Hi everyone,

I havent posted anything on here for such a long time and I apologise, but I am still spending hours reading and getting as much info as possible.

Well the time has come and I have bought an aviary. I am so happy! My question is....the aviary has not been used for approx 2 years and nesting boxes/perches etc have not been cleaned out. I have decided to just throw the nesting boxes out and get new ones as they are really filthy. As for the rest of the aviary, i am wondering what is safe to clean it with or alternatively, would water with a little detergent from a high pressure cleaner do the job fine?

Yesterday was raining constantly and so the aviary is still on the back of the ute, but hubby has promised rain, hail or cyclone it will be off the ute today! We will put down a concrete slab when the rain disappears (dont get me wrong, i am so happy for us to get rain, if it just could have waited til my aviary was set!). in the mean time, a week or 2, will the birds be fine just on the grass? Its impossible to put tent pegs to hold it to the ground, so we were thinking ropes across the top with them tent pegged into the ground?

Off scouring the bush for natural branches now. Thanks everyone for your ideas and opinions

You will find you will have a mouse problem in no time at all, with grass under the aviary so the cement slabs would be a good way to go.

Vinegar is good for washing down the aviary and its a good idea as you said to throw away nesting boxes and buy new. But have you worked out your birds yet, or is nesting boxes a MUST in the avairy from the start ? Colony breeding is rife with some pretty major problems. There are ways to do it that way, but it all depends on space, the birds you have, the amount and placement of nesting boxes and how the birds are introduced to that set up...and then IF the birds get along once breeding.

I have 2 pairs right now. they were in a large cage together waiting for that "just right" aviary to come along. But i noticed Stud and Muffy getting closer and closer, feeding/preening etc and so i seperated them because i didnt think the cage they were in was suitable for breeding. After they were seperated, they didnt stop calling each other day and night and Muffy stopped eating (perhaps she was fretting?). i couldnt stand her being so heartbroken, so i put them back together with a nesting box just in case and stepped up the search for an aviary. i guess things come together when they have to, because the "just right" aviary came along that afternoon!

Now they are happily in the aviary (it looks so big with just the 4 of them in there). Stud is chasing her everywhere. the nesting boxes are placed on a shelf up high (Muffy was never one to be on the ground at all). i understand about colony breeding and if i get more pairs in the future, i would go to breeding cages, but with just the 4 of them, and already couples, i didnt think i would have much drama? if/when they breed i have homes lined up for 12 babies, so i know they will all be safe and in loving homes. Do you think that even with just the 4 of them i should put them in breeding cages? i really appreciate your advice Kaz, you have so much knowledge.

PS definitely going with a slab, just waiting for the rain to stop so it can be poured.

With four budgies and the nesting boxes...try and have the nesting boxes at least 2 feet apart, and if you can turn one or other nesting box so their entrance hole cannot be seen by the other pair. Less confrontational. You can put a piece of board up so their view of the other pair nesting is blocked. It all helps. Its always best to have twice as many nesting boxes as you need to offer choice or they will fight over them...even later on where eggs will be thrown out as one hen sees the other nest as better then her own.

Good luck....Kaz

Thanks Kaz, i have re-arranged the aviary and hopefully all will be good. Once again, i truly appreciate all your wonderful advice

Kim

xx