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Post by BudgiesBuddy on May 21, 2013 7:36:20 GMT
@corie and nat should be able to help as well Thanks BB. My mind went blank thinking on the spot who to ask. I like how the new format forum lets you call attention to people who can help answer questions. Yes, this is a great feature and I like it too
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Post by Gaile on May 21, 2013 8:05:38 GMT
thanks Stace, nice to think that people think I know a few things !!!! My little door is near the top of the aviary!! I have a little tunnel from the flight in the shed to the aviary ! with a platform on either side x I have a door that is opened and closed from outside the aviary x
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Post by samwiseg on May 21, 2013 8:56:14 GMT
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Post by nat on May 21, 2013 14:19:38 GMT
Wow! You're doing a fantastic job :-) Whats the plan for the windows? The most usual exits I've seen are square holes with either a sliding or boltable door. I'm not certain about height of the door and have seen them put in from middle to high up. If you had a sliding door then draughts wouldn't be a problem, but perhaps some sort of high up ventilation would be needed anyway? I love Gailes tunnel exit :-)
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Post by Learner on May 22, 2013 0:16:18 GMT
Thanks to everyone for your efforts on my behalf.... There seem to be so many options and I wanted to try to get it right first time rather than rush headlong into a wrong decision.. The "Boss Builder" (my son) seems to favour a square opening but with rounded top corners - he then suggests a perch either side but....after discussion... that's changed to a landing platform. The opening will have a sliding shutter of some sort or other - I favour a vertical sliding door. I like the idea of a tunnel as it would help keep the cold inward draughts to a minimum in the winter months. Thanks for that idea Gaile Decisions, decisions..... Wow! You're doing a fantastic job :-) Whats the plan for the windows? The most usual exits I've seen are square holes with either a sliding or boltable door. I'm not certain about height of the door and have seen them put in from middle to high up. If you had a sliding door then draughts wouldn't be a problem, but perhaps some sort of high up ventilation would be needed anyway? I love Gailes tunnel exit :-) Windows? I'm concerned about heat loss in the winter but don't want to lose the windows altogether as they make the potty-shed bright and open. I think I might keep the window that opens into the flight for occasions when I want to open it up and make it a straight run in and out. I thought this would be especially useful if I need to encourage a straggler or two to go off to bed on time as well as helping with high summer temperatures! I''m presently toying with a way of insulating the windows for winter. Shutters? Drop in panels with a sandwich of insulation material? Double-glazing with perspex? At least one of the glazed windows will have to go to make it possible to fit the in/out door or tunnel. I have a few days to dither and then it will be decision time. Watch this space. And.... thanks again for your help everyone. Much appreciated.
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Post by nat on May 22, 2013 16:05:09 GMT
I like the drop in insulated panel idea. My mate used drop in panels like that last year for his wire fronted aviary and he also had a couple of perspex panels on the side lines to use on really cold windy day times so they could get some light. I think the birds would feel more secure at night as well if it was boarded at least on the 3 sides :-)
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Post by Learner on May 22, 2013 16:31:19 GMT
Thanks nat. I don't want to belt ahead and then discover I've made a mistake. I've just about decided to plan for panels that fit either inside or outside over the windows. It'll be warmer and, as you say, will give the birds a feeling of greater security. It is possible to see the aviary from the road so lights will make it even more visible. The window panels will reduce this considerably.
On Saturday a friend is arriving to run power into the potty-shed. He's a very good electrician and will insist on making everything safe including having a trip switch at the fuseboard indoors. Tomorrow I have to let him know what sockets, light fixtures I want in there. This is the list I''ve come up with so far: two double 13amp sockets for: - a 100 watt bar heater (will 100 watt be enough I wonder?)
- an LED night-light - very cheap to run & gives a gentle light to stay on all night - it will have a daylight sensor
- a spare socket for a vacuum cleaner - I'm looking out for a cheap one to help keep dust and shucks down
- a spare socket
I also want to run two lights on two time switches: - one as a main light for dark winter evenings / mornings
- one as a "getting ready to roost light / wake up
Both of these will have LED lamps as it will help reduce running costs. I am also considering an extractor fan to help reduce dust / condensation but, if I have one, it can be fitted at a later date. Have I forgotten anything?
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Post by Hezz on May 23, 2013 0:41:45 GMT
Would it not be easier to install the extractor fan now rather than later? They are almost essential for preserving your good health if nothing else.
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Post by Learner on May 23, 2013 1:07:44 GMT
Would it not be easier to install the extractor fan now rather than later? They are almost essential for preserving your good health if nothing else. Installing an extractor fan shouldn't be too much of a fuss. And you are probably right about getting it all sorted in one go (done & dusted!!). I guess I was partly thinking about cost/s. (My wife doesn't seem unhappy about the expense so far and I say nothing about the cost of her upholstery hobby... or the piles of furniture in the garage). I'll chat to my mate and see what he says tomorrow evening. I guess the best position for a fan would be low down to remove airbourne dust? It might also help general air circulation when the shed is closed in colder weather. Another time switch needed too. Thanks for your advice Hezz.
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Post by Hezz on May 23, 2013 1:49:42 GMT
You're welcome. I am not sure where others have placed theirs for best results. And I can't find photos to show either. For some reason my memory is telling me about a third of the way down. Hopefully someone else who has been through this can give you some real advice.
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Post by Learner on May 23, 2013 2:03:53 GMT
You're welcome. I am not sure where others have placed theirs for best results. And I can't find photos to show either. For some reason my memory is telling me about a third of the way down. Hopefully someone else who has been through this can give you some real advice. I was thinking a 1/3rd of the way up so maybe it'll end up middle-ish. I have a bit of a breather time-wise as hoping to have power-supply fitted this Saturday if all goes to plan. After that my attention will be turned to the inside flight....and more questions.
(Here's hoping I don't drive everyone to distraction with my questions but I really do appreciate the advice - thank you!)
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Post by barrieshutt on May 23, 2013 5:13:04 GMT
i am impressed
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Post by nat on May 23, 2013 13:19:35 GMT
Your questions are great Learner, and are leading to a very imformative thread that people can read though in the future if they are considering building an aviary You see so many people knock up an aviary quickly not even thinking about the changing seasons, warmth, electricity, drainage etc and then its so much harder to deal with these things once the birds are in there!
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Post by nat on May 23, 2013 13:30:58 GMT
Where will your lights be placed in the shed? How will you make them safe for the birds ie any wires and heat from bulbs? Also for the heater? which I suppose would be placed low, but how to shelter it from being perched on and droppings? Or will you section a part off in the shed for electricals? Could be done with a aviary wire panel with a service door or 2? Lol, now its me asking all the questions!
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Post by Learner on May 23, 2013 14:05:23 GMT
Good questions nat ..... one's I've been considering too. I guess that's why I'm taking ages to get on with it. (My 98 yr old father is growing impatient with me!!) Where will your lights be placed in the shed? How will you make them safe for the birds ie any wires and heat from bulbs? Also for the heater? which I suppose would be placed low, but how to shelter it from being perched on and droppings? Or will you section a part off in the shed for electricals? Could be done with a aviary wire panel with a service door or 2? Lol, now its me asking all the questions! I can't decided exactly where I want the lights apart from wanting a pull-chord switch near the entrance so I have easy access to light if there's nothing else on (which should be rare during hours of darkness). The lamp for this might be a short strip light on the central exposed rafter. Perhaps a 10 watt kitchen under-cabinet light will do the trick - not too bright and startling but enough for me to see by. The tubular heater will have a guard (my mate is going to get this for me from a local supplier). The birds will not have full access to the whole shed but an inside enclosure within the shed so placing wiring, lights and heater will be less restricted even if the birds are. I want to have room for some cages within the shed. I found three of my old flight/breeding cages in very good condition hidden away in the loft of my parents old bungalow. Obviously my father decided to keep them. I had lots years ago when I kept and bred foreign finches as a teenager. Which brings me to question 2 (might be 3!!):The shed is 6' x 8'. I want to allow room for (expansion) a possible third outside flight sometime in the future so I have decided the insdie flight should be around 6' x 2.5' up to 3' I can't decide whether to opt for a floor to ceiling inside flight or (as my son suggests and I'm leaning towards) a 3 or 4 foot tall enclosure leaving space underneath for storage. This would also allow me to place the heater some distance below the inside enclosure and keep its floor warm too. What do you think?
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