DIY Aviary

[sunshinemama91]

What would be some good materials to use for a DIY outdoor Aviary? We have untreated wood and hardware cloth, but realizing the the hardware cloth is galvanized, we may need to rethink that and figure out something else. It's for our Blue Front. Its pretty big, so inexpensive and safe ideas would be great.

 

[YUMgrinder]

Stainless steel mesh. If outdoors, you would need two layers, at least a few inches apart so predators can't get to them. It's gonna get expensive.

 

[sunshinemama91]

Yeahhhhhh, I cant spend $800+ on a 50foot roll of stainless steel mesh lol. We already looked into that and I rather feed my children than spend almost half of our months pay on a fancy bird cage [emoji1787] I love her, but not that much. Predators arent really my concern with her, its actually her flying off into the neighbors yard, all it has to do is keep her in while we do yard work and let her enjoy some time outdoors. If I didnt refuse to clip her wings, I'd just make her an outdoor stand or let her play on the grapevine.

 

[wrench13]

For outdoor use, there is not much else than Stainless Steel. Besides being zinc coated, hardware clothe or chicken wire is going to rust eventually and ingesting that plus any zinc flakes still on the wires is toxic. Powder coated steel is much more weather resistant and harder to chip off, but thats likely more $$$ than stainless. Maybe keep an eye out on Craigslist for inexpensive used cages, still in good condition, and then use the panels to fashion a larger enclosure. You could use stainless clamps to hold it together.

 

[sunshinemama91]

Awh man, well, I wonder how well she would deal with deer fencing until we can afford the actual metal. If it can get us through this summer, next tax season if we have one, we will have to get her the good stuff.

 

[wrench13]

The poly deer fence would not be toxic, but if she decides to chew on it, good bye Gracie.

 

[sunshinemama91]

I havent caught her chewing on anything plastic yet, anything wood on the other hand! I've had her outside before and she doesn't fly off unless shes on your shoulder (she isnt a fan) which is when my husband decided that she couldnt go outside anymore without a leash and an aviary, which is fine, I agree. I've set her on trees and the ground and showed her all around and shes always just stuck close. She flew away once at her previous home and got knocked out of the sky by a hawk. No doubt she remembers.

 

[bill_e]

Why the aviary? For more space for her? Is this a 24/7 thing in good weather?

What's the budget, there may be other options.

 

[shinyuankuo]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VduNRwKKjLA"]4 DIY Essentials Your Parrot Needs! - YouTube[/ame]
There's a portion that talks about DIY aviary in this video. Just for reference.

 

[sunshinemama91]

Why the aviary? For more space for her? Is this a 24/7 thing in good weather?

What's the budget, there may be other options.

It's just so she can get some time outside with us instead of being cooped up in the house while we enjoy summer and the garden. It's like an 8'x6' wide cage with a 3' wide door, all from the floor to the ceiling. It's either shaded or half shaded all day long, but she will only be out pretty much when we are and only during the warmer months.

Sent from my SM-S506DL using Tapatalk

 

[sunshinemama91]

4 DIY Essentials Your Parrot Needs! - YouTube
There's a portion that talks about DIY aviary in this video. Just for reference.

That was an extremely helpful video! I've ran across that guy on youtube before too!

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[SailBoat]

DIY Basics, these things are expensive, Do it Right the First Time!

One should create a list of requirements for large outdoor Aviary as once they are in place, common one is very limited in make changes.

Having correctly (safely) installed electrical for lighting and support outlets. And yes, they are located away from where the Parrots have access.
- Why lighting -- you will leave your beloved Parrot outside in the dark and you will get an uninvited guess at night. So plan to be able to turn the lights on /off from inside. Having available support outlets will simplify cleaning and repair projects.
Having a safe water source is important!
- Cleaning, misting, etc...
- Drainable during cool and freezing.

Water drainage away from the large outdoor Aviary is very important!
Things like to live in Parrot Poop so it is important to be able to wash it clean from the interior area of the Aviary.
Hard surface (like poured concrete) helps in assuring a full and clean wash of the area.

Set the hard surface so that it extends a bit beyond the side structures.
Strongly consider a double door, enter the first, close it behind you and check the area then enter the interior door.
Locking outer door! You will be surprised at who you may find inside your Aviary!

Shaded area and covered area. Near all Parrots love Sunshine, and just as many love being able to get out of it into the shade.

Most side walls and tops are constructed from square steel tube and either square or rectangle steel mesh and then coated. I strongly recommend Powder Coated System. The metal parts can be found on the open market, or built to your specification by a local welding shop and the Powder Coating System by a local shop that does such work.

Paint will rust and flake and that can become a problem as most Parrots will try to eat it.

NOTE: Assure that your Parrot's head will not fit between the mesh...

Enjoy!

 

[bill_e]

A couple of thoughts.

1. Cheap and easy way out. Build a rain/sun shield and sit another cage under it. One can usually find large Amazon sized cages on Craig's list for less than 100$ and Gracie can be safe and visit with you while you're outside.

2. Don't believe what's in that video regarding removal of zinc. While vinegar will work you would have to submerge your steel in in for quite some time. A better solution to use would be muriatic acid....however even if you removed the zinc you would be left with a material that would rust outside...the zinc is what makes Galvanized steel rust resistant.

3. The only other inexpensive thought I had was building an outer enclosure out of your galvanized fabric, then building an inner enclosure with netting. You would need to monitor your bird at all times to make sure she doesn't chew through the netting and maybe you'd get lucky and she would ignore it. I know that my Nike who is not a chewer would be fine in something like that....but she is not a crazy Amazon

 

[Adamc1303]

I ordered this Aviary. It was fairly cheap. I didn't end up using it because it just wouldn't fit where I needed it. I did open it and it wasn't bad quality at all for what it cost. It seemed rather delicate to me, which was ok as long as it was built carefully. Sort of like a better quality Ikea product. Check it out.


https://www.vidaxl.com/e/8718475558958/vidaxl-outdoor-aviary-aluminium-70.1"x48"x76.4"