Has anyone made their own outdoor atrium?

[916animal]

Has anyone here made their own outdoor atrium for large birds? Would materials from Home Depot be okay to use or is it a big no no? We have a rather large backyard and we have plenty on space for an outdoor enclosure but I want to research all possibilities before buying or making one. Just for a little background we are okay with do it yourself projects. Any advice or pictures of some that may have been made would be awesome. Thanks

 

[Birdman666]

1. Don't use treated lumber around birds. It's toxic!!!

2. Galvanized metal is also toxic!!! And there are a number of sites that show this being used. You will poison your bird if you use it, and the bird chews on the metal! Stainless mesh, or powder coated is the only real safe material that will hold up to a bird beak. (And if the bird is a Hy... you're down to stainless.)

3. There are lots of do it yourself parrot flight sites.

Here is one I really liked:

http://www.parrotsr4ever.com/Aviary_Const.aspx

 

[weco]

What would you make it from.....the materials normally used are either toxic or would rot.....

While I've used engineered decking, I have never looked at it as a possible bird-proof/safe building material, but that might be a possibility.....



Excellent aviary idea Birdman.....

 

[Birdman666]

Well, that's the point, either stainless steel mesh, or powdercoated metal are the only materials that are strong enough and bird safe.

I've seen the results of people going cheap and attempting to use galvanized dog runs as a macaw flight, and it isn't pretty. Everything in the flight was poisoned...

PLEASE DON'T DO IT!!!

 

[Birdman666]

Excellent aviary idea Birdman.....

Wasn't my idea. I was just lusting! :32:

 

[916animal]

I didn't think so as far as material from a Home Depot type store, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask because you never know some of the things people figure out. I'm not trying to cheap out, it was more so of liking to create things if possible. Another idea I was wondering if anyone has ever used a steal weld powder coated dog run? I have 2 10X10's that are a heavy gauge powder coated steal weld that were $1,100 a piece. I'm able to put the side panels on top and I would have a 10X20. I can put Manzanita branches inside for them. Any thoughts?

 

[KimKim]

Hers a side pic of mine. It's about 4' wide 7' long 7' high. We used galvanized wire, but we scrubbed it with water and vinegar and a wire brush.

 

[916animal]

Also to note, I would not be leaving birds outside for more than a couple hours and never overnight! I just like having various places for the birds to be able to spend time, not be in harms way, feel safe and never be bored. I think it's important to let them have their own areas in the home. And getting sunshine important for their D intake that they can't get through diet.

 

[916animal]

Nice KimKim, how long has it been used for so far? Any thing that needed adjusting or changing around? The steel weld powder coated runs I have are just and idea. My poor bloodhounds are old and won't be around much longer and the runs are in great condition, no chipping or rusting and I've always been able to disinfect them no problem.

 

[916animal]

Awesome instruction! Thanks so much! That's perfect birdman, much more what I was looking for. And even better because I have the same house shape to work with but I also have another sliding glass door on the other end so if need be I can separate in the middle if need be.

 

[gizzygirl]

Won't they tear up siding??

 

[916animal]

I may be wrong but I think the siding is on top of the mesh. It's there for shade and some wind block?

 

[gizzygirl]

I meant the siding on the house.

 

[KimKim]

Nice KimKim, how long has it been used for so far? Any thing that needed adjusting or changing around? The steel weld powder coated runs I have are just and idea. My poor bloodhounds are old and won't be around much longer and the runs are in great condition, no chipping or rusting and I've always been able to disinfect them no problem.

My aviary is around 4-5 years old now. There are a couple things i would change about it, number one being the door. its hard to open, you have to kind of lift up and sideways to get it un stuck. i guess When the wood dried it shifted, plus its a heavy door. He used to go out every day, all day when the weather was nice. But then I moved his cage to a new location in the house and he loves it so much that he stopped wanting to go outside then the weather got to hot, so I haven't tried to take him out since.

 

[Birdman666]

Yeah. I thought that was a good site.

I would love an outdoor flight for my guys...

 

[sofiaee]

Sorry I didn't read the whole thread but I'd just like to say, make sure to account for predators like raccoons! My chicken coop is amazingly well built and with concrete going at least 6-12 inches into the ground around the perimeter but there was a small opening near the roofline that one managed to find it's way into. We had a masacre that night.

And also in many areas raccoons aren't even nocturnal anymore. One day I let my hens out to free range and left the coop open. I had some chicks in a little pen inside the coop and in the middle of the day a raccoon had come in and eaten one through the bars. I only had it open for 2-3 hours! Raccoons can be scary.

You probably already know about raccoons but I just wanted to mention it because they will figure out how to get in if there is any possible way!