Heating an outdoor birdroom

[tt101]

it should be mentioned that when insulating you can't ver stuff the walls. you need to use the suitable thickness for the stud size of the walls... this gives the room a breathing area between the tar paper or tyvek wrap and the inner moisture barrier. it also helps to prevent mold.

i live in vancouver b.c. and in my bird room i use and electric heater. this room is detached from the house and done in the same fashion that you are planning.. insulated with R12 insulation and it holds an even temperature.

Yeah you are right that I would have to have larger studs for my plan, I could use 2x6 or 2x4 but I still would have to cut down on some insulation. I guess I'm going to buy the insulation with the highest R-value possible.

[PrettyBird]

lol ok. well good luck with the outdoor bird room.

[poohbear]

Gouldians are better kept at higher temperatures,but as I said they choose to roost in the colder area with the societies and canaries...they have a choice....Hecks,Bichenos,Doves,Quail,Bourkes,Diamond Sparrows,Stars,all roost in the warmer area.
As a matter of interest,the glazed removable panels are double glazed cast offs from a neighbours house refit...I like freebies...
It's still cold in that part, but at least all wind and draughts are eliminated till the spring.Last year caught us all out when I just plastic sheeted the aviary...this year I was determined to improve conditions.An hour removing the panels in spring is no big deal.

[tt101]

lol ok. well good luck with the outdoor bird room.

Thank you very much, I know I will need all the luck I can get.

Gouldians are better kept at higher temperatures,but as I said they choose to roost in the colder area with the societies and canaries...they have a choice....Hecks,Bichenos,Doves,Quail,Bourkes,Diamond Sparrows,Stars,all roost in the warmer area.
As a matter of interest,the glazed removable panels are double glazed cast offs from a neighbours house refit...I like freebies...
It's still cold in that part, but at least all wind and draughts are eliminated till the spring.Last year caught us all out when I just plastic sheeted the aviary...this year I was determined to improve conditions.An hour removing the panels in spring is no big deal.

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/7b700bf3.jpg ]

Hahah I guess they like the colder areas in the room. I also am a very big lover of all things free except for sicknesses. You know I always see people plastic wrap their bird rooms why is that?
Does the plastic prevent cold air from getting in? We looked at some heaters today and I found a few nice ones, I'm so excited for these plans.
Thanks

[DanteD716]

We can have bad winters here too...I designed my aviary/birdroom with this in mind.Half is fully insulated,the other half is protected against the winds and draughts by removable panels...glazed and solid.
The completely open flight on the end, I provide for sun and bathing, and is kept closed off during the worst weather.
I use electric heaters to take the edge off the cold...they come on at 50f I would prefer warmer but costs have to be considered.The birds managed well last winter...our worse for 30 years.Many of the birds choose to roost in the colder section ...but they have the choice.I don't worry about ventilation...there are enough small gaps around the open section to allow for air circulation.

My set up from start to finish...Summer and ready for Winter....

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/86f57992.jpg ]

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/33cd7a75.jpg ]

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/f7e42f6b.jpg ]

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/6455b664.jpg ]

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/22a1c0c7.jpg ]

[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/a87d731e.jpg ]


[ http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/raebhoop/birds/5812039b.jpg ]

Very Nice!!

The heater I use in my birdroom has a built-in temperature sensor, so when ever it goes below 75 degrees F in my bird room it kicks on, the room has a very large ceiling but the heater still works, it goes on maybe twice a day and keeps the room warm, it is also small, no larger than a bowling ball, so if you get two or three of those they would work with each other and keep the room at a steady 75 or whatever you'd like, they are 20 dollars each, price may vary, and I live in Buffalo, NY, if you do not know where it is, it is along the boarder of Canada, a twenty minute drive to Niagare Falls, and it also gets very cold.

cool, i never knew they even made heaters with built in temperature sensors. i actually have friends from buffalo NY, so im aware of its close proximity to canada and its really cool that its working for you. im going to look into some good brand energy efficient heaters and see what i can find and btw i would have at least 2 if i was you just incase 1 fails and set up a carbon monoxide monitor. just wondering how you insulated and ventilated your bird room?
thanks

My birdroom is actually indoors, but it is the second floor front hallway leading to the balcony so it roomy but gets very cold and drafty if the heater is not in.

[poohbear]

Hahah I guess they like the colder areas in the room. I also am a very big lover of all things free except for sicknesses. You know I always see people plastic wrap their bird rooms why is that?
Does the plastic prevent cold air from getting in? We looked at some heaters today and I found a few nice ones, I'm so excited for these plans.
Thanks

Even plastic sheeting is better than nothing when freezing winter winds are howling through the aviary.

[Dayna]

I am totally loving this thread. You really have to make another post and show your progress all along the way and let us know how it all works for you. Once I get out of my apartment I want to try and do something similiar so I am really curious as to how this is going to turn out. Cudo's (dont know proper spelling for that ) to you for going through with such a challenging and vigorous project

[tt101]

sorry double post

[tt101]

Even plastic sheeting is better than nothing when freezing winter winds are howling through the aviary.[/quote]

oh ok i see, the plastic was just an emergency on the spot thing. glad they all pulled through especially those gorgeous bourkes{yes i have been bitten heck ive been chewed in half by the bourkes bug}......first bird to go in the bird room after the gouldians.

I am totally loving this thread. You really have to make another post and show your progress all along the way and let us know how it all works for you. Once I get out of my apartment I want to try and do something similiar so I am really curious as to how this is going to turn out. Cudo's (dont know proper spelling for that ) to you for going through with such a challenging and vigorous project

thank you very much Dayna, i will deffinitely make a build thread when i build my bird house. i hope everything goes well and nothing pops up to change plans.....well except if we buy a house with a larger yard and i can make an even bigger bird house . im glad this thread is helpful to you and i hope it can help many more people hoping to build a bird house in a not so bird friendly climate. just want to mention that i wont be building anything until spring so it wont be a while before i can make the thread. oh and its spelled kudos but close enough lol

[tt101]

i found a store here in the city that sells super efficent heaters that supposedly run on only $1 a day and thats assuming it runs for 24 hours, but it comes with a built in thermostat so it wont even be on for 24 hours a day, probably closer to 8 or 9 hours a day.
heres the link tell me what you think:
http://www.farnorthsaunas.com/catalog/h ... 00-classic

[DanteD716]

Great news!

[tt101]

thats what i thought but still, you cant always believe marketing schemes

[poohbear]

Let's be right here...If you are after a set temperature in say 1,000 sq ft.Whether you use a large heater which uses mega watts to reach that temperature in a few minutes...or cheaper heaters with lower wattages that may take an hour to reach the same temperature...the end result is still the same cost in electricity if a thermostat is used.The only difference being the time factor to achieve the desired temperature.
My low wattage heaters are not set to achieve a set temperature...just to keep the chill out of the air.The temperature inside will still vary according to the outside conditions.
My absolute ideal would be a constant 18C. But the cost to achieve that in the UK would be prohibitive with my retirement income.
Very occasionally if the outside temperatures hit an all time low I will provide extra heating overnight while the birds are roosting....daylight hours are not so important when the birds are feeding and active.

[tt101]

i get what your saying but their claim that it costs 1 day {7-11 cents an hour} seems crazy to me. this heater is not particularily high on watts compared to other heaters only 1500w but they claim its super energy efficent. im thinking of sending them an email to ask why it only runs on a few cents an hour, how is it superior to other heaters and if it would work for my projected application. i need it to heat the air not objects, but it is infared which heats objects. ill keep you guys updates as to what they tell me. lol last thing i need is to have a bill come at $500 in the middle of winter with 50 birds

[Dayna]

What kind of birds are you planning on putting in the aviary?
Are you also planning on having an outdoor flight attached for the summer months?