enthusiasm and help for your first aviary mate

[dillster 0]

I just want to say...............lucky you have your Dads enthusiasm and help for your first aviary mate

 

 

thanks where he works the ladders were damaged so they were going to the tip any whay recicling

[dillster 0]

The floor,if you can't afford to have a concrete

slab,you could use a marine ply floor & sit it on

stumps about 200 mm off the ground.

I pressure watch the floor & squeegee out the

water & then spread a 15kg of Kitty litter on the

floor,in the winter time,in the summer I just let it dry,

I do this about every 3 months,

The only thing you have to watch if it rains,

from the wrong direction.But that not a problem,

If you have a shade cloth certain,you can drop

down if it looks like the rain is coming from the EAST.

 

 

another reason it is facing north but i will still get soome shade cloth our rain all ways comes from the east

[dillster 0]

okay up date progress for the weekend we got the floor and the back done">

[**KAZ** 0]

Great start Exciting huh ?

 

 

PS check council regulations for distance allowed from fence

 

Rats and mice can run along fence tops and jump onto roof as well. If you can put a vertical sheet of metal up from the back wall into the air it may stop rats getting on the roof.

Edited October 12, 2011 by **KAZ**

[splat 0]

North east is the best I think, you get the morning sun, and South and West have the worst winds ect

 

My out side side aviaries face North but the They wire on the east side at the front for the morning sun.

 

My old birdroom faces east and only gets the morning sun only but I find that quite good because in the summer very cool because the garages stops it from getting the afternoon sun. But the west end which is where my kitchen is that wall is completely clear pvc plastic, so plenty of light and a small window up the over end which is north end. The baby aviary which is in the middle has a large window facing east.

 

My new bird room faces West which I actually hate so much but we had no choice. It's good all through winter because it is quite warm in in there but in the summer it cops the hot afternoon sun, but we are going to build a veranda to cut some of the sun out.

[dillster 0]

Great start Exciting huh ?

 

 

PS check council regulations for distance allowed from fence

 

Rats and mice can run along fence tops and jump onto roof as well. If you can put a vertical sheet of metal up from the back wall into the air it may stop rats getting on the roof.

 

 

okay ill think about it hope fully we will get some more done this weekend