Post by barrieshutt on Oct 6, 2011 12:01:31 GMT
Building an Aviary
Building an aviary requires several key pointers, a little thought and research now will save time and effort later.
First check if there are any bylaws covering the size of the aviary in relation to the area of your garden, especially if you are living in rented accommodation.
Visit as many Aviary's as possible and note down any good points you wish to incorporate into your new aviary.
The weather can be nice, everyone loves the sun, but the sun shining into an aviary all day can do a lot of harm to your birds, do offer shade. Budgerigars will not sit in direct sun light if they can help it. They also do not like conditions that get to hot, so a little thought and a little planning can save you a lot of problems later on.
Avoid building your aviary under trees it may offer shade but your aviary may become infested with red mites falling off the trees.
Protect your aviary from the cold north winds.
Make it strong enough to support the added weight of a heavy snow fall and if the snow freezes it could spell disaster.
Will your new aviary be facing into the street; will car lights be able to shine inside? Look at security lighting from adjoining properties; it may disturb the birds at night when it clicks on and off.
Check and double check your plans we must get it right the first time.
What size aviary? Start from the foundations and plan it from there. Measure your ground space to see if the size you are planning fits comfortably and remember if you are making your aviary out of wood then you will need access for regular maintenance.
We now I hope have the size of the aviary firmly in our heads and down on paper, if so we can begin the foundation.
Mark out with a chalk line your foundation size
And check the corners are square. Now we can dig down approx four inches, more if you have not got a solid base.
Once this is done we are ready for concrete. Why concrete you may ask, a gravel base or just soil will let in vermin, vermin will kill or pass diseases on to your birds. When laying your concrete just have a little one inch fall from one end to the other.
Once the concrete has set a row of concrete blocks or similar can be set around the perimeter of the new aviary build, this will ensure that the timber is kept away from the damp ground.
Lay one course high of four inch thick concrete blocks around the outside edge of the concrete base leaving a gap for your door frame.
The blocks laid on the end of the concrete with the fall will need a little mortar raked out of a couple of joints in between the blocks, this will drain any surplus water away.
A trench approx 6” wide and 6” deep can now now be dug out at the end of the concrete base with the fall, fill this with pea gravel and you now have a soak away for any surplus water.
Now to the actual timber construction. I prefer 2 inch x 2 inch treated timbers which now contain no toxicants harmful to birds; these can be painted with cuprinol or treated with a creosote substitute.
If you build aviary panels as per the image these can be bolted or screwed together and you will find it must easier to wire.
Do wire your frames on both sides as double wire will offer added protection against vermin and raptors.
Make the soak away end panels six feet high and the opposite end six feet three inches and any water running off the roof falls into our pea gravel soak away.
Remember aviary wire is a standard one metre wide and by building frame work to suit this width you will cut out wastage on your wire.
Twilweld is sold in 10, 15 and 30 metre rolls and various gauges and sizes. In the ideal world and a budget to suit I would use ¼ inch x
¼ inch mesh and 16 gauges or ¼ inch x ½ inch 16 gauges is also suitable for budgerigars
New aviary wire requires painting with vinegar to neutralise the zinc in the wire which is poisonous to birds.
Clear Perspex corrugated sheets with the correct fixings are ideal for the roof and any sides that will be exposed to the elements, remember the snow and add extra roof supports.
How is your aviary looking now?
You can build any size and shape you prefer.
What did we forget? Only a very important safety porch which is essential on any outside aviary. A size of three by three feet is ideal and remember one door closes before the next one is open, secure them with a sliding bolt.
Let us look at the inside now we have completed the outside together.
If you think the concrete looks a little bare then just add some limestone 10 mm chippings, these are ideal for hosing down when dirty.
In a sheltered part of the aviary I would build a large wooden sleeping quarters, this must be light with the perches inside higher than the ones in the aviary, this will encourage them to sleep together and avoid any chills overnight.
Perches should be a mix of various sizes in diameter with willow and apple being a perfect choice.
Can you see your aviary from the kitchen ?
©2006 barrieshuttbudgerigars S3872.