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Post by Hezz on Dec 30, 2017 11:30:21 GMT
There has been a small addition to my back yard. It would have to come under the headings of "don't rush into things ....", "own your own projects" (ie don't allow OH to take them over), possibly "you could grow really old doing this ................." Anyway, you get my drift. After years of talking someone around to the idea and finally getting "planning permission", lots of research in which I learnt so much about so little, I had a plan, I had level ground (by me, all me), I had a floor organised, ordered and delivered about 18 months ago. 12 months ago, after someone took over my project, rejected all my research, measurements and acquired knowledge, and finally ordered the materials, I finally had a frame - exactly 12 months ago. It went up between Xmas and New Year last year. It has taken a full 12 months to double mesh, build doors, have shade canvasses ordered, made, and fixed, and today I have finally "furnished" one half of my very own back yard, very small, aviary. It is built so that I can house two different species of bird, with appropriate quarantine space between each section, but with removable panels to make either one big space or one larger, one smaller but without the quarantine area between. This is for the benefit of both my own birdies for outside time, and any boarders I may take on in the future, something that I am keen to do. Let me find a few photos to start off with ..... This took a lot of hard work on my part. It doesn't look much, but there were a couple of cubic metres of ground to be moved, and a lot of that was rock! The six-month project of flooring and frame. The flooring is aluminum decking ... ............................ Oh, look! Now we get into 2017 ... almost in time for 2018!! Mesh. What a f*&%#ng pain that stuff is!! I did want to get in someone (any one by the end of it!) who actually knew what they were doing ..................... That will have to do for now, as I realise that I don't have any recent photos - doors, shade and furniture. Those might take another 12 months or so .....................................................
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Post by OP on Dec 30, 2017 12:33:22 GMT
T'll be worth it in the end. Quality should never be rushed.
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Post by Shirls on Dec 30, 2017 13:44:21 GMT
Oh Hezz, how fantastic and how exciting for you! Now you have shown us all you simply must carry on, at least a bit faster than up until now. I am so envious and I do appreciate all the hard work you must have put in. My garden is made up of mostly rock, impossible to dig, what isn't rock is blooming plastic sheeting. Well done, can't wait to see the next steps. You know now that you have shown us we will be nagging you to continue!!!
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Post by jellybean on Dec 30, 2017 15:34:16 GMT
Wow!!! That looks fantastic Hezz. What a space for the birds, I'd be chuffed to bits if I'd done that. Keep at it and get your project finished.
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Post by steve05412 on Dec 30, 2017 21:48:12 GMT
Wow... that's looking really good .. well done Hezz. Can defo sympathise re the mesh work one pain in the ,,,,, Looking forward to the next update
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Post by clt80 on Dec 30, 2017 22:21:07 GMT
What a fabulous home that is going to make for some lucky pets and all the boarders to come!
It looks huge, just fab.
I empathise with meshing....we still need to do the outside of ours again with stronger stuff. We still have sheets pegged on!!!! I keep talking nicely to hubby, he keeps saying he will get round to it .....
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Post by Hezz on Dec 31, 2017 1:33:11 GMT
OP, no one could ever accuse anyone of rushing this; as for quality, that might be drawing a long bow .... steve05412, I went for a steel frame for longevity, or lack of it with treated timber in my part of the world, but my God, it certainly would have made everything much easier, including that bleedin' mesh. How they manage to get something so crooked to look so straight is a magician's illusion. Shirls, I hear what you are saying. Some of the rocks I was barely able to move, and trying to find the edges of them underground ..... Of course, as happens so often, OH says "If I knew you were going to do this I could have hired a dingo (v small digger) and have it done in a day". I think that was on the day that my level told me that I had it pretty well ... well, level. I could cheerfully have throttled him. What on earth did he think was going to happen?? It had to be leveled, and someone had to do it. Oh, clt80, I know that one only toooooo well/ It is not huge - 4m x 3m, but it is about as small as I was prepared to compromise on. Photos to come, I promise.
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Post by Hezz on Dec 31, 2017 2:21:42 GMT
Photos, as promised, with the ever-photogenic Loki providing perspective .... Layout - looking at the framework on the floor, to the left, in the middle is the main door, on either side of it are the doors to each bay, so front and back of the rectangle, with the frame on the right indicating the back of the safety bay. The photo was taken standing in the RH bay looking through the safety bay, into the LH bay. I hope that makes sense. The whole thing, with its shade cover on. I have two other smaller pieces which can be tied on where-ever and whenever needed for front, top or sides. The unfurnished bay, (presently colonised by spiders). The furnished side, with panel removed to give extra space ..... Now I need appropriate seed and water receptacles, and possibly some artificial turf on the floor to cut down the glare off the decking. It will also cut the reflected heat. Loki seems to like going out there with me; I have taken him each time I have put ropes and perches up .... his favourite seems to be the yellow plastic chain. I have plans to get more ......
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,761
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Dec 31, 2017 9:12:30 GMT
Looks fantastic.
I can just see Loki thinking "Thanks for my huge cage mum. Are you going to get me a girlfriend?"
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Post by Shirls on Dec 31, 2017 9:42:26 GMT
That is absolutely brilliant Hezz. I am so impressed. I love the bits and pieces you have in there already and I just love the yellow chain. I bet Loki thinks it's all for him!! You have done an amazing job. So clever!
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Post by skysmum on Dec 31, 2017 14:21:03 GMT
OMG, well gel i am, if that is one of your small project's goodness knows what your bigger ones are like . LOVE it and well worth the waiting and frustrations im sure. Oooooh i can just see the potted trees and plants in there, a paradise for birdies . Is it near the house Hezz, can you see it from there?
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Post by clt80 on Dec 31, 2017 15:43:08 GMT
Loki is thinking 'crikey I've really landed on my feet living here!' It's going to make a beautiful home for some lucky birds. What birds and how many are you thinking of having in there Hezz ? Marianne I love the idea of a girlfriend for Loki. Mrs Loki...... a new chapter in Loki's life.
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Post by samwiseg on Dec 31, 2017 17:11:05 GMT
And there's me thinking that it was a larger cross stitch project or something! OH HOW WRONG I WAS! And so not disappointed either! That is such a beautiful aviary Hezz designed and executed...but I am thinking we have bigger plans afoot here, so come on Hezz... SPILL
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Post by Hezz on Jan 1, 2018 1:53:26 GMT
No. No more projects in the making, everybody. It was supposed to be a simple project for me to do mostly, with a little help from others when required. Reality was different to the pipe dream, but as I didn't have any slaves I could whip into going faster, and without becoming a complete nag, we did finally get there. Marianne Marlow ... where is that "dislike" button that I didn't want??? And clt80, you are just as bad. There will not be a Mrs Loki ... he is only a baby, remember. Tsk, tsk Shirls, I really think Loki was enjoying himself, road-testing everything, even landing on things before I had them hung up properly. skysmum, I actually hadn't thought about greenery, what with the way the budgies would strip anything that was edible. I do have some ideas for around the outside ... It can't really be seen from inside the house, but from the back door, yes. It is certainly within hearing distance. clt80, I think I have been banned from acquiring any more feathered friends, but sometimes "accidents" happen and something falls into your lap, so we will see. It will be a good place for them all to hang out in the afternoon during our really hot summers when the house heats up. The aviary is quite shaded, and I have extra shade pieces I can hang up quickly and easily if needed. Heavy-duty cable ties have been my biggest friend. I am hoping, also, to be able to use the space for boarding other people's birds. I have done a bit of it and it is a great way to get to know other species. It will be nice to have a place specially for them and not just the back bedroom. Sorry, samwiseg, if you only knew the level of frustration this has brought about, I don't think you would be asking for more ..... although there is the place where I wanted to put this one still going spare ....
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Post by OP on Jan 1, 2018 8:17:03 GMT
That is a great job there Hezz. I hope you get many years of enjoyment. from it. What would really cheese me off was the fact that I would not be able to enjoy looking at the inhabitants from half the distance you mention. (shrug!) What will, be will be. Sorry, but that is the first time I have missed what I always took for granted.
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