Brick shed aviary!

[sinclairmic]

Hi I am new to the forum. I am in the process of planning an aviary build in my garden. I have a brick shed which is 10 foot x 7foot internally. I plan to construct an indoor flight which will be the full length and 4foot wide. I also have room for an outdoor flight which is going to be 12ftx7ftx7ft. I have a few questions with regards to the inside of the shed. It is a single skin brick shed with a thick concrete roof. At the moment it has a wooden door and window. I have bought a upvc double glazed window to replace the wooden one with and i am trying to source a upvc door that will fit. 

My questions are :

Will I need to insulate the inside even when i will be using a heat source during the colder months?

Where is the best place to buy the mesh for the aviary build?

Will quail be ok sharing the indoor and outdoor living space with the birds.

Is gravel an ok medium for the flight floor. It will be hosed down and stirred during cleaning?

What white paint is safe to paint the iternal structure with?


Thanks in advance Michael

[jellybean]

Hi sinclairmic , welcome to the forum. There are a few members on here who have aviaries, I am sure they will be on later, and will be glad to help with your questions.

[Hezz]

Hi Michael; welcome. I can't help you with most of your questions, but for your painting, almost any paint will do if the birds are not yet in residence. If you want to be able to house them asap after painting then any of the low VOC paints are good - Dulux advertises most of theirs as being low VOC; I know many members have used white emulsion on their interiors.

My question regarding gravel on the floor - how do you then keep the vermin out?

[sinclairmic]

After carefull consideration I think I will go for a concrete base for the flight and use concrete blocks for the supports for the mesh frames. I have priced the concrete up and it is going to be 140.00 I am going to start the ground work next month.

[Hezz]

A concrete floor is the best way to go, I feel. Are you going to do it, the concreting, yourself?

[sinclairmic]

Yes I am going to do it myself. Going to do the groundwork put in the hardcore. But pay for someone to barrow the concrete in. It will be just as economic and a lot quicker and consistent. I need to put a new concrete floor on the inside of the shed with a damp proof membrane. Do you think the outside flight floor will need reinforcing. I was going to make it 4 inches thick. It will be 7ftx 12 ft.

[Hezz]

All the concreters I have spoken to over the while have recommended reinforcing, but we are in very different parts of the world. The main reason why where I am is shallow tree roots - they can wreak a slab of concrete in no time without decent "reo". I wouldn't like to make a call in your case ....... ask a concreter.

[FFG]

You are lucky to have a brick shed that you can turn into an aviary . I'm sure your buds will be very happy in there. I guess if you insulate it that would be great and the birds will be toastie.
I made mine out of wood and sandwiched bubble wrap inside to insulate, but if I had had the choice, money and space I would have maybe gone for brick build and used celotex insulation and boarded inside.

I used paving slabs inside and out and blockwork to protect from any unwanted visitors...

Here's a link if any help
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/10731/first-aviary-advice?page=3

Look forward to seeing how you get on. Good luck with it all

[steve05412]

Greetings and welcome

Can I offer a few suggestions to help with your project based on what I have used for my own aviary.

You can buy mesh from here

www.meshdirect.co.uk/wire-mesh-wire-netting/aviary-mesh/

I ended up at wickes only because I live 5 mins away from the store.

For the paint for your aviary a water based smooth masonary paint as it is more durable and it also waterproofs the brick work as well as sealing it against dust. As FFG says if your budget allows you could use celotex and line the shed then board it all out with ply wood. Again subject to budget the floor of your flight could have underfloor heating with floor tiles layed on top this is controlled by a thermostat. I would also suggest possibly a fan heater with built in adjustable thermostat as well to help keep the shed warm.
Make sure the enrty/exit doors to the flight are draughtproof as you don't need an artic blast coming in on the cold days/nights.
Lighting in mine is a fluro tube on a time switch, but other use different methods with bulbs.

www.northernparrots.com/parrot-and-bird-lights-dept168/

hth....cheers...steve

[FFG]

Also here is good for your mesh...

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Welded-Wire-Mesh-1-4-x-1-4-x-15m-long-Aviary-Hutches-3-widths-Easipet-/131003936914?var=&hash=item642e763a82

I used all stainless steel screws and chain for fixing all their perches and toys etc. I am paranoid that they would get metal poisoning from biting rusty screws. (you may know all this stuff anyway but anything you don't just ask. I got some great advice here when building mine, and still do)

[sinclairmic]

Thanks very much for your replies. I am now going to insulate the shed and board it out. I'm going for polystyrene due to it being half the price of kingspan/celotex. I am going to board it with osb/chipboard again because it is a lot cheaper than ply and when painted won't be much different. I am getting the inside in order first as I can work on it in all weathers then next year start on the outside flight.

[FFG]

Sounds like a good plan

[sinclairmic]

With regards to draughts. what is the best way to create an entrance/exit from the interior to exterior. best position to avoid direct chill/draughts use a door? also to fit an extractor fan. the best place ?

Thanks