Bilding outdoor aviary????

I am looking to build some outdoor aviaries to breed amazons, Eclectus, and African greys in. I just don't know what kind of wire to use. Should I use 16 gauge 1x1 inch wire? What should i use for a structure? I am looking for the cheapest way possible yo do it. I researched it and found that it would cost around 500 or more. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tyler

A word of caution if you go with a premade or kitset type aviary
make sure it contains no zinc in the wire or the paint etc

Tylerswildphotos said:

I am looking to build some outdoor aviaries to breed amazons, Eclectus, and African greys in. I just don't know what kind of wire to use. Should I use 16 gauge 1x1 inch wire? What should i use for a structure? I am looking for the cheapest way possible yo do it. I researched it and found that it would cost around 500 or more. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tyler

Click to expand...

I am going to sound a bit off here...... If you do not know what kind of wire is safe and you do not want to spend money then you should not breed birds.

Sorry Tyler but I really think you are getting yourself into something that needs years and years of hands on EXPERIENCE. You need to have loads of cash in the bank at all times as well. No reading in the world can make up for experience.

If you are determined to breed then rather start small and not 3 species at once. Also do it when you have a lot of money to put into it and that includes building the aviary. It really shocks me how people talk of parrots as breeders. Why is it that breeding parrots have cheap accommodation, cheap food, no attention, living outside regardless of the climate difference of where they actually came from? Why are they less bird than the bird that are part of your family?

Thanks for your replies. I do have experience breeding and hand feeding birds. I have four pairs of cockatiels, a pair of Latino ringnecks, and a pair half moon conures. I also bought a 1 month old Double yellow amazon that I hand feed and is now 5 months old and now eating on his own. After I got my amazon I realized that i like them much better than smaller species. So i am going to sell all my breeders and start off with one pair of amazons, then work my way up to african greys and eclectus. All my birds are like part of my family even my breeders. They are all in huge cages for there species. I am looking to build a 12x12x10 foot aviary, I know that is bigger than you need but I know the bigger the cages the happier the birds will be. I just wanted some suggestions on the cheapest cage material because i think it is weird to spend more on the cage than the birds themselves.
Thanks

I feel sooooo much better! Thank you! Red lights ALWAYS goes on when people breed because all the breeders I've been to keep the parrots in appalling conditions.

Unfortunately their isnt a cheap way. You cant use chicken wire because it is toxic and so are most other wire. The best is stainless steel, it will last forever, where as the rest eventually rust. 10-12 Gauge is the best for bigger parrots.

Stainless steel is pricy BUT you will only fork out the money once. Other wire will have to be replaced over time and medical bills can skyrocket because of metal poisoning. Or you will just loose all your birds.

I hope I have been of some help.

Thanks a lot. How about this wire? YARDGARD 4 ft. x 100 ft. Welded Wire - 308312B at The Home Depot

Zinc is toxic to them though isn't it?

Thanks

Oh I wish I was in a climate that I could build an outside aviary! Plan on moving south in the next few years. Have one more human child to get out of highschool then I am southern bound. I am leaning toward Arizona. Sedona spent a week there years ago and knew from that moment I would live there someday!