[rec.birds] Building an aviary

bmg1@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Brett) (10/14/88)

My housemate and I plan on building some sort of structure
to house our birds in.  I have a grey cockatiel (Bonzo) which I've
had for about 3 1/2 years now. My housemate has a cockatiel (Ronnie)
and an African Gray Parrot (Dooley).  We've already determined that
all three birds get along fairly well. (The cockatiels get along
together especially well. They are male and female 8^)

I'm interested in hearing from anyone with experience in building
and maintaining some sort of aviary.  Actually I'm not sure if you'd 
call what we have in mind an "aviary".  We plan on just building some
sort of box frame covered with chicken wire (small holes).
Somehow we have to incorporate access to the bottom (for removal of cage
floor lining (aka newspaper)) as well as a removable top.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Anything?

Brett

ls1i+@andrew.cmu.edu (Leonard John Schultz) (10/14/88)

This probably won't help you any, but when I eventually build my own, I will
definitely incorporate an aviary into it.  I plan on housing many different,
compatible birds together ($$$$$$$$).  But anyway, this is my plan for an
aviary.  It would be a two story room with a dirt floor.  It has many different
tropical plants and small trees to make it look real natural as well as small
pools for bathing and drinking.  The birds are free to fly wherever they wish.
There is a balcony on the second floor where you can view the whole thing.  A
second room next to it is for breeding and contains multiple compartments big
enough for large birds to fly in.  Each compartment has a breeding nest for the
birds.  Nearby is an indoor garden to assure that my birds aren't deficient in
any nutritional way.  That's the basic outline.  Does anyone have a real aviary
that I can compare mine to?

miller@galaxy.ee.rochester.edu (Ruth Miller) (10/15/88)

 Our dreams coincide, but here's one I worry about on and off--what
possible vegetation can be put in that won't be shredded?  Or don't
your birds chew everything in sight?  Ours even chew thru their perches
in a matter of days!
  --Ruth Miller