Netting in backyard

[HannahReyenne]

Hello!

This is my first post here, so apologies if this isn't the right section for this question.

I'm wanting to net in my backyard. We have a fenced in yard if that makes a different, some parts privacy fence and some parts chain link. How would I go about doing this? Would it be just making a giant batting cage? Could I just set up poles on the fence line as high as the house and connect the netting to the roof? What type of material should the net be? Would I be able to get netting that's small enough for my cockatiel/conure but also strong enough for my macaw?
Any help with this would be amazing and greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[SailBoat]

Welcome to Parrot Forums.
Without a clear understanding of what 'pets' are allowed to roam in your area and what wild animals fly and roam are important in defining what 'netting' can be used. Larger birds and a cross-section of animals can crash though or crew into an enclosure. Clearly, the larger and more active chewers there are the use of netting becomes useless.
That needs to be defined prior to moving forward.
Also, remember that a fair number of animals are active diggers.

 

[HannahReyenne]

Thanks for the welcome!

I just wanted to say that we're only netting it in so we can have the birds sit with us outside, under our covered patio. They would not be left unsupervised, but since all - except our recently rescued conure - of our birds are flighted we want to make sure there's no risk of a fly off. Currently we use harnesses but it gets hard to manage if we have all of them out, haha.

Would critters still be big concern when it's not going to be an enclosure for the bird where they're left alone for any amount of time? We have cement under the fence line and the chainlink is attached to it so nothing could get in unless they chew through the metal/wood. Though I've never seen anything besides rabbits our neighbor breeds, outside of our fence.

 

[Betrisher]

G'day HannahReyenne and thanks for asking the question! We're about to do something similar and I'm also agonising about what materials to use.

Some years ago, we purchased an enormous aviary for our flock, but then my Mum passed away and we moved back to my childhood home. There's no room for the big aviary. (Wanna buy a really nice green aviary that's 4m x 4m x 4m???)

Anyway, soon after moving in, we replaced and enlarged the deck at the back of the house. After some thought, we realised that part of the deck could be enclosed to make a bird 'room' where I could safely allow the birds out of their cages to play and be trained (but never left unsupervised). The area's about 3m x 4m x 2m.

Possibilities:

- common chicken wire - galvanised
- 'aviary mesh' 25mm meshes with 2m welded galvanised wire
- stainless steel mesh 25mm meshes with 2mm welded wire
- petmesh (nylon/fibreglass) - like fly-screen, but strengthened to cope with large animals scratching it with claws
- stainless steel petmesh (stainless steel powder coated wire) - like fly screen, only made from steel mesh

My husband keeps saying I should go with galvanised wire because it's *much* cheaper and 'everybody' (he hasn't been able to give me a list of names yet) uses it. The local supplier has said 'everybody' buys galvanised wire mesh for aviaries and cages but also can't give me an estimate of how many purchasers actually did so.

In an ideal world, I'd go with the 25mm stainless mesh, however it costs an absolute *bomb* and is also very heavy. Part of the necessary design will be a raisable hatch-like panel that will clip to the ceiling when the birds are not out as well as two sliding doors to allow access. Weight matters.

At the moment, we're leaning toward the stainless fly screen. My worry is that, over time, the birds could conceivably wear holes in it. Hubby's answer to that is 'You'll always be with them when they're out and you won't let them chew the wire'.

That's true, but I need to be absolutely *certain* my birds will be safe.

So, like you, I'm wondering. I'd love to hear any thoughts you might like to share.

Betrisher

PS. I rang the vet and asked his opinion. All he would say is that 'it only takes one fairly small flake of zinc (from the galvanised wire) to kill a bird stone dead'. At least that halved the playing field for me.

 

[SailBoat]

There is a huge difference between netting in a backyard, then enclosing a covered patio /porch area. In addition, this huge difference continues as to whether one has Tiels or B&G Macs. Add to those differences whether you are in a dry climate or a rainy one.

Close friends had an Adult Red Tail Hawk (likely a female based on the size of the hole) crash into their aviary, killing and flying off with the bodies of five large Parrots. This event has caused me to rethink just recommended materials based on very general (limited) information.

The reality of the statement "never left unsupervised" is that you will leave them unsupervised as an emergency will distract you for a few moments (and commonly longer). Its a reality of life and being human. Build as if you will not be there every moment!

Once again, the material is based on what maybe coming in and what will be in the enclosed area. Without basics information like that, you could end up with a Red Tail Hawk or like bird crashing in or your Mac chewing his way out.

 

[Betrisher]

Yes, you're absolutely right, Sailboat. Even the best vigilance can go sideways just because of Fate.

Years ago, my rescued bull terrier crashed into my father's aviary and killed two of his four Galahs. She had lived peaceably beside them for over a year and one night at *midnight*, she just snapped and burst right through the aviary wire (chicken wire at the time - was the common 'wisdom' back then) and went nutso. Sadly, my Dad refused to have her another day at our house, so she went back to the rescue.

Our Dominic (RIP - miss you, mate!) was one of the two survivors of that incident.