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Post by nat on May 23, 2013 15:38:33 GMT
Storage all the way! The best thing I ever did was to mount my indoor aviary onto a 4ft width X 10 ft long storage base which is just under 3ft high. I went to visit an exhibition breeder a couple of years back who'd done the same and thought it a good idea so did it too :-) Theres nothing worse than having stuff hanging around collecting dust and dander and not accesible when you want it
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Apr 21, 2013 20:27:04 GMT
gary
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 12
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Post by gary on May 23, 2013 21:41:22 GMT
Very impressed with your set up , been watching this thread with interest , I'm in the middle of my giving my shed and aviary a make over after a break for a couple of years , I've just done my own electrics tonight , handy when I'm a sparky lol , and I fitted my 4 inch extractor fan at high level on a hard wired timer and its set to come on at different intervals during the day , I also wired a few downlighters down the middle bit of the shed as they are less restrictive than bumping my head on a fluorescent fitting , and they can be fitted with Led lamps .. I already have my inside flight built and noticed your idea to build the flight a third of the way down for storage , I have done the same but mine only goes halfway down , reason being that there is plenty room for storage and if you ever need another separate flight or more breeding cages at a later date there is loads of room ....keep up the good work
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Post by Learner on May 24, 2013 0:57:01 GMT
Good to hear from you gary. I'm pleased this thread has been of some interest. Thanks also for telling me about your inside flight. I think I will opt for one less than full depth as well. Still at the "thinking about it" stage as I'm pretty busy most days so wait for my son to appear to lend a hand when I have a couple of hours to myself. What made you decide to set your extractor fan at high level? I ask as I was thinking that lower down it might remove heavier dust particles without swiping out the warmth in winter. Mind you, in summer I guess being higher would be an advantage to help keep the heat down. My electrics should be in place early next week. I'm starting off with a basic supply to the shed with two double 13amp sockets as well as main light. I will add the fittings once most of the rest of the layout is in place. I really must find time to explore extractor fans! (types, suppliers and cost). 4" sounds ideal - also a good idea to use a time switch of some sort. Later I will need to consider what to do for flooring both in the shed and the flight. The flight has paving at present. I wondered about adding a layer of pea shingle as I have heard others have done. On the other hand I think the paving stones would be easy to sweep, hose down and keep clean...cheaper too as nothing else would be needed. What do you have?
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Post by Hezz on May 24, 2013 2:27:15 GMT
Can't answer any of these, Learner. Hope someone can.
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Apr 21, 2013 20:27:04 GMT
gary
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 12
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Post by gary on May 24, 2013 14:51:07 GMT
I never really put much thought into why I put the fan high level lol , I only fitted the fan mainly for cooling purposes in summer and also helps with the smells in the shed , I think you might be better fitting an air filter if you're hoping to keep down the dust levels ...a four inch fan won't really be powerful enough to extract dust particles from the shed ....
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Post by stace on May 25, 2013 0:29:56 GMT
barrieshutt knows all about extractor fans. There was a thread on here somewhere about them, and may actually be one on Barrie's own site.
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Post by Learner on May 25, 2013 19:06:10 GMT
barrieshutt knows all about extractor fans. There was a thread on here somewhere about them, and may actually be one on Barrie's own site. Thanks everyone.... I will eventually make some decisons but it's slow going at the moment. Today all I managed aviary wise was to sweep & tidy the inside as well as stand and stare. By Monday I need to have made my mind up about where exatctly the electric wiring will run and where the sockets will go. I have decided that the inside flight will not go right to the floor. I'm also toying with the idea of having a self-contained inner "flight" so I can slide it away from the wall to clean behind it as well as carry out any maintenance it might need. A solid roof will help should the shed roof leak. (I'm sure Rome was up, dusted and inhabitted faster than this 'ere aviary will be! )
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Post by nat on May 26, 2013 12:57:54 GMT
I just had thought Learner. If you use new aviary wire its a good idea to paint over it thoroughly with vinegar to start the oxidisation process of the zinc used in the galvanisation process. The weather does this eventually, but in the first few weeks the new wire can give them some degree of heavy metal poisoning if they chew it as the zinc has not yet oxidised.
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Post by nat on May 26, 2013 18:45:37 GMT
Lol, I just saw after I posted that you've already talked about this on another thread :-)
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Post by Learner on May 26, 2013 20:28:54 GMT
Lol, I just saw after I posted that you've already talked about this on another thread :-) Thanks nat - very pleased to have your advice and help. Normally I find time to wade through countless books when tackling anything something I am unsure of for the first time but there are so few books published about budgie keeping - I'm amazed. Fewer still about aviaries. I tried locally and a book shop in our nearest city - hopeless. Fine if you want something about dogs or horses.. "Budgies? Just a picture book sir in the childrens' section."....... and that turned out to be about parrots. So a sincere thanks to everyone on this forum - your help / advice and knowledge is invaluable.
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Post by mizloco on May 26, 2013 21:05:25 GMT
Maybe some of the experts on here need to write a book. The small book I got when I was getting my two was useless.
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Post by skysmum on May 26, 2013 22:13:04 GMT
Wow learner, just catching up from being away for a couple of weeks. So glad things are moving on for you with the Aviary . It looks brilliant and what a lovely thing for mum and dad to watch too .
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Post by Learner on May 27, 2013 0:12:21 GMT
Wow learner, just catching up from being away for a couple of weeks. So glad things are moving on for you with the Aviary . It looks brilliant and what a lovely thing for mum and dad to watch too . Thanks skysmum. My father really is taking an interest. Much more interesting than sitting in his chair looking out at the occasional passer-by or a newly parked car he tells me. He's not keen on tv (he says..) and reads little more than the newspaper headlines as they are often "distressing". So... the aviary is a hit - even without its inhabitants. Later, when we are up and running and open for business (birds installed), I am hoping to be able to buy him a couple of colourful budgies of his own to add to the flock. Electrics in tomorrow... all being well.
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Post by skysmum on May 27, 2013 21:14:43 GMT
Ohhh that's lovely for him he will love it. My mum 84 has just looked after our little JRT while we were away, i was worried and left strict instructions for absent brother to keep a close eye, which he actually did for once . My mum loved having Tilly and she was good company for her, she walked her round the block each day too. Its so good to keep them interested in things isn't it, my mum loves my buds .
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Post by Learner on May 28, 2013 0:15:35 GMT
Sunday's free time (4 hours) was spent on the allotment. Today didn't go quite to plan... but around here things often move slowly so "patience" is the word.. My mate, the electrician, contacted me to say he couldn't make it - stuck in A&E with his wife. She was fine in the end so we've booked another date for towards the end of this week (all being well). I spent today cutting hedges, mowing lawns and digging flower beds. Looks pretty good but the aviary didn't get a look in. Rain due tomorrow so an ideal time to emulsion the inside of the shed (white)... if all goes well. Hope your week-ends were productive ones.
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