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Post by Learner on Oct 28, 2015 2:16:06 GMT
And... as I guess many would have known and been able to tell me at the time: The aviary simply isn't big enough!! So on Friday last my son arrived with some new mesh panels and a bit of spare time as well as his skills. By the time he had gone home again I had a new step for the shed, a block-base for a new flight and a big smile. Now I need to order some more galvanised mesh and have a lot of patience. (Photos to follow as soon as I have time)
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Post by Hezz on Oct 28, 2015 23:54:17 GMT
Sounds awesome. I am jealous.
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Post by steve05412 on Oct 29, 2015 6:50:47 GMT
Never are big enough. Am doing same as you. Good luck with the build
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Post by skysmum on Oct 29, 2015 10:00:22 GMT
Me too, you can never have a big enough aviary
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Post by Learner on Oct 29, 2015 11:54:15 GMT
It will be slow progress... rain today, no spare time (mum's care assistant not in to give me a break)....
so lots of time to sit and think/plan
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Post by jellybean on Oct 29, 2015 12:27:33 GMT
You'll get there Learner, and I'm sure it will be brilliant once finished. Look forward to the pictures.
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Post by FFG on Oct 30, 2015 23:37:02 GMT
I remember looking at your aviary when I was building mine. It is a really nice one so I'm sure it will be worth the wait and the extension will be great! I know one day I'll change mine and have already been planning it. My daughters rabbit is living in the perfect spot for my rebuild though!
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Post by Hezz on Oct 31, 2015 0:01:12 GMT
Maybe Bunnie needs a bigger home, as well???
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Post by Learner on Nov 1, 2015 18:34:20 GMT
Nothing happened extension wise this week as my son was partying (Halloween) and I was doing what I usually do. We have decided where to buy a new roll of wire mesh from and vaguely what the extension will look like so the planning is underway The new flight will be narrower than the existing one as it will be on the opposite end of the shed where the shed door is. The advantage will be I can have a corrugated plastic cover over the new flight and the existing shed door. When rain threatens I won't have to belt over to shut the door!! I must oik out my tape measure / rule and do a little bit of calli-cue-late-ing for materials.
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Post by Learner on Nov 4, 2015 1:30:51 GMT
It didn't rain on Friday......
My son had arrived to fit a new window in our garage and, as it was a pretty speedy job, he decided to do a little more work on the extension when he had finished.
Now, on top of the block-work base, we now have the flight frame most of which is already covered with wire mesh. The rear needs wire mesh and an access door in the middle. I want to double mesh the front and the end to protect the birds from 'visitors'.
Last week, while sitting in the conservatory keeping my mother company, first we saw a beautiful flash of soft feathers as the sparrow hawk with golden eyes returned. She is no longer a juvenile but a large dart of a creature with amazing speed. Flash and she was there... looking at us looking at her. Fleetingly she sat on the roof of the shed and then, just as speedily as she had arrived, she was gone. Meanwhile the budgies had all belted into their inner quarters apart from one young cock-bird who hung onto the side of the outer flight. No damage done. The double-mesh was well worth the money and the peace of mind.
The following afternoon a rather smart looking white and ginger cat wandered by. Normally I am quite pleased to see cats especially if they disappear under the aviary shed. (Not so keen if they eye up the flower or vegetable beds!)Cats are welcome to search for mice or bigger things that's why the aviary shed was built up on concrete blocks above a paving stone base. Easy cat access and no hiding place for mickies.
The cat wandered out of sight behind the flower tubs.... I went back to reading my book and my mother's eye-lids flickered closed... Then wallop!!
The b*****y cat was hanging nearly a meter off the ground on the wire-mesh at the end of the flight.
Looking rather foolish it pushed back off again disappearing back between the tubs of fading late summer blooms and herbs. The budgies had stopped, looked and then carried on doing whatever it was they were doing before. Many of them are very accustomed to cats as they had once lived across the road in my conservatory where our own cat likes to snooze. Gwen the Green's hobby was grabbing our cat's tail through the cage bars so.. Cats? Not that interesting.
The visiting moggie hasn't been back. What an embarrassment for it... hanging there looking silly and ignored by a bunch of birds!
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Post by Hezz on Nov 4, 2015 1:40:59 GMT
Go, budgies! Anything that makes a cat look stupid gets my vote. It must be the season for sparrow hawks looking for a feed; clt80 had one visit her aviary as well.
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Post by Learner on Nov 5, 2015 1:20:59 GMT
Go, budgies! Anything that makes a cat look stupid gets my vote. It must be the season for sparrow hawks looking for a feed; clt80 had one visit her aviary as well. Fewer wild baby birds about in autumn so the sparrow hawks check out gardens for finches, sparrows and small song birds.
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Post by clt80 on Nov 5, 2015 12:20:41 GMT
Must admit when i saw the sparrow hawk, just staring back at me I did think wow what a beautiful bird. Then it dawned on me what it wanted! It was not having my budgies then or any other day!
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Post by Learner on Nov 6, 2015 0:11:46 GMT
Today it poured.. but I still had to do some washing. A pile of towels disappeared into our tumble dryer across the road.
That was a bit of a relief - the washing-line, one of those four-armed spin around jobs no longer spins around
The new flight extension is in the way so the washing line is firmly frozen in position.. no more spinning around.
After all the budgies' comfort comes first.
Now I have to figure out how to get the washing line pole out of the ground in one piece and then, if all goes well, where and how to re-site it so it's useable but out of the way and.......still in the sun (when we get some).
Another job for a dry day.
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Post by OP on Nov 6, 2015 8:35:16 GMT
Now I have to figure out how to get the washing line pole out of the ground in one piece and then, if all goes well, where and how to re-site it so it's useable but out of the way and.......still in the sun (when we get some).
Another job for a dry day. That depends on what sort of ground it is sunk into. Garden soil ti is quite possible and fairly easy. Hardcore you may be able to lift it. Concrete, lop it off as close as possible to the ground and forget it.
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