|
|
Post by Budgies Retreat on Feb 18, 2014 10:24:17 GMT
Good morning everyone and a big HELLO from our little flock.
We (the wife and I) have just become proud parents of 5 budgies! It started off with us buying a young male from a commercial aviary along with a cage and half of the toys they had for sale, but within a week of having him I kinda decided that I wanted more. I'm fortunate enough to have a "man's room" where I build radio controlled airplanes for my hobby. It measures about 12' x 10' and has plenty of worktop space and a large building table. I decided that one of the worktops would make a lovely area for an indoor aviary of around 6' long, 4' high and 2.5' deep, big enough for around 4-6 birds. So the plan was hatched, pun intended  and I started building. I have experience of woodworking and spent around 4 nights designing the aviary. It was completed and 2 pairs of birds were bought from a champion breeder, and they were rehoused in their new home. Our pairs are called George and Mildred, and Tom and Betty (after our elderly neighbours who were married for 70 years, bless them). We still have the first one in his cage and want him to remain our pet. Within 2 days of having him he was on my finger and flying free in the lounge. He's such a character, he's called Charlie. We will post more on the appropriate forum as we no doubt will have loads of Q's to ask you all.
So, that's about it, in a nut shell, and we hope to have a wonderful and happy time on this very informative forum.
Kind regards
Darren and Lorraine |
|
|
|
Post by mizloco on Feb 18, 2014 10:40:35 GMT
Welcome to you all, humans and buds. Now that budgie addiction kicked in fast with you didn't it. Would love to see some pictures of your buds.
|
|
|
|
Post by ffiscool on Feb 18, 2014 10:42:28 GMT
welcome
yes, would love to see photos
|
|
|
|
Post by starlingqueen on Feb 18, 2014 11:18:53 GMT
Ooo, another indoor aviary. You show me yours and I'll show you mine.
|
|
|
|
Post by Budgies Retreat on Feb 18, 2014 14:24:58 GMT
Here's our indoor aviary. Two large doors, small side door for feeding, and two full sized pull out trays for cleaning.
|
|
|
|
Post by starlingqueen on Feb 18, 2014 14:35:52 GMT
Very nice. Here's mine. It has a lot more in it now, including 9 budgies and 2 cockatiels.  |
|
|
|
Post by Budgies Retreat on Feb 18, 2014 14:43:42 GMT
A nice walk in one, if only I had the space........
I see we had the same idea with the T&G boards at the back. I need to find something else to line the trays with as it's costing £2.50 for 6 large sand sheets each time! Ouch!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by mizloco on Feb 18, 2014 15:26:40 GMT
Use newspapers don't use sand sheets they damage the birds feet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Budgies Retreat on Feb 18, 2014 15:53:34 GMT
We thought of newspaper, but how do the buds keep their claws short, or is it down to us clipping them? I read that once you start you have to keep going.
|
|
|
|
Post by Budgies Retreat on Feb 18, 2014 16:03:07 GMT
Here are some photos for you all This is Mildred. She is the stressed one described in my "first question" thread.  This is Betty, the vicious one!  This is Tom (left) and George  And this is Charlie our little baby aged about 9-10 weeks, our first one, and he will remain our caged pet.  |
|
|
|
Post by ffiscool on Feb 18, 2014 16:15:25 GMT
all beautiful buds... lovely colourings there
|
|
|
|
Post by OP on Feb 18, 2014 16:44:28 GMT
A splendid looking flock you have. Charlie is such a beauty, no wonder you want him as the pet.
The others certainly look attentive as you took the photos.
I've read a few times on here that perches of differing thickness as well as natural branches help keep the claws trimmed. No doubt the more experienced members will be able to add more information on that.
Welcome to the forum by the way.
|
|
|
|
Post by starlingqueen on Feb 18, 2014 17:57:37 GMT
Natural branches from safe trees are best for keeping claws short. They don't need clipping in the wild, or sanded perches/sheets. I have apple tree, willow and cob nut tree in mine.
|
|
|
|
Post by Budgies Retreat on Feb 18, 2014 18:20:57 GMT
Thank you all for your kind words.
In the aviary I have used square stock on a large home made ladder for the uprights, and 9mm dowel for the rungs, and I have used 9mm for the two main perches. They have 10mm rope perches and they have a perching stand which has 12mm dowelling.
I intend to find a suitable tree for some natural branches but I find it hard to distinguish the varieties, especially when they have no leaves! I know oak is NOT safe and that is about the only one I know by sight. I hear birch is safe, and if correct I believe that to have a white'ish bark with horizontal marks? There's loads of them around here. I hear sycamore is also a safe wood and that has a smooth bark with markings similar to a camouflage style marking, but that's all I know!
I'd never use sand perches regardless, IMO the should be banned.
|
|
|
|
Post by skysmum on Feb 18, 2014 21:09:54 GMT
Welcome to you and your lovely buds. I LOVE your aviary, well done beautiful job. You have someone to chat to while you work  . I have a loft full of remote controlled model planes  |
|
and I started building. I have experience of woodworking and spent around 4 nights designing the aviary. It was completed and 2 pairs of birds were bought from a champion breeder, and they were rehoused in their new home. Our pairs are called George and Mildred, and Tom and Betty (after our elderly neighbours who were married for 70 years, bless them).
.