Building a indoor aviary. Ideas & advise needed.

[Tarkus]

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"

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

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 ?

Your not being over protective.

There are things they can catch from wild birds and other wildlife. That being said I've had my birds out for 30 years and they were ok.

It would be better to put it on a slab. Even on a slab there are thigs to look out for. That's why I recomemd the 1" panels . They keep some creatures out. Snakes are the toughest.

Also I never mount perches to the cage itself. Raccoons will try to reach in and grab a sleeping bird . They can't get it out but will do damage, I've seen it.

Be Big,
Alan

 

[427HISS]

I've talked with others about this question. Most say that if you don't use chemicals on your grass, most of the time is just fine. But like you said, under supervision. The best would be a concrete pad, then a wood platform. If a new concrete pad is used, I would recommend acid washing before using it and rinsing very well.

I see a lot of video's on youtube of people taking their birds to a park and it looks like fun. We'll have to be very careful and keep an eye on other pets etc.

In the summer, we should put a tarp on one half for shade.

I can't wait for warmer weather !

 

[Tarkus]

Please seriously consider 1" over 2" it only takes a second for disaster to strike.

How do hawks hunt??? | Pet Bird Cage | Birdie Pets

I have a hawk question. * I had a citron cockatoo that lived in a macaw animal environments cage. *Yesterday I wheeled the cage outside to hose it down, and left her indoors, on her playgym. *After the cage was clean I brought her outside, and left her inside the cage on the back patio for a couple hours. * *We’ve been having a problem with a hawk eating our fantail pigeons. *The pigeons have an open aviary, and about once a week for the last month someone has come running into my office to say the hawk has eaten another bird. *The pigeons are fully flighted, but I assume the hawk is bigger, stronger, and simply attacks the slow moving pigeons. * *Well, yesterday, that hawk ate Bappy, my citron. *A nurse came running into my office and said Bappy was screaming, (which she never does), and when I went to the window, I saw the hawk on the outside of the cage, pulling the still alive cockatoo out thru the bars. *The cage was closed, so how did the hawk get close enough to get its talons into her? I climbed out the window and walked up to the bird, screaming and swatting it with my arms. *It showed no fear of me, and continued its attack. *I’m not proud of what I did next, but I fired 2 shots at the hawk, killing it. *Yes, I am aware it is an endangered species, but it was eating my baby, I had to do something. *Bappy died in the car on the way to the vet, so I guess the point was moot. *She was hurt pretty badly, but all her body parts were still there. *Now I am left wondering how Bappy let the hawk get close enough to attack her? *She had plenty of room to move around in that cage, and as soon as she started screaming the nurse heard her, so it’s not as though she could have been exhausted, etc. *The hawk couldnt have been near her for more than a minute when I arrived. * *If I hadn’t been so disgusted by the blood, feathers, *and loss of my baby, I would have been fascinated as to how the bird was able to do that… we have some wild bird people here, any ideas on how the hawk?

Be Big,
Alan

 

[luvmytooo]

I dont even have words right now to comment

 

[427HISS]

I agree. I'm horrified about your story and so sorry about your loss !
I had a bad dream like yours about our Shelby Too, but I found her alive. Birds are like a cat and can squeeze through about anything.

If there's anything I/we can do, PLEASE,...let us know !

I'm truly sorry will pray for you.
Kev

 

[Tarkus]

My appologies.
I just worry about this topic. To many times I see aviaries with mesh that is to large. I just can't stress it enough.

It's not my story see the link.
I have caught raccoons waiting for me to leave.

Same with perch placement. I know we are going to supervise but it only takes a second. The raptors will wait I've seen them. Here if Florida its osprey and hawks, in jersey it's seabirds first and formost then hawks.

Raptors live just about everywhere in the US. They are majestic birds built to kill.
Always be vigilant.

Be Big,
Alan

 

[roxynoodle]

A year and a half ago I came out my back door right as a hawk came down to grab the ground hog that had taken up residence in my shed. I was probably only 10 feet from it. It was not the least bit frightened of me. It took off with that ground hog that was definitely larger than it was.

My neighbors also once had an owl that would crash right through the mesh and eat their chickens and ducks. Every day they would repair it and try to make it owl proof and every night it would crash through again.

And yes, raccoons will eat birds. Usually they take baby birds out of the nest, but a tame parrot is probably easy prey as well.

Not to mention dogs, cats, coyotes, snakes, etc.

 

[luvmytooo]

Yes , there are many dangers to our birds when outside. I read that story early in the morning . It was hard to even take care of my birds after reading it.
There is always one story that sticks in your head , and that is the one for me.
I was sick to my stomach , seriously . But after much thought , I agree this is a good time to post it though. With the talk of spring , warm weather , outdoor aviary set up , we need that *strong* cup of joe to bring attention to the dangers of our birds being outdoors. Even though its a wonderful thought of the birds getting the sun and fresh air , it only takes a couple of minutes for disaster to strike.
That run to the loo may be an open invitation for a raptor or other animal to make an attempt to grab a bird. I would rather not think of what happened to that poor bird, but I do know that he didnt die without leaving a impression on my heart. I vow not to be careless or misguided that it is safe when my birds are outside.. EVER .