Guidance needed Building Avairy

patti · Regular Member Joined: Jan 10, 2006 Posts: 20

Hi All
We are in the process of starting to build an aviary-well not really an aviary more a flight, just some where my Kakariki can have a really good fly outside in the summer.
We are in the U.K so am asking for advice on what to use ie: wood, mesh, flooring etc what size, shape paint, well everything really that is safe to use here in England.
He does have approx 4 hours fly time out of his cage every day, but in the summer that will be difficult if we have some hot days and need the doors to be open so this flight would be good for him and us.
Any help and advice greatly appreciated.
p.s Have read the sticky, just concerned with being in England.
patti

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

I dont see the diff between England and NZ as far as timber goes.
I assume pine is as cheap as it is here, and that wood treatment is similar.

After building the 1st...our 2nd from the experiance of the 1st was basically the same...slight modifications as described...the 3rd again similar, but much larger, and the 4th in the planning stage about 2/3 the size (2 flights) Simply to it will fit into a current rose garden borded by boxed rosemary hedges.

A flight is a room in an avaiary.

I do strongly suggest if building a larger single dlight aviary, build it a little larger than needed. It is far easier to add an internal door partition later than building a 2nd avaiary. Min of 2/3 the size of the avaiary as described in the plans,
There are several other things like this that have a similar 'rule of thumb'
Fish tanks get 1/3 larger than want
Fish pond in the garden...1/3 to 2x larger, otherwise it will look wrong
Border gardens around the parameter of a lawn area, 1/3 larger.
I am also an 'old fashisioned' gardener, not a modern commercial landscaper. I have over the yrs been asked to design quite a few home gardens and schools with quite pleasing results. Our gardens have won prizes for "best garden" run by the local city aurthities.

Aviary Postition and direction facing is critical...
Postition so convienent to servicing, and birds can be veiwed from the house windows, lounge, and entertainment areas. This way they canbe enjoyed far better (as is the intention) Too often an aviary is placed in a back corner...the usual result of these is that in the long term they dont get the maintaince they should.
protection from cold prevailing winds
Protection from the heat of the summer sun.
Placed so large trees/scrubs also offer wind and shade protection.

Aviaries too often are an eye sore in a garden, not because of design but postion within the gardens.