DIY parrot aviary for apartments and streets

To keep parrots you need a spacious and comfortable home, especially for large birds or flocks of birds. To set up an enclosure for a parrot yourself will require a lot of time, effort and money. An alternative option is to buy a ready-made outdoor or indoor structure. Aviaries have clear advantages over small cages, but they also have disadvantages. Let's consider all the pros and cons, and also disassemble the enclosure into its components and think about whether it is possible to make it yourself.

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.

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.

Types of enclosures

Indoor

Thoughts about a large cage usually appear when there are more than two parrots at home. This is better than keeping birds separately in several different, smaller houses. In addition, pets need to be given the opportunity to walk daily, which is not necessary in a larger room.

Of course, an aviary installed in an apartment will take up a lot of space. But if the owner has imagination, it can become an original decorative element and even decorate the room.

Indoor aviary

Speaking about the requirements for indoor enclosures, we mention the following:

1. The minimum dimensions for a structure housing more than two small parrots should be 100 by 50 by 150 cm (height, width, length).
2. For small species, a fine-mesh, preferably welded, mesh with 3 mm rods will be sufficient. For large parrots, the wire thickness should be at least 5 mm. A thinner bird will be able to snack.
3. The production of the design you like begins with a general drawing and the formation of a frame from bars, which are fixed with furniture corners.
4. One or more retractable trays are installed at the bottom of the enclosure.
5. It is important to think through the size of the door in detail: it should prevent your pets from unauthorized forays into the wild and at the same time be convenient for cleaning the inside of the cage.
6. The usual installation of an enclosure is directly on the floor, on legs or on wheels. They are rarely hung on the wall, but with their impressive dimensions this would be problematic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6ubYeC9SY

Some hobbyists simplify the construction process by enclosing part of the room with a mesh. However, in this case, it is worth keeping in mind that droppings, feathers and food debris from parrots accumulating on the floor can attract rodents and various insects. As sources of infection, they will also penetrate feeders and damage the grain mixture, making it unsafe for birds.

To prevent this situation, it is necessary to protect the floors - for example, cover them with sheet iron, bending it over the wall space (at least 30 cm).

Important! The appearance of rats and mice in a cage at night can cause panic in birds, which can lead to injury and stress for your pets.

Street

In the summer season, it is advisable to install an aviary outside. The indoor one can be moved to the terrace, loggia or balcony. This way, your pets will not only be able to breathe fresh air and feel almost in the lap of nature, but also communicate with wild birds.

Outdoor, collapsible, aviary for parrots. Outdoor Aviary for Parrots

Outdoor enclosures also have a number of features that are worth talking about.

1. The size of an external bird house can be much larger than an indoor one. For example, 1.5 meters in height and 3 in length. Or choose arbitrarily - here your imagination is unlimited. However, it is worth considering that in enclosures more than 2 meters high, catching birds or maintaining the premises becomes quite difficult tasks.
2. Inside it is necessary to provide shelter from direct sunlight, rain, and strong winds.
3. The enclosure must have a roof.
4. The front and side mesh walls should be double so that random animals and birds cannot come into direct contact with your pets.
5. The bottom must be protected from rodents that can dig into the cage.
6. As components of the structure, it is better to choose materials that are durable and not subject to weather conditions and attacks from street animals.
7. It is advisable to consider where your birds will spend the cold seasons: either the aviary will be portable with the possibility of installing it inside the house, or you will have to think about the pets’ habitat in another cage.

Do-it-yourself cage (valier) for parrots - 2

Year-round

Creating or purchasing an all-season bird house should be taken very seriously. This is what should distinguish this design from any other type of enclosure:

1. A large bird house should also have an internal house with heating and artificial lighting. Birds will hide in it in case of unfavorable weather conditions.
2. It is necessary to have a foundation (with a trench deepened by 30-40 cm) or strong, stable legs.
3. It is better to make the floor in a large cage for year-round keeping of parrots with a slope - then when disinfecting the room, the liquid will drain, which will simplify the cleaning process.
4. It is advisable to use a thick linoleum sheet to facilitate debris removal and protect the bottom of the enclosure.
5. If a large cage is built in such a way that a tree grows right in it, your birds will already have a ready-made play stand and shelter from the bright rays of the sun as close as possible to natural habitat conditions.
6. And in a year-round bird house, a second, protective net with wider cells should also be provided. It is pulled at a distance of up to 10 cm from the main one.
7. It is worth installing supports in the corners of the bird house. They can be metal posts reinforced in the ground with concrete pouring. Corners are welded onto them, which will hold either the main or additional mesh.
8. It would be nice for an outdoor aviary to have a vestibule - it will prevent the bird from accidentally flying out when the door is opened. In addition, such a small utility room is convenient to keep tools for internal cleaning.
9. As a lock for a room with large species of parrots, you should not limit yourself to a latch; it is necessary to provide for the possibility of locking with a padlock.

Optimal size and shape

Even a small bird needs ample space, otherwise the quality of life deteriorates. The cramped structure limits mobility, and the parrot is forced to sit on a perch instead of fluttering about for its own pleasure. The cage should not be the place where the parrot is imprisoned - it is his home, so before construction you need to think through all the little things.

One of the main parameters of a cage for a budgie is size. The value must correspond to the number of residents and their height:

• for a chick that has just been separated from its parents, a small temporary house is enough: length and width 25 cm, height 40 cm;
• an adult needs a more spacious cage: from 40 cm in length and width, from 50 cm in height;
• two parrots fit quite freely in a half-meter product with a height of 60 cm, and with each subsequent bird the dimensions should increase proportionally.

The larger the cage, the better for the wards, but it is problematic for the owner: the cleaning area increases, the useful volume of the room decreases.

The preferred shape of a house for a new pet is rectangular with horizontal and vertical bars. The angular design serves as a safe haven for the parrot. A timid wavy can hide in a secluded corner, away from prying eyes. Tall round cages with a dome top are designed for settled parrots and small groups.

Note: Products with fancy shapes look attractive, but they are not very convenient for cleaning.

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.

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.

DIY aviary for budgies

Net

Stainless steel

This species, as the most durable and safest for the health of birds, is considered today the most optimal when making an aviary.

Galvanized

This mesh is no less durable than the previous one, but the presence of zinc in it makes it unsafe for birds. Especially when you consider that the habits of many species of parrots include climbing wire meshes. In this case, birds, of course, use not only their paws, but also their beak.

Our birds are having a housewarming party, they now have a large enclosure with all the amenities

The advantage of the mesh is its availability both in price and availability in stores. Therefore, amateurs often use galvanized steel to make their own enclosures.

Important! If you nevertheless purchased this type of mesh, then first wash it with warm water and soap using a sponge. Then you need to wipe the cells with table vinegar. After rinsing in clean water, let dry. Only after completing this procedure can you begin to work.

Iron

The most widely used in the manufacture of enclosures and for birds is the so-called “animal farming” net. Made using precision welding method. It is more comfortable than wicker. In addition, it is easier to mount it on any frame - both metal and wood. At the same time, damage to a single link will not make the rest less strong.

Outdoor aviary for parrots part-3

It is sold in rolls in hardware stores. To keep small parrots, take mesh sizes of 13-16 by 48 mm, for medium ones - 25 by 25 mm, for large birds you can use 30 by 50 mm.

Metal with plastic coating

This type of mesh is not recommended for use in bird aviaries.

Plastic

The least durable and unsafe material for the health of birds, sometimes still used in the manufacture of bird houses. In addition, this type of mesh is too soft for the paws, and the bird can get caught on the mesh when flying.

Frame

It is made of metal or wooden bars, on which the mesh is secured with duralumin corners of various thicknesses. Sometimes they are simply attached to the wall. If the weight of the future structure will be significant due to snags, toys, nesting houses, you can use steel corners.

DIY bird aviary. Size 2.2 x 2.5 x 4 m.

Doors

You will need to make several of them in the enclosure. For example, in a small room there can be two. One is located on the lower level and serves to replace water, fill the feeder and clean the bottom. The second one is higher. It is intended for use in the upper part of the bird's house. Sometimes you will have to catch sick parrots to place them in an isolation ward - when planning the number of doors, take this point into account.

In an outdoor, especially all-season large room for birds, it is imperative to have a human-sized door so that you can go inside and do everything you need.

Pallet

To manufacture this part of the structure, it is necessary to use materials that are easy to disinfect and do not suffer from its effects. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Plywood

It will only serve for a while, since it tends to swell from exposure to moisture and delaminate. Especially if you need such a method of cleansing from parasites as scalding with boiling water.

New aviary for parrots

Plastic

You can use ready-made kitchen trays, which are usually made from food-safe plastic. However, to do this, you will have to adjust the dimensions of the future enclosure in advance to the size of the existing box.

It is quite possible to make a plastic tray yourself, using non-toxic glue that is safe for the health of birds.

Galvanized sheet

A fairly durable material, however, if it is not too thin. Otherwise, deformation of the pallet cannot be avoided even with careful handling.

Required Tools

• Metal grid.
• Wooden board or piece of door.
• Hammer.
• A drill or screwdriver will help make the necessary holes in the bottom.
• Scissors for working with metal.

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Arrangement of the enclosure

Perches

Be sure to take into account the type of parrot when choosing crossbars for your future enclosure. There should not be many perches so that the cage space is not cluttered. Two on the top tier and one at the feeder are enough.

We are building an aviary for parrots - Results. How to make a bird aviary

It is allowed to use driftwood or tree branches brought from the forest or park. Of course, it would be useful to subject such natural material to preliminary disinfection.

Important! Do not use plastic perches. Wood is the traditional and best material for bird perches or perches.

Feeders

They must be durable and made from safe material. Thick wood or non-toxic plastic is acceptable. It is advisable to have fasteners: you should not place feeders on the bottom of the enclosure, it is better to hang them on the walls. Make sure that the edges are not sharp and cannot injure the bird.

Drinking bowls

Much of the above is true for them as well. True, it is better not to use this accessory made of wood. In enclosures, you can also use automatic or vacuum drinkers. They do not get dirty as quickly as open water containers.

Review of #aviary for parrots

Material suitable for making a cage

The material from which the bird house is made must be safe, durable and of high quality.

How to make a parrot cage

Useful little things

Also, when choosing a cage, you need to pay attention to a few little things.
For example, doors should open easily and close tightly. Moreover, it is advisable to give preference to swing doors rather than lifting ones.

The fact is that parrots are generally distinguished by their ingenuity. They are quite capable of opening simple latches, deftly using their claws and beak. And then lift the door to get out. Unfortunately, it is precisely at this moment that the lifting mechanism often falls, and if it hits the neck, it pinches the bird’s head. Usually the parrot can no longer lift it and simply tries to escape, receiving serious wounds. A swing door is much safer in this regard.

We should not forget about the pallet. Be sure to choose a cage with a retractable product. It is very easy to clean - just pull it out, shake out the accumulated debris and rinse with warm water. If there is no retractable tray, then you will have to remove debris with a vacuum cleaner or manually, and then wash the bottom with a damp sponge - a much more difficult job that takes much more time.