Thinking about aviary?

[outnumbered]

Hi, I am just considering this as it may turn out to be too much hassle. I have a small summer house/shed 8x6. I have looked into it and it seems that I need to insulate, heat and floor it. My question is, do I really need all of this? I have also looked at some ready built aviaries and some only come with a night box attatched to them, but some do come with an indoor area. Maybe it would be easier to buy one ready made. Finally, a friend told me that avairies attract rats

I am really confused on what to do.

I am in Grantham and really just want to have more birds not for breeding but I do know that will probably change Also, unless it is a real emergency I cannot really bring them inside my house.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Depending upon the weather and the shed's condition, you may have to insulate, heat and floor it.

Post some pictures of the shed if possible and members from UK will be able to advise you

[Hezz]

"Good thinking, 99", sorry, BB. Check out "Get Smart"

[outnumbered]

Here you go. I cannot get inside it at the moment as it is full of toys
It is about 2 years old and has no damage, wood etc all in good condition.

Thanks for your help

[skysmum]

Hi outnumbered, id kill to turn that into an aviary. Mine is about the same size but it was built as an aviary. About a quarter of mine is outside flight and inside half is for the budgies, the other half is for me to get in and out with internal doors etc. Mine is not insulated and my birds have been outside in it for about 5 years with no problems. In the coldest weather i do keep a little heater on very low, frostguard setting. It would be easy to attach a small outside flight but equally you could just section the inside and keep them in there. The only thing i would look into is how hot it gets in the summer with there being lots of glass, some of the windows could be shaded though with blinds etc. I cant see a problem with it on the whole. However i don't breed in mine all my breeding has been indoors, you would have to keep a close eye on the temperature if you were to breed.

[Deleted]

the cold will .......not kill them ....but drafts will ...
i insulated mine and i heat it ....its cool in the hot weather....... and warm in the coldest of weather ...i would do it every time ...my heating costs a tiny amount since i insulated it...
and a floor is a must....but surly it has a floor .... doesnt it.......
aviary's do attract rats if food is put in the out side flight ...i had rats ...now i only feed inside ...no more rats...

[outnumbered]

Mar 30, 2012 15:09:54 GMT skysmum said:

Hi outnumbered, id kill to turn that into an aviary. Mine is about the same size but it was built as an aviary. About a quarter of mine is outside flight and inside half is for the budgies, the other half is for me to get in and out with internal doors etc. Mine is not insulated and my birds have been outside in it for about 5 years with no problems. In the coldest weather i do keep a little heater on very low, frostguard setting. It would be easy to attach a small outside flight but equally you could just section the inside and keep them in there. The only thing i would look into is how hot it gets in the summer with there being lots of glass, some of the windows could be shaded though with blinds etc. I cant see a problem with it on the whole. However i don't breed in mine all my breeding has been indoors, you would have to keep a close eye on the temperature if you were to breed.

Thanks for your input. I think i would change the doors anyway as they never sit properly but as it was just a junk room it didn't bother us. Where are you located? I think my main concern is how much change I would have to do or just buy one readymade?

[outnumbered]

Mar 30, 2012 15:43:12 GMT @mickmay said:

the cold will .......not kill them ....but drafts will ...
i insulated mine and i heat it ....its cool in the hot weather....... and warm in the coldest of weather ...i would do it every time ...my heating costs a tiny amount since i insulated it...
and a floor is a must....but surly it has a floor .... doesnt it.......
aviary's do attract rats if food is put in the out side flight ...i had rats ...now i only feed inside ...no more rats...

Thanks Mickmay, Yes it does have a floor, same as the sides just wood. It is sitting on slabs but not direcly it has a gap. I wish I could imagine what the inside looked like. How many birds i could have etc, just to see if it is worthwhile. Off to do more reasearch

[skysmum]

Mmmm its a difficult one. Im lucky my OH is pretty good at DIY, i made some changes to mine by bringing the floor levels up for my two non flyers and i also put tiny mesh on the flight and also perspex a quarter of the way up the outside because we were having night visitors i.e MICE and just those changes cost about £80, when the whole aviary only cost £150 to have built. I have some pics on the pictures section under My Aviary if you want to have a look. We are down south in Berkshire.