aviary concerns

hi everyone! well we've decided that there's some extra space in the backyard and da fids are gonna get an aviary!!

should i leave them inside the aviary for the whole day and bring them back in at night? or keep their cages inside the aviary and let them out when i'm there?

i've heard many stories of how fids kept in aviaries turn 'wild' so i was wondering how this would affect my bond with them….:31:

advice and comments are alwaaays appreciated

If you frequently interact with your birds then having them in an aviary shouldn't matter.


When I had a bird room where all the birds inside of it were allowed to be cage-free, I actually noticed calmer, friendlier birds than when they were stuck inside a cage. I actually found it easier to work with them because they could choose to fly away or come to me of their own choice.


As far as how to house them.... well, that's up to you and whether or not you can safely keep them out there at all times and/or safely move them in and out of the house.

My only suggestion would be to be 100% certain you have a GOOD LOCK on that enclosure. I have had my birds released by a naughty neighbor when left unattended for less than a minute, and there was a post here recently about someone who had their lovebirds stolen. Please be sure your aviary is in clear view from a window you are often near, and has a secure lock

Oh I can't stress that enough! Locks, locks and more locks! It was my Lovebirds that were stolen and I can't describe the awful desolation that caused my family! You need to get tamper-proof wire and bolt-cutter-proof padlocks. Some kind of noise-maker is a good idea as well (eg. a Coke can with a few pebbles in it hanging from the cage).

My Beaks live outdoors now and that hadn't been a problem at all at first. They still spent most of their days indoors on their playgym and only went home at night to sleep. Then our kitchen renovations began. I've had exposed electrical and network wiring for the past month and so the Beaks haven't been able to come inside for flight or training. I can really see the difference! I have a strong feeling it's going to be pretty much back to square one when they can finally come back indoors again.

If you do put your birds outside in an aviary, you'll need to think carefully how you're going to transfer them indoors from out-of-doors. We put a porthole arrangement in the wall of the house (pics in my album, I think?) so the Beakies can come and go easily. I'd hate to have to go through the whole carry-cage rigmarole! I will say, it does reduce the 'birdiness' in a small house if you use an outdoor aviary. The down-side is that your birds are no longer in the centre of your home and therefore nowhere near as socially 'with' you. I do miss that.

MonicaMc said:

If you frequently interact with your birds then having them in an aviary shouldn't matter.


When I had a bird room where all the birds inside of it were allowed to be cage-free, I actually noticed calmer, friendlier birds than when they were stuck inside a cage. I actually found it easier to work with them because they could choose to fly away or come to me of their own choice.


As far as how to house them.... well, that's up to you and whether or not you can safely keep them out there at all times and/or safely move them in and out of the house.

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Exactly! That's a myth. They don't turn wild because they are in an aviary setting. They turn wild because THEY DON'T GET HANDLED. Putting them in an aviary, and yet keeping them in a cage kinda defeats the purpose of having the aviary.

Again, if the aviary isn't secure, then it's a problem leaving them outside all the time.

thanks for your replies!!so i suppose it'll be fine to let em stay in it. they're still gonna get lots of time with me so i'm not worried!

oh another question…what kind of material besides stainless steel is okay? i tried contacting my local bird park but they aint replying><