I Know You Guys Know.....

[Joey]

Well some of you know taht I have been wanting to build an avairy....so I am I have to buy the materials but first I need your opion.It is going to be in my basement in the back corner.6 feet long 3 feet wide and 8 feet high.What I was wanting to know was what type of wire should I buy because I read that some types of wire are poisonus and how many birds could fit in it. I was wondering about 8 budgies and a pair of cockatiels....? :)

[Bea]

I would make it a little less high, you'll find the bottom won't get used anyway so you may as well save on the materials. I wouldn't put the tiels in with the budgies, it's asking for trouble. ;) You should be able to get stuff called aviary mesh which has 1cm square holes. The problem with the wire is that it's galvinised (or something, i am like the most un-technical person around!) which basically means it's been coated in zinc to stop it rusting. So, you can either find stainless steel mesh (which costs a fortune but is safe), or you can get the galvanised aviary mesh and scrub the lot really thoroughly with a mix of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. I've been told that this neutralises the zinc or something.

[Joey]

Ok thanks and the reason I want to go taht high because I want it to go staright to the roof 8 feet.Would 8 pairs and a cockatiel pair fit in this avairy?Well...I dont think it should be a problem because I have seen that at the breeders he has about 23 cockatiels inside an avairy with about 20 budgies......They get along fine

[Bea]

Just because somebody else does it doesn't make it ok. :S I would say you're pushing your luck, especially if you're planning on expanding your flock but we can't stop you and you seem pretty dead set on doing it.:rolleyes:

[ETAHoffman]

Hi, Joey. The aviary sounds great. You asked about the type of material to use. Try using 1/4 inch hardware cloth. For all practical purposes, it is vermin proof. Mice can get through 1/2 inch but not 1/4 inch. Bea is right about the thorough cleaning of the cloth. I buy it in 50 ft. or 100 ft. rolls and simply partially fill my bath tub with warm water and add a couple of big boxes of Arm and Hammer baking soda to the water. Stir it up to completely dissolve and mix the soda and then submerge the wire in the solution. Agitate the water, or pour it over the wire and let the wire sit for a few minutes. This will neutralize the acid bath used to galvanize the wire. Drain the water and rinse the soda off the wire. (I take my rolls out into the yard and turn the garden hose on them to do this part.) Then, the wire is perfectly safe to use.

Another note.....if you have a "flat cut" pair of wire cutters, you'll find you'll have fewer cuts and scratches on your body when you work with the wire. Regular diagonal cutters leave a sharp "V" end on the wire and you can really get cut up if you're not careful.

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

Tom

P.S. Mixing budgies and cockatiels isn't the best idea. If they were in a VERY large aviary, it might be another thing.

[Joey]

Ok thanks I will be sure to wash the wire with baking soda I know if I mix baking Soda and Bea suggested Viniger than I know what will happen to my bath room lol... So I will jsut use baking Soda..:)

[ETAHoffman]

Well, one might say you did a "bang-up job" if you did combine both. ;)

[Joey]

What does that meen....?

[BUUZBEE]

way lmao, my daughter has been experimenting with baking soda and vinegar in school, so i know exactly what the bang up job means!

i wish i'd thought of the baking soda, i used vinegar! uggg
i used the hardware cloth too. it worked perfectly!

as for the tiels, some people have had them together with no problems, other have had many problems! do you have the tiels now?

as for the floor, my birds are ALWAYS on the floor, its covered with sand, and they are always down there foraging around. i feed them their vegie plate down there, so the eat that, and then eat the sand, and any dropped seed. plus i chuck the millet down there. you sizing sounds fine to me


here is a link to my aviary pics... http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a201/BUUZBEE/?start=80

mine is the same, just 6 feet tall