I know this is only my 2nd post and I have only had my bird for 2 days, but I WANT AN AVIARY!. So let the input begin guy's.

I have heaps of room. I live in Newcastle so it get hot in summer. I was thinking about pouring a concrete slab with a grated drain to the stormwater system about 1m deep x 3m long and 1.8m high. I might buy one new or make it myself with all sides enclosed bar the front. Any advice would be great.

How do u keep em cool in summer?

Is there any breeders in Newcastle where I can go and have a look?

I don't want to breed so no box's or little hide aways?

I was thinking of having a feeding platform about 600mm square that I can access through a small side door at chest hight. Would this beok or should it all be hanging? Also with the conc floor and drain I wont need to get in the aviary very often...I guess.

 

Steve

Edited April 22, 200817 yr by KAZ

Steve it doesn't really matter how the aviary is designed as long as there is a sheltered area and nothing that looks like a nest hole to a budgie. I have seen aviaries built in all shapes and sizes! It can be a good idea to have the entire roof covered as it helps prevent wild birds pooping in there which reduces your chances of diseases. The best way to keep cool is to hose them on hot days. I have seen aviaries with permanently installed sprinklers which can be set to a timer on a hot day but you need to bury the hose so that it doesn't get hot in the sun.

 

As an example ere is a home made one on ebay:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Bird-Cage-Aviary-Ex...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Forgot to mention hanging feeders are better for discouraging mice...

Edited April 22, 200817 yr by melbournebudgies

Hi and welcome Steve, i am in the maitland area and have found my budgies in my aviary have never had a problem with the heat in summer, when we get the hot days i just go and spray the budgies with the hose to cool them down. No matter how the avairy is set up you still need to go into the aviary to check on the health of them.

Hi CYCLEPRO101 if you click on my signature it will take you to my web site with full views of my aviary.

 

Also here is what I did to upgrade my aviary. >Link<

Just a warning about putting a drain in your aviary, be careful I thought I was being smart & put a complete drainage system to all my aviaries with a drain hole in each cage, but because of costs I used plastic drain covers. Soon mice ate through the covers & the drains became a mighty city for them. Use metal drain covers with small gapes that mice wont fit through otherwise your inviting problems.

I live in Newcastle so it get hot in summer. How do u keep em cool in summer?

Steve

Hiya Steve.

Were here in Adelaide's north where we just had the 'heatwave' of the century.

Our birds out in the aviary did really well with no casualties at all from the 15 days of extreme hot weather. I had shade arranged to cover the aviary during the heat of the day,mainly dark cotton weave old tablecloths pegged on the sides of the aviary and rolled up and down.

I went in and around and sprayed with a water spray bottle every few hours and they had plenty of fresh water containers in the aviary . My birds are not ones for splashing in water baths though I did have water in there for that just in case.

As I said, living in furnace conditions and no problems..it was good.