My Aviary

[Maddy 0]

So some of you may remember that I purchased an aviary off of eBay some time ago. We got it dismantled and hauled it over to my (parents) house via trailer. It was alot of work...especially since the rook came off into three parts but the rest was like a box (made it quite difficult to fit onto the trailer. But about 20 metres of rope later it was good.

 

It sat down the back of my yard for quite some time while I got the base worked out (there's a bloody big patch of dead grass out there now XD) but I managed to figure something out without putting anything completely permanent on my parents yard....I have to move out someday right?

Well I got 36 pavers from a garden centre as well as a big haul of river sand for underneath. All went smoothly and the walls of the aviary were assembled.

 

 

 

It looked like a complete mess when it was up. There was dirt all up the sides as well as rust and a dozen or so moth cocoons on the inside. So I went to bunnings and got a big deck scrubbing brush and a couple of muscle aching days later it was presentable

Its quite hard to explain how old and caked on the dirt was. So I managed to take a photo of the back inside wall half scrubbed. Of course the outside was alot worse than this.

 

 

After the metal was cleaned, I scrubbed the wire with a bucket full of vinegar...as this aviary previously housed other birds, so I wasn't taking any chances. In fact when I picked the thing up, the guy selling it offered to give me the nest boxes he had for free. But upon looking inside them I was ambushed by a thousand flies and the sight of old eggs. so I politely declined.

So the roof went on (after it too was scrubbed) and then it was just a matter of making it budgie proof. The breeding boxes were moved inside so that I could see the birds reaction to their new 'spot'. There were holes between wall and roof at the front and back...but that was quickly remedied with some silicone and fly screen mesh. There were also a few holes on the wall where the aviary had previously been bolted to a retaining wall...but silicone quickly fixed that too. This was the point in when Doormat and Vomity pie started laying eggs, and I knew that it was a good move putting them there

After I put a curtain of shade cloth over the door on the inside (to keep the birds at bay while I entered) and I made some perches (which were generously attached to to aviary by my father)...some of the birds were ready to be let out, including some new arrivals.

No i can't fly. This was taken from atop my little brothers fort. You can see the full setup from this angle

The giant tree branch was kindly dropped from my neighbours tree into our yard (the one behind the aviary)

You can see Rasputia cleaning herself/spying on me from the top of the door.

The perches, with new arrivals [unamed] and Lemon sitting on the top. They were put together with $2 bits of pine, some dowling and some curtain rod holders

The other corner. The breeding boxes will most likely stay here permanently. That black cage looks crammed against it...but I can fit between them nicely. I'm using that cage as my quarantine/kindy cage

My setup was inspired by GB's old setup. I liked how there was no divider between breeding room and aviary...I think this way they get the most flying space instead of me cutting it off (especially as this is what my funds allow me at this time, size wise).

The only things I plan to do now to further improve my setup is:

~Put a row of fly screen mesh around the bottom of the wire part. To stop rodents squeezing through them holes

~Connect that feeder dish to the roof of the aviary. I also have another one that will connect to the bottom of that one for veggies and shell grit They are just plant pot trays with holes and wire.

I did have another pot tray with a wire arch for water. But when I tried to fill it up I realised that all the water fell out of one side. So I took away the wire and put it on the ground

[**KAZ** 0]

You have done well. MY only suggestion is to seperate your breeding area from the flight area as free flight budgies have a tendency to interupt budgies breeding in cages inside an aviary.

[violet 0]

this is a very similar setup to what i planned to eventually have

i think it looks great, the only thing that i was planning on doing differently was to have a wire mesh wall between the breeding area and the avairy part, mainly because i was worried that i would have a problem with birds escaping. how much did this aviary you bourght cost?

[GenericBlue 0]

i think you have done a good job with it all i would have layed mouse wire under the pavers before laying but thats as im really funny about not giving mice any chance to get in i got 3 mil stain steel messing under mine pop riveted to the bottom of the shed lol thats craziness though but nothings getting in that :}

 

as far as the breeding in the flight goes

i found no issues with it but my birds had messing over the cages as birds the hens specially can get nasty if another bird comes down to the front of the wirer they wont hesitate to come out the box full pelt and bit toes off :{

 

why i used mesh shade cloth to cover them

make one big door for that cabinet and hinge it one you could use mouse mesh to cover the door ,so the birds still get plenty of sun and so the mouses cant get into cabinet even if they do some how get into flight

make it so the gap between the sealed door and the wire fount of breeding cages has four centimeters apart this way if birds cling to the wire door you hinged on they are not going to be a threat or bother the breeding birds this way its no different from having wire cabinets side by side in a breeding room birds like to be around other birds to breed you get better results in my eyes the noise from other birds helps the breeders feel like their in a flock situation seeing them also has same effect :}

 

one thing keep area near cabinets clean vac aviary once a week to keep dust n feathers down its no good for chicks health

[Maddy 0]

Well in the weeks I had the aviary up and the birds in the breeding cabinets (while inside the aviary) I never found any traces of mice...as there was a fair bit of seed on the ground. So I'm guessing that its not a real big problem, but I want to do it just in case (I'm still trying to figure out how to attach it as well)

 

 

The aviary cost me $500 from eBay violet (it was $600 but the guy I bought it off gave me $100 back when I payed....I think its because he didn't actually pay for it in the first place)

With the birds escaping...I don't think it will be much of a problem. I have the curtain which basically blocks any space between me and the door when I'm coming in. Even if the birds landed on my back I don't think they could get out. I also weighed it down with some doweling...it helps it swing back into place when I go through it.

 

 

I will make sure to keep everything spotless (well...as spotless as an outside aviary can be). I know there is a pet shop near my house (they reckon they specialise in birds) and there is a thick layer of dust and feathers on EVERYTHING lol

Thats why I liked your setup...I think it gave them a 'being in a flock' feeling. Of course I will keep a sharp eye out for toe biters If I see any aggression coming through those wires I'll use my leftover shade cloth to cover them.

[splat 0]

It looks great, well done I think you have done a great job.

Seems you have already laid the floor, you could put wire around the aviary underground a 6 inches or so and Straight down in the ground not layed on top, which might deter them. I have done that before I cemented mine. Never had a mouse in them.

[GenericBlue 0]

Well in the weeks I had the aviary up and the birds in the breeding cabinets (while inside the aviary) I never found any traces of mice...as there was a fair bit of seed on the ground. So I'm guessing that its not a real big problem, but I want to do it just in case (I'm still trying to figure out how to attach it as well)

 

 

The aviary cost me $500 from eBay violet (it was $600 but the guy I bought it off gave me $100 back when I payed....I think its because he didn't actually pay for it in the first place)

With the birds escaping...I don't think it will be much of a problem. I have the curtain which basically blocks any space between me and the door when I'm coming in. Even if the birds landed on my back I don't think they could get out. I also weighed it down with some doweling...it helps it swing back into place when I go through it.

 

I will make sure to keep everything spotless (well...as spotless as an outside aviary can be). I know there is a pet shop near my house (they reckon they specialise in birds) and there is a thick layer of dust and feathers on EVERYTHING lol

Thats why I liked your setup...I think it gave them a 'being in a flock' feeling. Of course I will keep a sharp eye out for toe biters If I see any aggression coming through those wires I'll use my leftover shade cloth to cover them.

 

deture them now dont wait for toes to be taken off

mesh the cabinets now not later you wont see the aggression just a dead bird that bleed out over night or morning :{

Edited January 19, 2011 by GenericBlue

[Maddy 0]

Alrighty then...I don't want any dead birds :S

 

I'll attach one end of a piece of shade cloth to the top of the cabinets, and let it fall over the front of the cages Thats what you meant right?

[GenericBlue 0]

Alrighty then...I don't want any dead birds :S

 

I'll attach one end of a piece of shade cloth to the top of the cabinets, and let it fall over the front of the cages Thats what you meant right?

 

so long as birds can not get stuck under it yes

but as i mentioned above a hinged door would be better for a more permanent thing

[Maddy 0]

oh I see, so you mean t make a cabinet for the cabinet right? If I can attach it to the actual cabinet that would be a good idea. I don't want to make anything in this aviary too permanent....as I don't know how far into the future I will be moving out (what i mean is it could be 2 years or it could be 10 years...I just don't know )

[**KAZ** 0]

Quite frankly I would put a piece of metal or wood across the floor from left of door to back and same again at the roof level and I would mesh it in aviary or chicken mesh. Easy enough to take apart if its attached with screws

Edited January 19, 2011 by **KAZ**

[GenericBlue 0]

oh I see, so you mean t make a cabinet for the cabinet right? If I can attach it to the actual cabinet that would be a good idea. I don't want to make anything in this aviary too permanent....as I don't know how far into the future I will be moving out (what i mean is it could be 2 years or it could be 10 years...I just don't know )

no just a door like a hinged door you can close but with mesh like so if you were to open it like a small pantry sorry i cant explain

 

kaz she wants it open so birds have all the room

personally if i could take back my flight i would id breed my birds else where jut i need to be able to have my flight locked and cameras viewing my birds but soon as i got more money and help im going to be using the breeding side of my aviary as a young bird flight (baby cage ) and having a separate breeding room its the only way to keep it dust free and healthy for young chicks as the feathers and dust from flight part i vac twice day and still dust n feathers everywhere

shes not breeding show though

and i never had issues with my pets i used the shed she was inspired off for 2 years no issues

Edited January 19, 2011 by GenericBlue

[splat 0]

It looks great, well done I think you have done a great job.

Seems you have already laid the floor, you could put wire around the aviary underground a 6 inches or so and Straight down in the ground not layed on top, which might deter them. I have done that before I cemented mine. Never had a mouse in them.

 

I mean around the outside of the aviary.

 

I would do what Kaz and Gb says because also the breeding pair can not relax when other birds are hanging on the front of their breeding cage, they would think it is a threat.

[Maddy 0]

Once I get more funds, I will most likely expand my setup so that there is a separate flight (I would love one) but this is what I came up with for the time being

 

 

 

 

[maesie 0]

Looks good... My only concerns are the breeding set up as mentioned by the others, and your quarantine cage. Do you move it out of the aviary to do your quarantine?

[Maddy 0]

The problem with that particular cage is that to remove it from the aviary i have to disassemble it. I'm thinking to sell it (I paid an unfair amount for it in the first place while I was still gullible when in a pet shop) and get some flight cages which I can move outside and maybe sit them next to the aviary, covered with a shade cloth or something of that nature.

[GenericBlue 0]

mesh is fine over it just make sure its tight so birds dont get stuck under it

nothing wrong with breeding in their and i dont think separated flight for breeding is needed with so few birds but if you expand yes it will as for quarantine cage birds need to be 5 meters away from other birds more if able or its not quarantine

[**KAZ** 0]

As GB says your quarantine cage needs to be much further away from your aviary.......not just outside it.

[Maddy 0]

I'll write it down so I don't forget it I'll most likely get some flight cages (as mentioned before) and put them against my fathers shed. The shed is about 10 metres clear of the aviary and its still a sheltered spot. Its also very unused space, so I will reserve it

[Matt Welchman 0]

I will say well done and dont worry about all of these suggestions too much , you will learn more through trial and error and more hands on with keeping budgies. Goodluck and enjoy.

[Maddy 0]

Thanks Matt

[**KAZ** 0]

I like your new signature Maddy

[Maddy 0]

Thank you. The name called for it

[GenericBlue 0]

Thank you. The name called for it

wish i could make a new siggy :{ and yep yours is cool :}

[Maddy 0]

I've decided to update this topic rather than start a new one on basically the same subject

 

So I am doing up my aviary again.

This time I needed to get a partition in the middle to separate my birds from my breeding boxes after there was some spilt blood over some of them trying to get into an occupied nest.

Well, I got some great suggestions about how to go about this and I decided to ask my grandfather to help me. Well, I heard nothing about it until a week ago when I found out he was making a partition for me out of some metal he had lying around.

 

The end result is fantastic.

 

 

He even made the door for me which has a little latch on it and everything.

 

I have also had a project in the blueprint stages for a week or so. This was to built a set of cabinets to hold some flight cages (rather than making actual cage cabinets). I feel that this will be easier to clean and also easier to move birds around. I got the wood cut for me at Home hardware and borrowed my dads drill.

 

 

From inside the partition

 

I am very proud of myself for this as its the first time I've ever built something this big. Its also the first time I've used a drill lol

 

You can also see from the top picture the cage stand next to the aviary. This will be my quarantine cage once i get some more birds which will be soon. It will be moved further away with that tarp around it to make it weather proof

 

 

 

The currently occupied breeding cabinets will be moved so that they are facing the same way as the other cabinet, once the babies have left the nest.

 

And here is everybody wondering why they can't fly over the other side of the aviary any more

 

I also have plans to build a shelf to put the water and food so that I'm no longer dodging around the bird bath and hanging seed dish.

So once they are completed I will post some more pictures....because I can