Why do you need an aviary for birds and how to make one for parrots yourself

In nature, the vast majority of bird species spend most of their time flying, and parrots are no exception. In captivity, they are often kept in narrow cages, and lack of exercise negatively affects their health. An aviary is much better suited for keeping parrots. It is especially recommended for large species; An aviary also becomes necessary when keeping birds in groups. An aviary for parrots can be bought or ordered from a craftsman, but the price for such products is usually high. In this regard, owners often prefer to build homes for their pets themselves.

Advantages and disadvantages

Setting up an enclosure in a private house or apartment has many advantages, these include:

• 
  birds are comfortable in large enclosures, where there is much more space than in a regular cage, so the birds become more active and healthy pets, which has a positive effect on their health;

• since the aviary is usually used to keep several birds, the parrots will be able to communicate with each other, so they will not get bored in the absence of the owner;
• sometimes the enclosure is made outdoors, so pets have access to fresh air and sun, which prevents diseases associated with a lack of vitamin D or weak immunity;
• an enclosure is considered easier to clean compared to several cages;
• It is used not only for budgerigars, but also for larger breeds of parrots that are not allowed to stay in tight spaces for too long.

But arranging an enclosure has not only advantages, but also some disadvantages. Birds may swear or fight, often resulting in injury or death. Sometimes the wavy pinches squeeze each other. If one individual gets sick, it can easily infect other parrots. Birds that live in a flock rarely pay attention to humans, so it is difficult to teach them to speak.

A significant disadvantage relates to reproduction, since a couple will have to be placed in a separate cage, otherwise the remaining individuals will simply destroy the laid eggs.

Description

The original French word "aviary", translated as "to fly", meant "a large cage installed in the garden." Usually birds lived in it, but later the enclosures were also used for keeping and breeding small fur-bearing animals. They were installed in fur farms, on personal plots, and in apartments.

Today this is a very common option for a bird house. In the assortment of specialized stores you can find a large number of models for various types of parrots.

For feathered inhabitants, including parrots, an aviary is, of course, much more comfortable than a cage. Here you have the opportunity not only to spread your wings, but also to make short flights. In addition, in a spacious home, the blues will never overtake a bird - communication with its own kind will not let it get bored.

Description of the requirements for the enclosure

A noticeable disadvantage of the enclosure is that such a bulky thing rarely fits into the interior of an ordinary apartment or balcony. The cost of the structures sold is also not attractive. That is why hobbyists sometimes think about the need to independently manufacture a spacious bird house that would not only meet the dimensional requirements, but also provide the birds with the necessary living space.

Buy or make it yourself

Enclosures sold ready-made are considered comfortable, multifunctional and beautiful, but at the same time they are expensive. You should consider purchasing an aviary cage only if you have the appropriate financial capabilities.

If you can’t save the required amount, you can do it yourself . For this, only safe materials are used. Thanks to independent work, the costs of organizing an enclosure are reduced, and a structure is formed that ideally matches the chosen location on the street or inside a living space.

Do you buy toys for your parrot?

Not really

Requirements for an aviary

By and large, we did everything very correctly, but it wouldn’t hurt to check the strength and integrity of the structure during the work:

• It is necessary to check the strength of the structure as a whole, and of each fastening separately;
• Each support and part of the frame must be connected into a single structure with high quality so that the enclosure does not lose reliability in the near future;
• Security parameters are also very important. There should be no holes or openings under the mesh or between the overlaps of the mesh in the enclosure. In our summer cottages, small predators often go on rampage at night, for which it’s just the right time to feast on a small bird or laid eggs. Be very careful in this regard!

It is worth noting that we are building an enclosure mainly to provide additional beauty to our dacha, which means that the structure must be, at a minimum, attractive. It is impossible for a home for decorative birds to become a dark spot in a magnificent garden. Therefore, we plant flowers and shrubs around the enclosure, put the structure itself in order, for this today there are many beautiful and safe paints.

At this stage, construction and arrangement can be completed, because the main task has been completed.

A do-it-yourself bird aviary in the country is not only a simple job, but also an interesting activity that will help you complete your garden with something that almost no one else has. All that remains is to get the decorative birds that you like most and enjoy their beauty and melodiousness.

How to make it yourself

If you decide to make the structure yourself, then initially a corresponding diagram is made, after which suitable materials are selected. It is important to determine where the product will be installed, as well as how many parrots will be contained in it.

You can download the diagram from the Internet, changing some of its characteristics, which will simplify the process of making the enclosure.

Frame

When choosing the material that will be used to form the frame, it is taken into account that wavy birds happily gnaw on all parts of the enclosure. only safe wood species are selected for these purposes Wooden blocks are used, the size of which ranges from 20x20 to 30x30 mm.

To obtain tight joints, exclusively even bars are selected. They are connected by mounting angles and self-tapping screws. After creating the structure, the wall is fixed from the inside. To make the enclosure strong, a minimum of one block is required for every 60 cm of mesh. The back cover can be not only wooden, but also plastic.

Grid selection rules

The wooden frame is covered with mesh, and for these purposes a product is selected that will be completely safe for wavy animals.

You can choose the following types of grids:

• stainless steel makes the safest design, but you will have to spend a lot of money on its creation;
• galvanized mesh is considered not very attractive for creating a barrier, since zinc can enter the bird’s body, but such a product is affordable and durable;
• Iron mesh is safe to use, but the disadvantage is that it produces rust, which parrots can chew on.

There are mesh coated with plastic on the market, but it has thick rods, and parrots can chew plastic elements, which leads to serious food poisoning. The size of the cells should be about 15x15 mm, and the thickness of the rods should not exceed 5 mm.

If you buy galvanized mesh, then before starting work it is washed well, for which it is advisable to use vinegar.

What to make a pallet from

It is represented by the lower part of the enclosure, so it is constantly contaminated with droppings, feathers and food residues. It regularly gets wet, so materials that are resistant to water are selected.

Typically, the following materials are selected for the manufacture of a pallet:

• Plywood. It is affordable and safe for parrots, but the main disadvantage is its short service life. With constant exposure to moisture, the sheet swells and begins to peel. To extend its service life, the plywood is pre-treated with hot drying oil.
• Plastic . Pallets made of this material can be purchased ready-made in pet stores, and they differ in size, color and configuration. During the assembly of such products, safe adhesives and other materials are used, so even if a bird gnaws on the pallet, it will not suffer any harm.
• Galvanized sheet . Such a pallet is easy to care for, but it has significant weight and is also expensive.

Breeders recommend making a fairly deep tray, since due to the high sides, feathers and droppings will not fall into the area next to the enclosure. It is possible to attach handles to it, making cleaning easy, since the tray can be easily pulled out of the enclosure if necessary.

Types of doors

It is advisable to equip two doors . One large door is designed for ease of cleaning, since when it is opened, a person gets access to all the elements and accessories used by the wavy.

The small door is designed to provide access to the feeder and drinker. It is allowed to make doors next to each other or in different parts of the enclosure. They are formed from ordinary wood, and the latch is made from wire.

The photo shows an option for an aviary for budgies:

What will we use to build an aviary for birds?

An aviary is an easy building for the warm season. It can be winter, and even with heating of the floor and walls, if this is necessary for the conditions of keeping ornamental birds, but then we will need to turn to more capital construction. In principle, such information can be studied in ready-made articles on the site about a dovecote in a country house and the construction of a poultry house. But at the moment we are only talking about the aviary, that part of the structure that will give the bird the opportunity to walk around a much larger area than a closed poultry house, and also for us to examine each individual partridge or peacock, feed them, observe their habits, and so on.

The aviary can be built from materials that are offered by various nurseries. Glass, aluminum, steel and plastic mesh, living plants inside, acrylic, wood and others. But more often than not, it is very expensive, especially if you purchase the recommended materials. We decided to start assembling the structure from those materials that summer residents are much more accustomed to working with. Moreover, many of them are already in the country, and if not, then you can buy them at any construction supermarket for little money.

Wood, metal corner, rod, chain-link mesh, wire are the main materials for building an enclosure.

Where to place

The aviary can be arranged in a residential area or outdoors. If you choose a place in the apartment, then it should be quite large. But if you use different decorative parts, the enclosure becomes a full-fledged part of the interior.

When choosing a location, the following recommendations are taken into account:

• the structure should be located in a well-lit place, and if the birds do not have enough sun, then artificial lighting will have to be organized;
• It is prohibited to place the enclosure near batteries or household appliances;
• provides free access to the doors to simplify cleaning;
• It is desirable that the birdhouse can be easily moved to another place.

If you choose an outdoor location, then a canopy is required, thanks to which the bird can hide from precipitation or direct rays of the sun. The pallet will have to be securely reinforced so that it is not destroyed by rodents.

The best place to install an aviary

A good location for an outdoor space for your feathered friends can be considered the most illuminated and least wind-blown place on the site. It makes the most sense if the outer, widest wall faces the south or southeast. Then your parrots will be able to welcome the sun and stay in the light as long as possible. But the northern or leeward wall should be protected with some dense material, for example, a sheet of plexiglass.

#Aviaries for parrots.

It is necessary to install the indoor view of the bird's home in the brightest place in the room - it is usually located near the window. Or you will have to resort to using a lamp.

Arrangement

Aviaries are large in size, so they can be arranged in an unusual way inside, providing the birds with the necessary elements for development and play.

The following items must be purchased or made with your own hands:

• Perches. Their number, size and other features depend on the size and number of pets. If you are making an aviary for a wavy bird, then there should be 2 perches for each bird. One must be located next to the feeder.
• Feeders and drinkers. It is advisable to make 2 containers for food, since one is intended for dry mixture, and the second is used for vegetables and cereals. Drinkers can be open or closed, but their size depends on the size of the parrots. It is advisable that each individual have a separate feeder and drinker.
• Toys. The enclosure should have a swing, a mirror and ladders. Each owner can make educational accessories with his own hands. Only products that are safe for birds and do not destroy the mesh are selected.

Wavys need regular bathing, so in a large enclosure you can place a large plastic bath, which is periodically filled with clean water.

Roof and interior decoration

It is desirable that the roof of the enclosure has protection from rain and sun. Metal tiles or slate will successfully cope with the assigned functions. It is better to avoid polycarbonate; it transmits sunlight perfectly.

A living tree growing inside a bird aviary can be an excellent replacement for building materials. Thus, the atmosphere will become as close as possible to the natural habitat.

Naturally, the interior decoration of the bird aviary contains:

• perches;
• drinking bowls;
• feeders;
• houses for shelter from bad weather.

Aviaries for medium and large parrots must be locked. The latch is not a reliable protection for smart birds that are able to open it on their own.

Features of a street structure

It is designed to accommodate large numbers of parrots outdoors. Its construction does not require significant effort, since it is enough to just make a frame, which is covered with mesh and installed on the foundation.

Base

The foundation helps protect birds from rodents. The process of its creation is divided into stages:

• 
  a trench is made, the depth of which is approximately 40 cm;

• crushed stones and stones are poured into the pit;
• the trench is filled with concrete;
• a brick wall is made, the height of which is 20 cm;
• the last row is equipped with large vertical bolts on which the corners of the frame and the mesh are attached.

To ensure that the base is strong, an anti-corrosion mesh is used during its formation.

Walls

The dimensions of the open aviary are chosen by the immediate owner, but it is advisable to make it 3 m wide and 2 m high. Such an aviary is convenient to clean, and the birds also get a lot of free space for playing and flying.

2 mesh fences are made, since the outer part protects the parrots from wild birds, and the inner part prevents fights between couples. A distance of 10 cm is left between these fences. The mesh is attached to metal bolts secured by the foundation. All edges are carefully filed down so that there are no sharp corners that could injure the parrots.

Roof and structure arrangement

The roof protects the birds from precipitation and sunlight. It is made from slate or tiles, and it is also possible to use polycarbonate.

As in a regular cage, the enclosure is equipped with perches, toys, drinking bowls and feeders. You can put up small houses where the birds will hide from bad weather. The design is equipped with a reliable lock, otherwise the birds can open the door and get out.

Foundation

The foundation in the aviary is necessary to protect birds from attacks by small rodents. The algorithm of actions includes the following steps:

• A trench 0.3-0.4 m deep is being prepared.
• The recess is filled with large stones and crushed stone, after which it is filled with concrete.
• A brick wall rises above the ground level to a height of 0.2 m.
• On the final row of brickwork, large bolts are fixed vertically at intervals of 1.5 m along the length. They are intended for further installation of a mesh or corner for the frame.

Attention! A structure without a foundation will significantly reduce the hassle of arranging an aviary for parrots. To protect against rodents, it is raised above the ground on legs, and the floor is equipped with a mesh.

It is recommended to use a fine mesh with an anti-corrosion coating for an enclosure with a foundation. It is laid before the concrete is poured. The cement surface is covered with earth and sand on top and covered with boards. Recently, bird owners have begun to use linoleum as flooring. This solution greatly simplifies the process of maintaining cleanliness in the enclosure.

When building an outdoor fence for parrots, it is advisable to make the floor sloping. During the disinfection process, the liquid will drain away, leaving a clean surface.

Creating an indoor version

Designing an indoor aviary for birds is fundamentally different from the process of building an outdoor structure. Recommendations from experts will help you when setting up an indoor enclosure yourself:

• Design parameters are selected taking into account the breed of parrot. Small birds experience discomfort in large spaces, while large parrots may feel cramped in a compact cage. The average dimensions of an indoor aviary for two parrots are: height - 1 m, width - 0.5 m, length - 1.5 m.
• For the enclosure, choose a bright area of ​​the room, otherwise you will have to use artificial lighting more often.
• Two solid walls of the enclosure will help create comfort for a timid bird. For the rest of the structure, a mesh with small cells is purchased, where the thickness of the rods does not reach 3 mm.
• Having selected a suitable design for an aviary for birds, or created your own, they proceed to forming a frame from bars. The structure is fixed with furniture corners.

• Having first straightened the mesh, it is fixed to the frame of the bird aviary.
• They are engaged in internal arrangement. All kinds of perches, rings for swinging and branches will make the birds’ stay in the aviary comfortable and close to their natural habitat.
• Depending on the size of the enclosure, consider the size of the door to facilitate the cleaning process.
• The floor is decorated with wooden or plastic pallets or linoleum.

Typically, the location of the enclosure is planned on the floor or a strong stand. Attaching a bulky structure to the wall is extremely problematic.

Outdoor aviaries for parrots

Stationary outdoor enclosures differ from indoor enclosures in their larger size and reinforced design. They can be temporary or permanent. Global construction for any season requires special design: with heating, strengthening the roof and floor. You can build a temporary outdoor aviary with your own hands and move parrots into it when it gets warmer. During construction, you need to consider several basic points: how to install the foundation, what to make the roof, frame and mesh from, how to decorate the room from the inside.

Foundation

To prevent rats, dogs and other predators from digging and getting into the enclosure, the structure must be raised above the ground. This can be done using racks or a foundation. First, a ditch about 30 cm deep is dug along the perimeter of the future poultry house, then it is filled with crushed stone and filled with concrete mortar. Next, a wall 20 cm high above ground level is built from brick.

At the same time, a fine mesh is laid on the ground to prevent rodents from entering. Boards are laid on top of it and covered with linoleum. It is preferable to make the floor with a slope - this way the water will drain freely and not stagnate on the surface.

Wall decoration

Having decided what size the aviary for the parrots will be, they begin to build the walls. The frame is made of wooden blocks with a thickness of at least 20×20 mm. To remove the roughness of the wood, the bars are treated with sandpaper. To join the bars you will need corners and screws. The length of the section does not exceed 0.5-0.6 m. With this step, the vertical posts are connected with a horizontal crossbar, this will increase the strength of the structure. A mesh is stretched over the frame, leaving one or two walls blank, covered with PVC slabs.

Construction of an aviary on the site

Of course, buying an aviary is much easier. But the structure you create yourself will correspond to the number of birds that you already have or that the owner of the building plans to keep. In addition, by creating such a structure with your own hands, you can show your imagination, make it unique, and paint it at your own discretion.

There are no rules about where exactly the enclosure should be located. It can be placed in the garden, near the house, among the flowers in the front garden. The main thing is to provide the birds with comfortable conditions, create protection from the heat and a sunny zone, and also simplify the process of cleaning after them if possible. After choosing a location, taking appropriate measurements and creating a drawing, you need to start purchasing building materials:

Tools for installing an aviary.

• fine mesh Chainlink;
• metal corners;
• wires;
• metal or wooden poles;
• nails

Next comes the preparation of the place where the structure for keeping birds will be located. It is advisable to fence off the area and make an enclosure of at least 8-10 square meters. m, especially for large breeds such as pigeons or peacocks. The advantages of a large house are obvious: birds will not fight due to lack of territory, get sick, or get injured. It would be great if there was a gazebo or at least a bench nearby, so that the owners could admire their pets and study their character and habits in convenient moments of relaxation. This activity is very interesting, relaxing and brings a lot of joy.

Actually preparing the place consists only of cleaning and leveling the area. Weeds are completely removed; it is undesirable for dropped sharp objects to be there, even by accident.

Like all structures of this kind, enclosures require the installation of supports. The depth to which the support will enter the ground depends solely on the height of the object. Approximately, if the aviary is 3-4 m high, the supports are deepened by about 1 m, ensuring proper stability of the “bird house”. The recess for the pipes is dug with a shovel and hollowed out with a crowbar; A more “civilized” option is possible - the use of mechanized means. It all depends on the owner’s preferences and availability of tools. The supports must stand very firmly, withstanding the tight tension of the heavy mesh on the sides and top as a roof, as well as intensive use, because the birds need to be fed and cleaned daily.

What needs to be arranged

There are many options for accessories and toys for parrots to keep them entertained in their cage. Which one to choose depends on the type and personality of the birds. Birds, as a rule, love to play and communicate, so the owners install bells, swings and mirrors in the cage. The aviary for budgerigars is well equipped with a movable wooden ladder that they love to ride on.

The main items to look for in a parrot house are perches, feeders and waterers. It is important that they are made of durable and safe materials and are properly secured. It is also useful to place tubs of water in which the birds can bathe.

To make cleaning easier in enclosures, cat litter is often used; it is not dangerous for birds.

In some cases, an aviary for parrots is simply necessary. But it also gives you the opportunity to house more animals, giving you more space and freedom, which keeps them healthy and happy. If you want your feathered pets to have the most natural environment possible, an aviary is the best solution.