Progress on the aviary

[Molcan2]

Hope to be done with this exhausting project in the next week to two weeks. We finally have the wire up on the sides and as of today only need two more panels on the roof (roof is on but we are putting wire up so the birds can chew on the roof supports). Though I would share the update on the project.

The entire inside is wire (1x1 GAW 14g) with a galvanized border along the bottom (in case we decide to do button quail for a clean up crew, although Rosie spends most of her day on the ground already eating what Rome drops). The entire outside will be enclosed with screen (Rome hates gnats, Rosie tries to eat them, plus protects them from the mosquitoes). the doorway will be screen enclosed and will attach to the screened lanai we already have (cuts down on bugs plus we will have a safe way to bring the in the house, since they are all fully flighted). The doorway will be double enclosed (walk through a door to a screened in place then into the aviary door). I have decided that the aviary will be planted (sunflowers, wheat grass, bermuda grass, bamboo, banana plants, hibiscus etc.). We are debating on a pond right now. Also the perches are going to be grape vines that we have cut down ourselves of various sizes.

Oh, and the outside of the aviary will have a border of rocks to deter predators from digging in. I cant wait to be done, not only will the birds have more space but we will also get the back porch back (as they are taking up the entire back porch right now).

 

[Molcan2]

Oh price wise, I originally set out with a budget of $700, foolish me, the wire by itself cost $700 even. When finally done it will be around $2500-$3,000 (depending on if we do the pond). The rock that will be used for the border was free, the labor is free (thankfully he is a carpenter) and the perches were free (we have a friend who had grape vines choking out her oak trees, so we jumped on the chance to remove them for her). We have been working on this project since December with an original completion date to be done by spring. Were over budget and way over time but I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Our biggest debate right now, aside from the pond (which will add two the three days), is sleeping arrangements. I'm not sure if we should keep the sleep cages, make sleep boxes, or have roll up bamboo blinds on the outside and just roll them down at night? I'm shying away from the boxes, as I don't want to encourage nesting behavior.

 

[forbey]

You have several varying sized birds; will they all be in the aviary at the same time? Do they all get along? I heard of a story about a cockatoo owner who put ring-necked doves in the cage to help clean up bugs and dropped pood. The owner came back to find all her doves with their heads gone . ( True, I have no idea!)

Thanks for the photos, it looks great!

Forbey

 

[Mayden]

Oh price wise, I originally set out with a budget of $700, foolish me, the wire by itself cost $700 even. When finally done it will be around $2500-$3,000 (depending on if we do the pond). The rock that will be used for the border was free, the labor is free (thankfully he is a carpenter) and the perches were free (we have a friend who had grape vines choking out her oak trees, so we jumped on the chance to remove them for her). We have been working on this project since December with an original completion date to be done by spring. Were over budget and way over time but I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Our biggest debate right now, aside from the pond (which will add two the three days), is sleeping arrangements. I'm not sure if we should keep the sleep cages, make sleep boxes, or have roll up bamboo blinds on the outside and just roll them down at night? I'm shying away from the boxes, as I don't want to encourage nesting behavior.

The blinds sound like a nice idea.
Will edit this when I've got more energy, but well done!

 

[Molcan2]

Yes they will all be together. The are all together right now. My birds are kept loose all day on the back screened in porch during the day. The only time they are caged is at night. Here is a pic of how they are now, they have "cages" but they stay open all day. This pic is before the addition of Rosie, now that Rosie is here the whole porch pretty much is the birds (as her cage and another stand were added).

A lot of the large aviaries use button quail as clean up crews and don't have any problems. The M2 I have is the most docile submissive bird you could ever find. When I choose to add a bird to the mix I really look at its personality first and try to determine if it would mix well with what I already have.

 

[MikeyTN]

The price always goes a lot higher then you expected! That part never fails...lol....Just like our back patio, shed, and landscape. That cost us over $6000 once it's all said and done and we built the shed and done the landscape ourselves.

I still would be real careful about leaving your M2 unsupervised with the other birds!!!! I know how my U2 acted around other birds as he wanted to kill them. With what forbey says, that really don't surprise me. But I do trust my Lesser Sulphur Crested around small birds or other birds period. And I don't trust my macaw with other birds either. But I still would be real careful about mixing species!

 

[Molcan2]

I worry more about Rosie hurting Rome. Rosie is young and still learning her boundaries. I know 100% that I could put Rome in a cage with a budgie and my only worry would be the budgie beating up on Rome. If you met her you would feel the same. Shes the ONLY parrot that I think I could ever trust a toddler holding, Shes that good of a bird.

 

[weco]

Nice looking aviary Molcan, let us know when the grand opening party is, I'm sure a number of us would be interested in coming down (or up, as the case may be) for the food, drink & socializing.....

 

[MikeyTN]

IF Java was more like Rome I would of kept him....
Somehow I have always prefer female parrots as I think they're more laid back and sweeter. But the females tend to like my partner better and the male parrots prefer me instead. Although my new macaw Lola, she likes me a lot as she kept regurgitate on me....lol....But Rome sounds like a wonderful sweet girl!!!!

 

[MikeyTN]

In the bird's mind, the quail, dove, partridge, or pheasant clean up crew isn't viewed as a laborer, its viewed as a potential protein source. Parrots are opportunistic omnivores, so those cute quail may be looked at the same way as when you give them a slice of papaya

:32::32::32::32: I know it's not that funny but it's funny to me you compare them to a slice of papaya....lol.....

 

[MarciaLove]

wow amazing!!!! My aviary was supposed to be started last weekend but that was before my mother broke her foot now I dont have to time to work on it

 

[Molcan2]

In the bird's mind, the quail, dove, partridge, or pheasant clean up crew isn't viewed as a laborer, its viewed as a potential protein source. Parrots are opportunistic omnivores, so those cute quail may be looked at the same way as when you give them a slice of papaya

Not true. I am not housing raptors. If parrots 'needed' protein like that then you wouldn't be able to house any together, other than mated pairs. Maybe in a small confined space, I could see that as a problem, esp if that particular bird had aggression issues. There are several LARGE breeding facilities in Florida that use button quail in the aviaries for clean up (they sell the babies of the quail as well as parrot babies). Also a lot of Zoos do the same. There is a zoo very close to my house that keeps small ducks, pheasants and quail in with their parrots in their enclosures with no problem. I have done TONS of research, I did not just wake up one day throw it together and put birds that have never met together all out and hoped for the best. I have talked to people who already have large aviaries in place, I have talked to zoo curators on what to use for clean up crews, mixing different birds and what materials to use. I have talked to sanctuaries that house several species together, I even talked to someone at the national aviary (I wish I lived close enough to visit that is an AMAZING place). This has been a project that has taken over a year (we broke ground this past December but the planning started a LONG time ago). I did not base what I am doing on hear say (ex I heard this happen to so and so....) I based my research on conversations and advice that I have had by talking to people who currently have large aviaries.

I understand that this comes from concerns (which are welcome) but actually look at how large aviaries are currently being run first.

 

[Molcan2]

IF Java was more like Rome I would of kept him....
Somehow I have always prefer female parrots as I think they're more laid back and sweeter. But the females tend to like my partner better and the male parrots prefer me instead. Although my new macaw Lola, she likes me a lot as she kept regurgitate on me....lol....But Rome sounds like a wonderful sweet girl!!!!

Rome is an amazing bird, whoever her original owner was, really raised her well. Undoing the over spoiling of her last home as been the problem but Toos are easy to spoil.

 

[Molcan2]

wow amazing!!!! My aviary was supposed to be started last weekend but that was before my mother broke her foot now I dont have to time to work on it

Hope shes okay. It has taken well over a year in the planning process :11: Its been exhausting, I just cant wait for it to be done!

 

[Molcan2]

Nice looking aviary Molcan, let us know when the grand opening party is, I'm sure a number of us would be interested in coming down (or up, as the case may be) for the food, drink & socializing.....

LOL, will do. I wanted to post pics of the process to give people looking for examples. You always just see the finished product. Once done, would be more than welcome for people to come look at it. I had a hard time downsizing it. All the large aviaries I visited were very large, and of course I wanted something that mirrored a zoo enclosure. I had to settle for something that is 20ft long, 10ft high, and about 13ft wide. I still wish it could be bigger but my carpenter (aka boyfriend) refused to build anything bigger than that.

 

[aliray]

I think you are doing a fantastic job. I love it. I would personally think that if the other birds were killed It would have been more like an animal of some type got in, A rat or weasel , lizzard or say a racoon that got his paws through.. I would love to build something like that however they would never allow it where we live. It is deed restricted

 

[Mayden]

Okay, I napped!

It looks brilliant. I'm so jealous - are they going to be in the aviary permanently then instead of their cages?

I think it's a lovely idea and I bet they'll all love it. You know your birds better than everyone else so I think they'll all be just fine. Even if you've got quail etc. You can always remove them if there seems to be any problems and find them another home.

I am so impressed. When me and Andrew finally get our own home and lots of money (MANY MANY years down the line!) then we hope to build something very similar. I just love it!

 

[Molcan2]

Here are some examples of different sized birds housed together:

Barbara's Beautiful Aviary

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieIxYKu0UMc]How to build a Walk in Aviary (Residential) Dec 19th 2011........its getting there 001.MOV - YouTube[/ame]

The magnolia bird farm routinely places larger macaws in with smaller birds.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP5HbKsAsK0]Magnolia Bird Farm Aviary Tour - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JerseyWendy]

WOW, that is one impressive and BEAUTIFUL aviary!!! I can't wait to see it when it's all done...and occupied. Birdy heaven, no doubt!

And THANK YOU for those links!!!

 

[crosue]

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LARGE AVIARY YOU HAVE!! hope i can have that kind too..