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Post by Hezz on Oct 28, 2023 1:13:18 GMT
The old aviary from our old house was dismantled a few months ago and gradually over the last couple of months has been getting a new life in a slightly different configuration. It has been a bit of a nightmare to be honest - anything that could go wrong, did, and OH had grand plans of making it perfect, only adding to his stress. Two retirees with no construction experience whatsoever, talk about asking for trouble, and there were many times when we really did need an extra pair of hands. BUT … door latches went on late yesterday, roof yesterday morning, and now it is up to me to set up the furniture. It had better bl**dy work out now; I am concerned as it is very close to the house, specifically our bedroom. Loki will stay quiet up until around 8am, even later if he doesn’t hear me moving around or talking, but that is under a cover and with the blinds down. OH may find his lie-ins cut short on occasions, but should only be when the third bedroom is needed for people. My bird room turned into a people room?? What the …?? 🤔 More photos to come …
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Oct 4, 2023 12:12:45 GMT
Azalea
Normal Green
7 Budgies, 2 Cockatiels, 1 Sun Conure, 3 dogs
Posts: 291
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Post by Azalea on Oct 28, 2023 1:26:47 GMT
It looks great so far!
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Post by Ira on Oct 28, 2023 6:03:17 GMT
Looking good, Hezz! Hope it works out in terms of volume.
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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: 28,829
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Oct 28, 2023 19:45:53 GMT
Wow, what an achievement.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 29, 2023 2:25:06 GMT
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Post by lemonora on Oct 29, 2023 8:39:37 GMT
How lovely 🥰 thanks for sharing
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Post by skysmum on Oct 30, 2023 14:02:32 GMT
Looks great Hezz , look at that beautiful boy surveying his new estate, looks chuffed to bits
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Post by Hezz on Oct 31, 2023 0:51:43 GMT
Looks great Hezz , look at that beautiful boy surveying his new estate, looks chuffed to bits He was very interested in checking everything out, chewed a couple of branch nubs to check all was suitable. He does this little noise I call a snuffle, sounds a bit like a “muff, muff” - lie a dog having a chasing-bunnies dream. That’s his “this looks interesting, time to explore” noise, along with the only word he says - hello. He certainly was in no hurry to come back inside! And the wild birds haven’t been put off using the bath while we have been hanging around, drilling, banging, cursing 🤬 swearing 🤬 etc. Good news in that nothing has broken in over the last couple of nights with some seed sitting in a saucer to entice the greedy outliers.
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At Last
Oct 31, 2023 22:56:51 GMT
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Post by skysmum on Oct 31, 2023 22:56:51 GMT
Bless him with his little noises of approval, disapproval and joy 😁 Good your seed trap has been untouched, when I had my first aviary I went inside one morning to see a tiny mouse sat washing his hands and face next to the seed pot, I never fed in the outside flight so this little munchkin had got into the outside, and popped through the Bob hole into the inside, the budgies weren’t a bit bothered which led me to believe he was a regular visitor, double meshing sorted that but I was amazed how he had got through the very small mesh I already had. Is yours snake proof Hezz ?
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Post by Hezz on Nov 1, 2023 0:55:59 GMT
skysmum, Snake-proof? I hope so! It is all double-meshed outside with two different aperture mesh, one of which is called snake and mouse mesh and has an aperture of only 6mm. The other is a much tougher mesh (to keep the butcherbirds and raptors out) with 12mm apertures. I’m mostly concerned about one place where the concrete isn’t straight and there is a slight gap under the frame. I’m going to get some off cuts of the mesh and jam them into the gap, possibly mortar it into place if needed. Snakes in particular don’t like spikey or hard uneven surfaces. The place will be like Fort Knox, or Belmarsh Prison. I’m about to set up the last of the seed and water pots and give it all a trial run including budgies this afternoon and then tomorrow try them all in overnight as we have a couple of nights away soon and I need to know it all works before leaving. I’ll still be antsy about it all as I would have preferred a longer trial period, but it was not to be.
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Oct 6, 2023 10:24:49 GMT
oldbuddy
Normal Violet
Posts: 134
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Post by oldbuddy on Nov 1, 2023 7:18:44 GMT
skysmum , Snake-proof? I hope so! It is all double-meshed outside with two different aperture mesh, one of which is called snake and mouse mesh and has an aperture of only 6mm. The other is a much tougher mesh (to keep the butcherbirds and raptors out) with 12mm apertures. I’m mostly concerned about one place where the concrete isn’t straight and there is a slight gap under the frame. I’m going to get some off cuts of the mesh and jam them into the gap, possibly mortar it into place if needed. Snakes in particular don’t like spikey or hard uneven surfaces. The place will be like Fort Knox, or Belmarsh Prison. I’m about to set up the last of the seed and water pots and give it all a trial run including budgies this afternoon and then tomorrow try them all in overnight as we have a couple of nights away soon and I need to know it all works before leaving. I’ll still be antsy about it all as I would have preferred a longer trial period, but it was not to be. Your mention of chooks sparked my reply a few minutes ago as my wife and I are originally from Australia, but your very fine enclosure reminded me of keeping white fantail doves about a decade ago, I enjoyed constructing it very much, no snakes but rats and foxes a real problem. The main thing which surprised me greatly is that doves breed like rabbits (faster, actually ...), my 4 became 30 very quickly, and dummy egg replacements nearly a daily activity. It was a great relief to find out when my son acquired Hum and Whistle that, as Loz has advised, if you give the female budgie no hope of nesting then need for dummy eggs is not an issue! At one time I took a video of two doves hatching, doves are brilliant parents, I believe it has been helpful to some people as a teaching aid; you might be interested ....
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Post by ariella on Nov 1, 2023 22:24:20 GMT
The aviary looks and sounds the dog’s proverbials Hezz. Loki gives it scale as he looks small in there. Hope the trial run goes well.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 2, 2023 0:35:49 GMT
All went well from my perspective, anyway. I thought I’d have ll sorts of problems transporting Bunji back up into the house, but he stayed on his stick, transferred into the smaller cage and without too much hassle allowed me to catch him and put him into the carrier. The other two did the same so that part of things was uneventful. Not sure any of them found the seed or water. Loki found his (with a little help), he also found the seed-bait saucer that I didn’t put outside. I’ve checked the space that I thought might have been an entry point for nasties. It looks like it from the inside, but the mesh goes right down to the slab and is very tough - not something a normal rat, mouse or snake would be able to lift up and with the slab being slightly larger than the frame, no way of digging up either. With over 400 screws holding the mesh on, along with the corresponding number of large washers holds everything very tight. Fingers crossed nothing goes wrong!!
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Post by jellybean on Nov 2, 2023 13:43:48 GMT
Wow Hezz, you and OH have certainly been busy, that looks to have been a time consuming job, but, I don't believe for one minute that there was any cursing or swearing involved in the process Loki looks king of the castle, a birdy paradise, who wouldn't love it. Can't wait to see some up to date pictures with the gang inside.
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At Last
Nov 2, 2023 14:07:14 GMT
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Post by skysmum on Nov 2, 2023 14:07:14 GMT
Glad the test drive went well 🤞it all continues to work out 😊
Is the roof covered, just thinking about rain but then maybe that’s to English of me 😂, do you get much rain, you must be into your summer now?
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