Hi,

 

I'm in the process of building an outdoor aviary (we're up to laying the floor down, and we have the frame up with some of the roof on), and I'm thinking that when it's done I'd like to have some plants in there. We're brick paving the floor, so they won't be actually planted, just in pots.

 

The aviary will be fairly sheltered in, so not all that much direct sunlight will get in... I'm in Perth in Western Australia.

 

Does any one know what plants will not be completely destroyed by the birds, are not toxic, will live in an Australian climate without all that much access to light? Or am I dreaming.... ?

 

Cheers

Joanne

Im up in Tropical Far North Queensland and i have put a couple of rather large pots of grass in there for them.. they love to nibble on it and if they damage it too much (they havent yet) i can just plant some more. There are varietys of grass that grow well in par shade although im not exactly sure which ones

 

This is a picture of a bit of my aviary..

Happy planting and make sure you post some pictures of the aviary after you have done

Cheers :beer:

Una

Hi,

 

I'm in the process of building an outdoor aviary (we're up to laying the floor down, and we have the frame up with some of the roof on), and I'm thinking that when it's done I'd like to have some plants in there. We're brick paving the floor, so they won't be actually planted, just in pots.

 

The aviary will be fairly sheltered in, so not all that much direct sunlight will get in... I'm in Perth in Western Australia.

 

Does any one know what plants will not be completely destroyed by the birds, are not toxic, will live in an Australian climate without all that much access to light? Or am I dreaming.... ?

 

Cheers

Joanne

 

 

Hi Joanne.

 

Try this link it will help with the plants.

 

Best of luck.

Hi guys!

 

Wow Una, what a cool aviary! The grass bottom and all of the greenery inside makes it so lush and lovely! I just love the wood theme. The grass in the pot looks brilliant... I don't suppose you know what kind of grass it is??

 

I love the grass on the floor idea too, it's really nice. It took us ages to decide on the floor, I was going to do a dirt floor (or rather lack of floor...) but I was convinced by my dad that it would be useful to be able to sweep and hose it out... He was angling for concrete, and we settled on slabs (but ended up with bricks - I managed to find them free from the paper, so I wasn't going to complain!). I'm thinking I might cover them with dry grass, or dirt, (or now lawn is an interesting option too!). Only problem is that the bricks look nice, I don't want to just cover them up!! But the problem is, I need to put something down or they'll just get covered in bird poo and look dreadful!

 

Thanks Daz for posting the link too, it's a helpful spot to check before putting anything in the aviary to be sure that it's okay for the birds.

 

This is it so far:

 

And our progress over the last few weeks is here: (Posted as link because it's slightly larger than it should be...): http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/smi...aryprogress.jpg

 

Cheers

Joanne

Wow what a great aviary that will make...

 

Can I make a few surgestions. As most matter whether it be food scrapes, old seed or droppings will end up between the bricks and start to rot causing bateria contemination. It would be good to sweep a mixture of sand and cement in between the cracks. After a light hose it should set and from a barrier. That way it will make it easier to sweep or hose.

 

A cement floor is the best floor for an aviary. It's the easiest to keep clean. The bricks with cement mortar is the next best. The worst is a bare soil floor. You have to rake it all the time.

 

Now what is more important. The look or your birds health?

Hi guys!

 

Wow Una, what a cool aviary! The grass bottom and all of the greenery inside makes it so lush and lovely! I just love the wood theme. The grass in the pot looks brilliant... I don't suppose you know what kind of grass it is??

 

I love the grass on the floor idea too, it's really nice. It took us ages to decide on the floor, I was going to do a dirt floor (or rather lack of floor...) but I was convinced by my dad that it would be useful to be able to sweep and hose it out... He was angling for concrete, and we settled on slabs (but ended up with bricks - I managed to find them free from the paper, so I wasn't going to complain!). I'm thinking I might cover them with dry grass, or dirt, (or now lawn is an interesting option too!). Only problem is that the bricks look nice, I don't want to just cover them up!! But the problem is, I need to put something down or they'll just get covered in bird poo and look dreadful!

 

Thanks Daz for posting the link too, it's a helpful spot to check before putting anything in the aviary to be sure that it's okay for the birds.

 

This is it so far:

 

And our progress over the last few weeks is here: (Posted as link because it's slightly larger than it should be...): http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/smi...aryprogress.jpg

 

Cheers

Joanne

The budgies are gonna love it in there when you are done

 

Very cool, great advice Daz, and Una just I LOVE your aviary.

Hi

 

Thanks Daz for the great tip of sweeping the cement/sand mix through... We were intending to just sweep the sand like we're laying the bricks on over, but hadn't thought of using the cement.

 

With the dirt floor, will it be okay to put a patch of dirt on the floor bacteria wise ... I really wanted some dirt so that the bugs can get in ... Our quails have just had babies (2) and I was hoping to put them in this new aviary... (else I'll have to sell them) and they do love the bugs and grubs from natural dirt.

 

Also, is there any compatibility with budgies and finches, if there's no breeding happening?

 

Cheers

Joanne

Oh what a beautiful aviary that is.. I cant wait to see it when its all complete..

If i were you i think id not be covering the bricks (they look pretty cool) and id do as Daz suggested and fill them with a sand/cement mix to make for easy cleaning :ausb: I reckon a potted garden would look pretty good in there and it would make for easy cleaning too..

Cheers :beer:

Una

una, your aviary is amaizing! what are the grasses you grow in the pots?

hows the aviary going smily?

i cant wait to see pics on the progress.

hows the aviary going smily?

i cant wait to see pics on the progress.

 

Yes, it's coming along! I'm on a deadline... I wanted to be finished before uni, which unfortunately starts Monday (eeepp!) so it's all happening quite quickly!

 

Here's where we're at: (it more like 600ish pixels so it's a link)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/smileyjoanne/0224.jpg

 

I've been posting our progress here on our website if you're interested, but beware it's quite large...might take a while to load:

http://www.photosharing.jdphotography.org/aviary%20progress/

 

At the moment we have finished the roof, the floor (minus a step at the front) and we;re working on the safety door which is happening to the left hand side .... we've got some angles up here and there framing it up.

 

Cheerio

Joanne

very exciting!