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Note:
The details on this page are to be read and used in conjunction with the
information on the "housing birds" web page.
There is a huge range of shapes, sizes and designs of aviaries and
cages in use today. If you have a unit that works for you, that is
great and why change.
Aviculturists house birds in a wide range of
climatic conditions ranging from the tropics, to desert areas, to cold areas
subject to snowfalls, high rainfall to areas subject to prolonged droughts.
Some areas can have very hot days but at night the temperature may drop to close
to freezing point. Almost every possible climatic condition can be found
in Australia. Successful breeders can be found in this vast diversity of
climatic conditions so if you are able to get access to people or read articles
that relate to your particular area use those facts as a starting point.
The following is what is generally recommended but is subject to
change to suit the available space, available resources and local
environmental conditions. When in the design stage, thought should be
given to allow for possible current or future disabilities (e.g. broken
arm or age related restrictions) or if children may be required to help
with any of the duties.
Topics covered below - in order:
Aviary orientation
Size of aviary
Floor
Wire mesh
Roof
Nest boxes
Aviary orientation
In Australia the general orientation of the aviary is to face the
front (of the aviary) north or north-east. Providing there are no
buildings, large trees, etc in the way, the north or north east
orientation should provide good light levels within the flight and allow
the birds adequate access to direct sunlight to ensure proper calcium &
vitamin D uptake. If an aviary cannot be given a northerly aspect,
that does not rule out a successful aviary. An aviary is often
built to allow the owners to view the birds from the house or from a
preferred viewing point such as a patio. Often this results in an
aviary facing south. This only means that more care has to be
taken in its design and the husbandry aspects of the birds. The
provision of an opaque wall on a south facing aviary will increase the
light levels in the sheltered portion. Alternatively a removable
panel or "window" can be installed and opened on good weather days.
Top of topics list
Size of aviary
One of the most popular outdoor types is the open flight aviary with
a solid shelter at the rear of the unit. A walk way is generally
attached to and behind the shelter section. Access to the flight is
from the rear of the shelter.
A typical suburban parrot aviary can be 3 metres (10 feet) long
and about 1 metre (3-3.5 feet) wide and about 2.1 metres (7 feet) high.
This would allow for the housing of the small to mid sized parrots. The
aviary is large enough to enter the aviary and feed and water the birds easily.
The walk in aviary is easy to clean and maintain the perches and other fittings.
Many aviaries now have automatic water systems installed to minimize the time
taken to water the birds. These automatic systems have a self cleaning
aspect that means the keeper only needs to fully clean the water bowl once or
twice a week.
Larger parrots, including cockatoos and macaws, are often housed in a walk in
aviary of up to 6 metres (20 feet) long. Large parrots often need an
aviary to be about 1.2 to 2 metres (4 - 6 feet) wide. This allows them to
fly freely without damage to their wings. The larger birds need the larger
aviary so they can exercise and maintain optimal health and fitness.
The height of about 2.1 metres high allows most
people to walk around in the aviary without worrying about hitting the roof.
Some large aviaries have a roof height of 2.4 metres (8 feet).
Top of topics list
Floor
The floor of most new aviaries is concrete.
This allows for easy cleaning and minimizes the risk of rodents, foxes and
vermin entering through the floor. The concrete floor is less likely to
harbour pathogens or parasites than a dirt floor.
Top of topics list
Wire mesh
The bigger the parrot, generally the stronger the mesh
or wire has
to be.
Weld mesh is often used for the larger parrots. Cyclone makes Aviary
weldmesh in gauges up to 2.5mm.
Ensure the wire netting or mesh is
the best you can buy and is very strong.
Remember it has to be up
for a long time and in all weather conditions and in the future you
may want to buy bigger and stronger birds. It also has to keep
un-welcome animals out (cats, dogs, possums, snakes, rats & mice etc
) as well as un-invited people. Within reason, the stronger the
better. Mouse proof wire (about 6.5mm) is more expensive to install
initially but can pay its way, when installed correctly, very
quickly. Keeping vermin out is better than trying to kill or catch
the little pests once they get inside. The wire or mesh can be
painted black (with non-toxic paint) to make it easier to see the
birds from outside the aviary.
Rolls or panels of mesh come in a variety of widths so it is easier to cover a
wall without too much trimming e.g. 900mm plus 1200mm gives the standard aviary
wall height of 2100mm.
The main difference between a parrot and finch aviary is the wire. Finches
do not need as heavy a gauge wire mesh as parrots. The wire aperture (hole
size) has to be less for the finches. Some small fledglings and baby quail
can get partially through (usually the head) or fully through 13mm (half inch)
wire mesh.
The surface coating of wire mesh used to be available only as galvanized.
There are now a wider variety including, painted, powder coated, plastic coated.
In bygone days most wire was the half inch "chicken wire". Most aviaries
now use square mesh. The most popular being 12mm x 12mm (half inch
square). The gauge of the wire influences its cost. The heavier the
gauge the more expensive it is.
The tighter the wire is attached, the less "give" the wire will have, especially
in the winter. Tight wire may look better but if a startled or fledgling
bird flies into it the bird may sustain more injuries hitting tight wire than
looser wire mesh.
Top of topics list
Roof
Many new aviaries are now fully roofed with
opaque or clear corrugated roofing material. This will minimize the
transfer of pathogens, parasites and diseases entering the aviary from wild
birds. The full roof will shelter the birds in the winter from the bad
weather but can cause some problems in the warmer months due to the possibility
of heat build up and causing stress to the birds and their young. Fully
roofed aviaries must have adequate ventilation in the warmer months.
Another option is to have the front two thirds of the material opaque or clear
with the rear third non transparent, such as corrugated iron or Colourbond.
Many aviaries have about only one third to one
half of the roof covered with the corrugated material. This is often
corrugated iron and provides a darker shaded area that many parrots like to rear
their young. The darker area gives them more privacy.
Top of topics list
Nest boxes
Nest boxes can be placed inside the
aviary or suspended cage or attached externally. When attached
externally, a piece of the mesh or wall is removed from the wall and the nest box is
securely attached and the nest entry hole aligned with the hole. Care
must be taken to ensure the birds are not able to be injured on any of the
exposed wire edges surrounding nest entrance. A larger piece of similar
wire mesh or solid material must be made so the hole can be securely covered when or if the nest
is removed.
The advantage of having a nest box exterior to the cage is that the keeper does
not have to enter the cage to do a nest inspection or any nest maintenance.
One drawback of nests external to the cage or aviary is the risk of birds escaping from
the nestbox during inspections, nest maintenance or the birds chewing through
the nestbox. The suspended cage or aviary complex should have a fully enclosed
walkway at the rear of the cages or aviary. The enclosed walkway will hold
the escapee till the owner returns or recaptures them.
Nest boxes range in size from a small "budgie" size, about 150mm x 200mm x 150mm
high (6 x 8 x 6 inches) to cockatoo and macaw boxes of up to about 600 mm (24
inches) square and 1200mm (4 feet) high.
Top of topics list
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