Building a indoor aviary. Ideas & advise needed.

I'm wanting to build a custom aviary in my small home office for our soon to be parrot. Either a Too or Grey. I'm so,oooo excited !



The back will be against a west facing window and shaded by a large tree.

The length can be from 6' to 8' and about 2' to 2'.5" deep. (Maybe I should call it just a large cage. lol)

The ceiling is 8' high. I plan on replacing the carpet with easy to clean,..... vinyl. I know the depth is not very deep, but I need room for my desk. chair etc. (this spring, we want to build a large one on the deck, but for now we''l get going on the office aviary)

What wire screening/mesh etc. is best for the size of a parrot ?
Please give me some aviary ideas and advise from size, frame work (I can weld it or bolt together), wire, perches, toys & placement, to the best way to have cleanable bottom !
What should I use for a durable and easy to clean back wall, fiberglass or the plastic panels ?

Most cages are powder coated, but I can't believe it's OK with birds to scrape off and consume ? I would love to use stainless, but it's very expensive. Should I put it on wheels, or not really needed to be moved ?

I would rather use perch's that look like a large tree, than just wood dowels. Make it look as natural as possible !

Let's be very creative, think like a bird, and build a parrots dream small,.... aviary,.... for my newest child !

IF you look online they sell what your asking for. It's removable slab of grates. They can all attach to one another to make the size you want.

Personally I would have just a large powder coated cage indoors for a parrot such as a grey or Too. Then build an outdoor enrichment cage for the day time.

Bird Cages : Walk in outdoor aviaries, outdoor bird cages, indoor aviaries, aviary cages, bird enclosures, large aviary Some great ideas here.

Mikey- what do I search for ?

Pedro- very nice, very expensive.

That's just to give you some ideas. All my outdoor aviaries are built from box section Galvanised steel. with half inch gal mesh screwed to the box section. We neutralised the gal with vinegar & washed it off after 20 minutes. My cages have stood the test of time & are about 20 years old.

I also know you can use secruity screen frames & attatch the wire to that. Maybe some secondhand ones.

But if you are wanting to keep a Too Or Grey I am not sure if they are chewers or not, you will have to take that into consideration & maybe use a heavier mesh. See what your local hardware or metal store has to offer.

They do look great and gives me some ideas. I'm like you, pretty good with my hands & tools (my brain,...that's the question) lol

Yes, the powder coated and especially the galvanizing is a big question, unless I wash it down like you have. After all, 20 + years with no affects. I know with at least smaller birds, most company's are coated, but don't know about big birds chewing ?

We raced dirt winged sprint cars for many years, and the last powder coating a company did for us, was a little textured and very,....tough. I don't believe it had any scratches and know it did not wear off for 3 years of racing. I'll call them and ask what is was, as it may be perfect for cages. Comes in all types of colors Too.

What gauge and size of open spaced mesh works best for big birds ?
I assume Menard's, Home Depot etc, has the wesh ?

BIRD CAGES 4 LESS- http://birdcages4less.com/FAQ/index.html

Quote-

"Unless choosing stainless steel, our cages are made of durable wrought-iron and are powder coated with multiple layers of safe and durable powder coat- in a variety of colors to match your interior. There are lower-quality cages on the market with inferior powerdercoating, but we hold our cages to high standards"

I wonder what the product differences are ?

How about aluminum cages ?

Well, if you get a large 'Too, I have heard of them even breaking welds on cages. They can definitely do more destruction than a Grey can.

I've heard that also.

427HISS said:

Mikey- what do I search for ?

Pedro- very nice, very expensive.

Click to expand...

That same exact expensive site Pedro posted....lol....

roxynoodle said:

Well, if you get a large 'Too, I have heard of them even breaking welds on cages. They can definitely do more destruction than a Grey can.

Click to expand...

Java is actually a pretty gentle bird with the cage and doesn't make any mess at all, but he loves to chew on toys.....My Macaw on the other hand, I noticed he broke the weld on his cage on a few spot, the cage wasn't cheap...It's a nice big Macaw cage....I guess I'll be shopping for a new cage for Willie sometime in the near future....

MikeyTN said:

roxynoodle said:

Well, if you get a large 'Too, I have heard of them even breaking welds on cages. They can definitely do more destruction than a Grey can.

Click to expand...

Java is actually a pretty gentle bird with the cage and doesn't make any mess at all, but he loves to chew on toys.....My Macaw on the other hand, I noticed he broke the weld on his cage on a few spot, the cage wasn't cheap...It's a nice big Macaw cage....I guess I'll be shopping for a new cage for Willie sometime in the near future....

Click to expand...

Yep, heard that about macaws as well. I don't think any of my birds are capable of that, or least none of them have (yet).

Maybe I'll build it out of chrome moly. No way to cause damage with this metal !

427HISS said:

Mikey- what do I search for ?

Pedro- very nice, very expensive.

Click to expand...

Here you go. IMO dollar for dollar this is the best way to go for a small aviary.

Bird Cages and Primate Cages, Modular Panel Design 1 inch mesh openings by Bird Cages Direct.net

They go up easy, it's expandable and the price is good.

Be Bg,
Alan

Wow. This one for $600 or even the big 8 ft wide, 8 ft deep and 6 ft is only $1,000.

Those are pretty awesome for the price!

Oh great , now I want a inside aviary too !!
Thank you 427HISS
My husband will more then likely pull the plug on my computer now , lolol.
He's had it with my "ideas"

427HISS said:

Wow. This one for $600 or even the big 8 ft wide, 8 ft deep and 6 ft is only $1,000.

Click to expand...

OMG !! I want them , lolol. One for inside and one for outside

427HISS said:

Wow. This one for $600 or even the big 8 ft wide, 8 ft deep and 6 ft is only $1,000.

Click to expand...

I had been looking for a modular answer and found these by accident.

Some of those pics are of the 2" 4 foot square panels. For almost all birds I would recomemd the 1" 3 foot square panels.
Using the 1" is better suited for the birds and also helps to keep some small critters out.

Be aware that some of the prices for the 2" . They are primamly dog cages enem though the list them as bird. Maybe for the largest macaws.

Here in Florida a started with a 6 x 3 x 6 that has grown to 9 x 9 x 6.
In Jersey I have a 6 x 3 x 6 that's in the box ready to assemble.

Another great thing is assembly is easy. I would suggest going with a one piece door as a opposed to the doubles the are stranded. By adding a few panels you can have safty room for entry and exit.

They've worked out great .

Be Big,
ALan

Luvmytoo,
I hear ya ! When I found these I wanted one everywhere ,

luvmytooo said:

Oh great , now I want a inside aviary too !!
Thank you 427HISS
My husband will more then likely pull the plug on my computer now , lolol.
He's had it with my "ideas"

Click to expand...

I'm glad I could asist. You owe me one. ! lol

We like to garden and spend a lot of time out there, so one of these would be super. I built a large deck so I would put it there or a dedicated spot in the lawn by the pond and trees. Shelby would love it I'm sure !
Kev

427HISS said:

luvmytooo said:

Oh great , now I want a inside aviary too !!
Thank you 427HISS
My husband will more then likely pull the plug on my computer now , lolol.
He's had it with my "ideas"

Click to expand...

I'm glad I could asist. You owe me one. ! lol

We like to garden and spend a lot of time out there, so one of these would be super. I built a large deck so I would put it there or a dedicated spot in the lawn by the pond and trees. Shelby would love it I'm sure !
Kev

Click to expand...

Very funny Kev This may be a stupid question , but is it safe to put their aviary right on the grass ? I mean , if your there supervising , there is no chance of anything borrowing under to get in , but I was just wondering if they can catch anything from wild birds droppings, etc...
I'm very excited to tak them outside when it gets warmer , but I'm also afraid they could catch something too. Am I being too overprotective ?