Hi all,

 

I'm thinking of building an indoor aviary and I would like to know your thoughts on the following:

 

http://www.birdaviary.com

 

I would like to make something similar but with two huge doors at the front as pogi and ganda like to be out as often as possible. I would also like to install a shower for them to take a bath and an area for any nestboxes.

 

Id appreciate any help you could give me...

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

That's very strange because I was looking at the exact same thing last night on that site and aren't they gorgeous? Part of me thinks it would be like keeping a bird in a fish tank but as long as I could hear them and they could hear me as normal then I don't see why they shouldn't work. They certainly are an improvement to look at and I would seriously think about one if I could afford one!

My biggest worry would be the birds trying to fly at the walls to get out though?

 

 

Julie

Heres some more ...

 

Indoor aviary 1

Indoor aviary 2

Indoor aviary 3

Indoor aviary 4

Indoor aviary 5

Indoor aviary 6

 

I'm very seriously thinking of making one myself to reduce the cost and so that I can add my own little things that I know pogi and ganda will both love.

 

Regarding the "Flying into the glass"... 2 points really. 1 is that budgies are VERY fast learners... Pogi already knows that he cannot fly into our mirrors but he still likes to check himself out in them as he flys past 2, I could put some see-through design onto the glass! This would show them that there is something there.

 

What do you think?

 

Chris

would it not be very humid? i no at college we say tanks are for animals that need humid conditions. so i think it looks nice but is it actually healthy for your birds.

ATD

Hi Chris,yes I agree with you about being quick learners.Mine very soon learned not to fly to mirrors and windows and I suppose that when actually in the aviary they are not going to be flying at such a fast pace anyway.

 

Sky- you say would it not be very humid?-that was one of my initial thoughts but the site says that the top allows for adequate ventilation plus there are no draughts which has to be a good point. It's difficult because it's such a completely different way of housing birds and takes some getting used to.

 

I do think that to build your own would be very exciting especially as it means it would be exactly as you need it. I'll be really interested to learn how you go on if you do decide to go ahead Chris.

Julie

yah but a little humidity is good - keeps moisture in their feathers.

 

and i think they're cool.

CagesByDesign sends me catalogs all the time. They look very nice, but are also very expensive. The indoor aviary in your link # 2 was nice. I think I would prefer natural ventilation on all sides instead of only on the top though. I've thought of an indoor aviary for a long time, my only problem is where to put it....

I cannot stop looking at them BUT they are all in the US Anybody know somewhere in the UK that builds these?

 

If not thats okay. I'll design and build my own. First I need to decide the overall shape and size and the main building materials. I like the idea of using Aluminum frames but again not sure where I could get this (Would love your suggestions). If I cannot find aluminum I will have to resort to wood but the finished item will be very heavy if it is all wooden.

 

I will look at putting my plans into a drawing and will upload it for you to criticise and offer your thoughts. I value everyones thoughts in here as you all seem very mature and professional about looking after your feathered friends.

 

Thanks for now,

 

Chris

wow, this is new to me.

Havent see this before.

I would prefer to stick to an outside aviary myself.

That looks very expensive!

 

I would like to see your plans nlpmaster1974 also!

*Choke* wow they are a bit on the high side of pricey, (Laughing out loud). They look really nice but I can't see my little ones in one of them, It's just so very diffferent.

It reminds me of a fish tank in a way, lol!

 

:(Laughing out loud): yes the big fancy fish tanks.

Hi All,

 

okay so here is my design so far. I decided that to purchase one is far to expensive but also to leave pogi and ganda inside their cage is just not right. It's too small for them and it doesnt block any noise out if I want to watch a loud movie or play loud music which would scare them. At the moment I just cannot have it loud.

 

So basically I have produced the following diagrams for the design. I have also found a local maker of aluminium frames and so I know I have materials to get started.

 

 

I am going to cut out very large windows on both right and left sides and put wire mesh there for them to climb about on. Also on the back false wall I will but plastic shelves that look like rocks protruding from the back. Hope it all works

 

Let me know what you think...

 

Chris

I think I want to live there!

 

The storage is an excellent idea as long as it is totally mouseproof. Having once had a little visit from the critters I'm paranoid about making sure all budgie food is not accessible or tempting to mice.

 

The shower idea sounds amazing. But be careful-if this a success you could find yourself very much in demand to build some more!

 

I think the mesh is a good idea too then they won't feel quite so cut-off.

 

I wonder how messy the glass will get because my cage is in front of a wall sized mirror and each day I have to give it a good clean,I don't know exactly what it is that gets splahed on it but it looks like they've sneezed water all over it(they haven't by the way!)

 

Julie

Haha, thanks Julie.

 

I was hoping to order the materials for the frame before xmas but I've been told that they have closed already. I'll just have to be patient but it gives me some more time to think about the design some more.

 

I'm not really too worried about the glass getting dirty as long as the bird house part doesnt allow dirt and seed to fall on the living room floor. Their current cage which is large but conventional allows pretty much everything to fall outside of the cage onto the floor and I would like to minimise that if I can (I think my wife will like that too!).

 

I saw the designs that you pointed out to me on ebay. Looks interesting but I have a design now and I'm not sure about spending money on the actual design stage too much. I want to spend as much as I can on the materials and making it rather than on the design if possible. But it would have been great to compare and see if I have missed anything.

 

One thing I am having some trouble with is understanding the dirt tray holder in conventional cages. Where Pogi and Ganda's dirt tray slots into the plastic bottom of their cage there is a jagged lip that hangs down and you have to tilt the tray up and down when inserting/removing it. Seems to make it harder to withdraw the dirt tray. Im not really sure of its purpose.

 

Any ideas anyone?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

I know what you mean Chris,

I strongly suspect it's there to stop a bird from escaping through the gap when the tray is out. I wonder if the makers have had problems with that happening? I think if we know your budgies well enough we'll know whether or not you need that there. It is a nuisance and is usually the first thing to snap off I find.

 

 

Julie

Julie, I think you are correct. Mine have a grate in the bottom, so there is no way to escape when the tray is out.

 

A very nice blueprint...will the water be misted from the top for bathing, or will you have a small fountain of sorts? Or will it be used for drinking? What will you use to keep it fresh?

They look great but in many books ive read it says that they need something that they can climb on like the sides of normal cages but if there was something in there that they could use their beak and feet to climb on i guess that would be okay, like a stip of mesh.

Hi all,

 

okay, just to update you. The new indoor bird-house is being constructed in my spare time. So far we have the box shell and it is on castors and its not even leaning over! (Laughing out loud) I imagined it would be like the leaning tower of pizza! Not only is it my first bird-house but also my first DIY project.

 

Everything is straight so far. Im adding huge wire windows to both sides so that they can climb about and also don't feel boxed in. A thick perspex front door will be added and some small not too hot lights to the roof so that I can extend daylight when breeding.

 

I still need to find a good washable plastic mesh for their floor and also some plastic sheets for making the dirt trays etc but I will get there eventually. Feeling very eager to get them into their new spacious home but Jessa is complaining a little that I spend too much time in the garage after work (Laughing out loud).

 

Chris

Oh heck,don't get yopurself into trouble now!

 

The project sounds really exciting and congratulations on it not leaning over!

 

Julie

If you haven't already found some mesh I wonderd if the following might have anything suitable

www.1066.netsouthernaviaries

 

I found them in Cage and Aviary mag and noticed they had an advert for something called Twil Weldmesh but haven't had a look on the site.

Julie