Wow! My first actual question on the Forum. Not putting anyone under pressure here...not marking you or anything, okay.

 

Hubby and I have a huge garden shed with a cemented floor and gable roof that we do not use so am looking at turning it into an aviary. The question is regarding birdwire.

We found rolls of it at Bunnings and [1] not sure which size [ please say the least expensive of them all] and [2] on each roll, it says that we have to firstly file off pieces and then soak it in vinegar or brush vinegar on it and then [3] other stuff I forget at the moment.

Is this what you have to do? I understand the need to file off any real sharp bits to keep them from cutting themselves etc but what of the othe things?

Any suggestions on [1] what type/Brand/size of bird wire and [2] the process will be read gratefully.

Thanks in advance

Julie and Robert

The size and type is the one that is 25mm by 10 or 12mm I think. You wash it down with a solution of vinegar and water to get rid of excess zinc. Thats it really. And a very good idea to use your shed as an aviary. Look up Daz on here....his aviary builds and you will see he has used a garden shed set up each time ( last one was bigger ). But it might give you some ideas

Edited January 27, 200817 yr by KAZ

Great idea... good luck with that... Kaz gave you good advice there, and I washed my avairy down with a vinegar solution before putting the birds in it... the other option was to leave it out in the open for awhile, but I was eager to get my budgies so that wasn't going to happen!!!

Good luck with your new aviary I've never persoanally heard of washing it down before, but then again we built our aviary last summer before i joined this forum, the one before that was second hand.... Hope your aviary turns out well

I use the wire that has the slight round hole bout 10mm x 10mm , I find it streaches a little bit and this allows you to get it nice and tight , To be honest I have never washed with vinegar but I would roll out the wire and hose it down then leave it in the sun to weather a bit .

Post a picture went you can .

Congrats on the first Question , im sure there will be more to come.

Welldone

Vinigar wash is the best thing to do to protect your birds from the zink.

Its not hard to do... I put the white vinigar in a bucket. I used a brush and painted it on. let it sit for a few hours, then hosed it off - Its only the wire that needs washing, so its not a huge job

 

This is the wire on my aviary

 

 

Its 13mm x 13mm

Its big enough that the birds can happly climb on, but small enough to not let an adult mouse though (a baby or a skinny mouse could proabbly get though... but they cant get out again when they have a full fat tummy )

Edited August 15, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Good afternoon everyone. Thanks for all the replies. So now we know...vinegar and soaking then rinsing..Roger, Wilco and will do. [Am so gonna have to name a couple of the cutie guys that now! Sounds quite 'cool'.]

Size sorted and type as well. One stop shopping! I like it.

And I am off now to 'look up' Daz . Thanks again and see you on the next flight.

Julie and Robert