Keeping aviary birds?

[ann]

hi! so i was looking into keeping aviary birds. i would like to keep bourkes parakeets in my back yard in a walk in aviary. i live in new york USA, and we have some harsh winters so should i bring them in in the winter? also i would like to keep them tame, so should i keep two females, or two males? what about breeding them? if i were to keep them tame, would they fly down to spend time with me(this is in a non-breeding situation)? whats a good number too keep, and how expensive are aviaries? and what other birds can you house bourkes with, i was thinking linnies or diamond doves. i have time to learn, i wont be doing this for a while ( if my parents let me). i guess this i to just help me find a good starting point. thank you for reading, any help is appreciated

 

[Parrot Parent]

My advice would be that you DO NOT house soft bills with hook bills. Diamond doves are very small and could easily be killed if the bourkes wanted to attack them. also it would be better to tame them indoors with their wings clipped. It makes them more dependent on you. Then a transition into an aviary would be good. Like an hour this week, a few the next, you know make the change over time so its not too drastic for them. And aviaries cost different prices. Are you building it? ordering online? Buying local could be better too. You really just have to shop around and find what youre looking for, then compare prices and what not

 

[Rio Mom]

If it weren't heated somehow, you would definately need to bring them inside once it's cold. I live in Pennsylvania, and it gets very cold here, and I know even colder in NY.

 

[Ratzy]

Now, I have a 2m by 2m aviary for my budgies.
Bourke's would be great in a 3m by 2m or more.
Mine cost about $150 to build ( keep in mind that this is Australian money, not American ). It is basically an old cubby house made bird proof and wired.
It would have cost less if I hadn't bothered to paint it all and use mouse proof wire and do the floor board fancy.
I suggest you keep them in a non-breeding situation in the aviary, and have separate cages for pairs. This way you can choose who you want to breed, and prevent young birds and older birds from breeding and prevent inbreeding from occurring.

Now, the rule is; no mixing softbills with hookbills. That means no parrots with doves/finches/canaries. Softbills can't defend themselves.
If you mix them, it could well end in heavy bloodshed. I know somebody who lost 2 finches to a budgie. It ripped their legs off.
I would just go with Bourke's and maybe mix species later on.

My budgies stay outside all year round, with plastic sheets wrapped round to keep out the draughts. And here in down under, we get 40 degree celsius days and 0 degree days. They are fine. You could put heat lamps up with a mesh guard around it, but it might not be necessary. Just keep an eye on them when it comes to that and have emergency cages ready.
As for keeping them tame in the aviary, it might work, but you'd have to put a lot of work in. Three of my budgies in the aviary are tame, but I have handled them since they were two weeks old.
Good luck!

 

[ann]

thanks, sory it took so long to answer. i think i will keep only bourkes. now, how do you "choose" to breed them? will they not breed unless theres a nest box, in other words how do you controll breeding? and if i were to keep them tame, very tame, like spend hours out there with them every day(in a non breeding situation), would i be able to put them on a harness and take them for a little walk outside like people do with their indoor birds?

 

[MikeyTN]

They will breed even when there's no nest box. The only way to really control it is by separating the mates apart! In order to really tame them you need to work with them a lot. Give them treats, give to the ones thats most friendly to you first and rest will follow. I used to stand in my aviary and they would fly to me to feed them.

 

[ann]

i dont know if i'll breed them, i think i should gain a little experience first. whats a good number to keep, i was thinking 4. should i keep 2 males and 2 females, but separate them unless i decide to breed them?

 

[Ratzy]

I don't know about Bourke's, but budgies only rarely lay eggs without a suitable nesting spot.
To control breed, you just separate a pair into a suitably sized breeding cage with a nest box.
I separated my genders when Marigold was getting over her chronic egg laying, but it didn't do that much. And she was much happier when she was with the males lol.
You could, if you wanted to make completely sure though.

( Keep in mind that I only have budgies and a cockatiel not Bourke's )

 

[ann]

that sounds good . now i just have to convince my parents, my mom says she doesnt know, but i have time so i'll hope for the best!