Outdoor Aviary

[Merlee]

I am thinking about building an outdoor aviary on my back patio. With the humidity here, wrought iron rusts over time so the typical powder coated cage probably would do the same.

What type of wire or fencing can I use? What type of roofing should I use too? Where can I get it? A friend of mine uses a powder coated dog kennel, but wondering what my options are before going that route.

 

[ShellyBorg]

Powder coated dog kennel is the best and cheapest way to go. lowes even has in with 1"1" spaces.

 

[Merlee]

Powder coated dog kennel is the best and cheapest way to go. lowes even has in with 1"1" spaces.

That is exactly where my friend purchased hers. I may go look at it tomorrow.

 

[Merlee]

I have been looking online at various aviaries used by breeders and wonder what kind of wiring they use. From the looks of them, they look like typical wire purchased at a hardware store.

I want something to put my birds in to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine in a larger area for a few hours while I am outside too. Might be a nice thing to look at outside our kitchen windows.

 

[henpecked]

I was waiting to add my .02 worth. Most outside aviary are built with the GAW wire. I'd guess most of the parrots kept in captivity are kept in GAW cages. Yes there's an issue with zinc in the GAW wire. I kept many zons in GAW pens, put they don't chew on the wire !! Some of my birds have been in this type of "cage " for 30-40 yrs. The only metal toxicity issues i've had are with pet birds and poor toys. I wash my GAW wire with a vinegar solution and "age" in the sun/rain for a few months. I do use SS hareware/fasteners when ever possible. I use a 1x2 14ga GAW 4' wide and 100 ft rolls. This will not stop things like cats, possums, coons,snake or insects. But it's good at stopping large predators like dogs, hawks,People. I also use a screen outside of the wire mesh. It stops the bugs and snakes . It something is trying to get in you'll spot it when you see tears in the screen. I'd think outside your kitchen window is a great place, but be watchful. A cat or hawk could cause panic and injurys. I'd also keep a window open to hear if the alarm call goes up.Nothing will make you want to buy a shot gun , any faster, than seeing a hawk hanging on to the outside of your aviary , trying to eat your pet. My breeders are outside 24/7 and i now have a good ,well trained watch dog. Even the hawks keep their distance. I'm sure we'll talk more about an outside aviary. I'd give some thought about framing and pouring a "pad".

PS the perfect size mesh would be 1/2' x3' , they make it just for outside cages and aviaries. You can even get it in SS !! I'd love to be able to afford to use it!!

 

[Pajarita]

I would go with SS. They don't have it in hardware stores but you can order the rolls online (even mosquito screen gauge).

 

[henpecked]

There's a world of difference in the quality of GAW wire, the better stuff cost more .last longer and IMO "safer" . Used to be called "English Cage Wire" because the English made the best stuff. The cheaper stuff nowdays will rust quicker ,not last as long and the rust makes it toxic to birds.It also doesn't "line up" as well when you try to seam it together. Research the manufacturer, cheaper is not always better.

 

[Merlee]

I was waiting to add my .02 worth. Most outside aviary are built with the GAW wire. I'd guess most of the parrots kept in captivity are kept in GAW cages. Yes there's an issue with zinc in the GAW wire. I kept many zons in GAW pens, put they don't chew on the wire !! Some of my birds have been in this type of "cage " for 30-40 yrs. The only metal toxicity issues i've had are with pet birds and poor toys. I wash my GAW wire with a vinegar solution and "age" in the sun/rain for a few months. I do use SS hareware/fasteners when ever possible. I use a 1x2 14ga GAW 4' wide and 100 ft rolls. This will not stop things like cats, possums, coons,snake or insects. But it's good at stopping large predators like dogs, hawks,People. I also use a screen outside of the wire mesh. It stops the bugs and snakes . It something is trying to get in you'll spot it when you see tears in the screen. I'd think outside your kitchen window is a great place, but be watchful. A cat or hawk could cause panic and injurys. I'd also keep a window open to hear if the alarm call goes up.Nothing will make you want to buy a shot gun , any faster, than seeing a hawk hanging on to the outside of your aviary , trying to eat your pet. My breeders are outside 24/7 and i now have a good ,well trained watch dog. Even the hawks keep their distance. I'm sure we'll talk more about an outside aviary. I'd give some thought about framing and pouring a "pad".

PS the perfect size mesh would be 1/2' x3' , they make it just for outside cages and aviaries. You can even get it in SS !! I'd love to be able to afford to use it!!

My patio is poured concrete so all I need to do is find something to put the birds in. I found a clip on youtube.com and the host purchased an Sun Catcher Aviary manufactured by Cage By Design. He didn't recommend it because of so many problems, but it's the only one I found that looked nice.

The South is notorious for fire ants and their bites are horrible to experience. So I am open to ideas to deter them as well.

 

[henpecked]

Fire Ants, the best thing is a good pad (floor) that is easy to keep clean. Well drained so you can hose it off . Keeping things clean is how to control ants. I also use diatomaceuos earth around the base.

 

[Merlee]

My patio is clean. Believe it or not, I have had fire ants take up residence in our hot tub and plant pots. I think they are looking for high ground that will not be affected by rain. I have used DE as well around the house and don't think it works because I do not see immediate results. If I get this thing going I will put some down as preventative measure. I have two boxes of it, so I may as well use it. I was thinking you would say to build a moat, but ants will build an ant body bridge to get where they want to go.

 

[Merlee]

Powder coated dog kennel is the best and cheapest way to go. lowes even has in with 1"1" spaces.

I went to Lowes to check it out. I didn't like it because I thought the gaps around the door and between the panels made me feel uncomfortable. It probably would have been fine for macaws, if you put a padlock on the gate. I wanted my amazon to use it too and I am not willing to take any chances with my babies.

I may ending up purchasing an inexpensive cage for outside usage.

 

[henpecked]

My patio is clean. Believe it or not, I have had fire ants take up residence in our hot tub and plant pots. I think they are looking for high ground that will not be affected by rain. I have used DE as well around the house and don't think it works because I do not see immediate results. If I get this thing going I will put some down as preventative measure. I have two boxes of it, so I may as well use it. I was thinking you would say to build a moat, but ants will build an ant body bridge to get where they want to go.

Keeping clean, i meant cleaning up after the birds. Food/poop that sort of thing. Food is what brings the fire ants. My next aviary will have a floor that slopes to the center and a sump at one end so i can quickly hose it down a drain into a strainer. I have used a product call "Talstar" i used the liquid form and sprayed it around and under the foundation of the aviary when i built it several years ago. I haven't had a problem with the fire ants in the aviary but they are very bad in my yard after the heavy rains flood the surrounding areas.

 

[Merlee]

Maybe an inexpensive used playtop cage with wheels would be more appropriate for my needs. We could modify it and add some sort of roof. Droppings could be better controlled because here ants are everywhere searching for food. We can treat one mound in the lawn and another pops up. I get bit just walking down the driveway to get the mail or newspaper.