Location & size of insulated chamber

[Barry]

Dear all,

As the colder months approach, I'm trying to finalise my plans for including a warm spot for my aviary. However, I must admit I need some advice on the matter, and many Google searches haven't provided a satisfactory answer.

My biggest concern is: when a warm spot is available in an aviary, will my budgies make use of it instead of freezing to death? This might sound like a dead giveaway, but since my budgies currently prefer remaining outside to coming indoors (current nighttime temp is about 8°C / 46°F), I'm quite concerned they just don't understand that certain places available to them are warmer than others.

If they would hide away on a cold night, what should the accomodations look like in terms of minimum space and level of isolation? I'll be constructing a double layer plywood box with insulation between the layers and a warmth element under part (half) of it, but I'm split between having a hole entrance or just a U shape with no front. Would they use the hole entrance once it gets cold?

As always, thank you for any advice, it's greatly appreciated!

[Hezz]

Most people with an insulated shed will have a bolt-hole for the birds to come and go though that can be closed off, but they would also have a door so that the birds would be closed in for the night and let out again in the morning.

Perhaps clt80 can give you more of an idea of what is needed. Cold weather is not something I have to worry about.

[clt80]

My aviary has an inside and an outside. The inside is just the same as any normal shed, it's partitioned so there is the area the budgies live and sleep, and my area which is by the door so it acts as a buffer zone.

To get outside I have a very small hole for them, big enough to get out but not too big that all the heat escapes. It has a flap attached outside so it can be closed, a bit like a lever bridge if you will. It's open all day, but at night they go inside and I close it up. I have a radiator inside for them, a portable one that I plug in. We out a plug socket on by running a wire from the garage. There is also a small nightlight.

All my budgies come in at night, in fact I don't let them out on any days where the temperature is below 5-6 degrees Celsius. They will go out in freezing conditions and die if I don't look out for them, they don't realise, or at least mine don't.

When it's dusk I go out to put the radiator on and close the flap. Most budgies have gone inside, their seed pots and water are inside and they are eating before bed, I have several long perches which they roost on. Any still out I shoo inside.

Hope this is of some help.

[Barry]

clt80 Thank you, this is exactly the information I needed and more.

"They will go out in freezing conditions and die if I don't look out for them, they don't realise, or at least mine don't."

So this is what I feared. Of course I would get them inside on cold days, but it now seems I will have to do that even on a cold night. I've constructed something that might persuade them to go inside it when it gets cold, just waiting for the warmth element to arrive so I can finish it up. If they won't, it'll do as a posh nest box. Will post pictures once it's finished.

Btw your flap idea is brilliant, I think I get the jist of what it would look like. I'll definitely incorporate something similar.

[clt80]

You're welcome. The flap is tiny, equivalent to a human and a door frame. Just enough for them to get out or in one at a time.

Mine now know the script and go in at dusk, but if they haven't I just do one clap and they know that means bedtime and they go in. Clever buds. Years ago in the beginning I would often be running around trying to waft them inside gently. You may have to do the same, but they will get a routine and stick to it. They like routines

[Marianne Marlow]

They certainly do like routines

Wow, one clap and they're in, that's fantastic!

[birdguhl]

Last night I couldn’t sleep and after reading this thread I decided to come up with an idea of what my ideal aviary set-up would - my fantasy aviary! It took my mind off other stuff and I did fall asleep after a bit. I’ll continue working on it tonight, unless I’m in the land of nod!

[Barry]

Alright, I've got an update for whomever is interested, along with another question.

Still have to fit hinges on one end for cleaning access, include some washable carpet (figured that would give the best insulation?), and decorate the inside, then i'll be able to screw it all together. The "walls" are double layers of plywood with 1" insulation and the hot plate included inside. I'll add a picture of the whole thing for scale.

I've tested the setup with just one branch inside, without electricity, and with the whole thing taped together, and they absolutely love it. They'll crawl inside during the day and remain fixed there for several hours, with or without the plexiglass front side.

My issue now is that I'll have to install some sort of flap, like clt80 suggested, that'll allow them to go in and out while keeping most air flow out, and will work for my setup. I've considered a leather strip curtain, but they'll chew that to shreds in a day. Should I just drill another hole and just have one exit with a rubber exit flap, and an entrance with a rubber entrance flap?

[clt80]

Oct 14, 2020 10:57:12 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

They certainly do like routines

Wow, one clap and they're in, that's fantastic!

They never use to at first, it has taken literally years and years

[clt80]

Oct 15, 2020 15:19:54 GMT Barry said:

Oct 15, 2020 15:19:54 GMT Barry said:

On the floor inside I use newspaper, easy to bin and replace. Outside we have them tiny pebble stones for drainage, then on top the rubber square mats that click together (incase of a fall) then on top of that I bought some plastic on a roll and i change it weekly. So the mats stay clean and the droppings go on the plastic. I use to use bark but was a pain removing and replacing it, and you've got the mould/fungus issue to think about. I've taken some pics, may help to give you ideas that you can adapt for your own aviary.

[Hezz]

I'm confused. clt80, is the above post yours, barry's or a bit of both?

barry, do you have any hens? I would be concerned that this looks too much like a nest box and they will be wanting to breed. If you have more than one hen, that could lead to fights with one hen killing another.

[clt80]

It's mine Hezz, goodness knows what I've clicked for it to end up in the quote box.

[Hezz]

Oct 16, 2020 16:07:07 GMT clt80 said:

It's mine Hezz, goodness knows what I've clicked for it to end up in the quote box.

I thought so ... computers are evil sometimes. That's what I tell myself whenever things go wrong and I don't know why.