I have aquired a 1920's green house 20' X 20'

[donbonner]

I have moved to a small farm that has a 20 by 20 older green house. Windows along the south and west sides plus the roof is translucent corrigated fibreglass. There is no celing so the height is around 14' high at the peak. Right now it's been used to store garden equipment but I thought with a little tlc I could change it into an aviary. It's right beside the farm house we will be living in so it's close by and I can run electricty to it.

So here is my dilemma. While I love wild birds having numberous feeders and nests around the house I know nothing about pet birds. I consider this a very long term project so I'm open to suggestions on the layout of the interior, does it need heating, ventilation, what kind of birds would best work etc. I live in Nanaimo BC on Vancouver Island and the temperature ranges from high of 25-30C (70-80F) and lows of around 0C (32F) but it went to -10C for a couple of days in December.

Don. Birdless in Nanaimo

[L in Ontario]

Hi Don and welcome to the Finch Forum! Always nice to see another Canadian aboard. Sounds like you found a real prize in the green house and I'm sure you'll get lots of hints and tips here to help you along. We'd love to see pics of course!! Again welcome!

[poohbear]

Too risky to my mind...broken pane of glass = no birds.Unless you plan to wire mesh it.

[donbonner]

That was one of the first things I was thinking of doing. I have to wire mesh the glass areas and the roof line as you can see right out between the roof panels and the walls. I'm also putting in a fan at the top to vent out the air when it gets too hot. It will have a reverse temperature control. My plan is to have it as a working greenhouse and then introduce birds later. I just have to make sure I install all the necessary bird related things before I start putting in plants. What size mesh should I have for finches? I'll have some photos soon.

[poohbear]

Inch by a half...but half inch by half would be better...

[franny]

I definitely would think that ventilation is the most important thing! One year in high school I took a part time job picking hot-house tomatoes... nearly killed me it was so hot! (This is in Surrey, BC - same climate as on the Island.)

Maybe have something like an awning to partially block the west side of the building if you need help to keep the heat down beyond just a fan to ventilate. Also, I know that many finches would love the heat, but humidity could be a killer. So consider getting finches that would do well in a hot humid environment, not a arid/desert type environment. You can find out about each finch's natural habitat by checking out the Species info at the Finch Information Center link at the left of your screen.

You can get a wire similar to chicken wire that is 1/2 inch, which is fine gauge, so easy to work with. Trouble is, because it's hexagon shape, the opening would maybe be a bit too big for some finches and fledglings. As Poohbear says, 1/2 by 1/2 inch square is really the safest (called hardware cloth).

This could be beautiful, full of growing plants, and free flying birds.
I used to live in Victoria, and loved to go to a conservatory they used to have there, to enjoy the free flying birds. Can't recall the name of it, but it was like the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver. But while it had lots of glass, the temperature, I believe, was also controlled with air conditioning.

[donbonner]

I now have some pictures of the house.

[CandoAviary]

What a beautiful piece of history... I can just picture it with plants, birds,a bird bath...and a comfy chair for just relaxing and watching
Can't wait to see how this turns out, please post pictures of the process

[Ursula]

Welcome to the forum!

What a great greenhouse! I can envision it too...
One important thing that comes to mind is installing a double-door either outside or inside the greenhouse. The single door is too risky for birds to fly out when you walk in, and it would also keep the temperature better in winter.

Maybe you could divide it inside with a cage/mesh wall, and have a bigger entrance area where the door is, with some storage places for food, and maybe also for delicate plants that you don't want the birds to tear up. And maybe with some chairs and a table to sit and watch the birds. Sitting inside an aviary is very nice, but you have to keep in mind that birds drop something everywhere, also on your chair... Your place certainly seems big enough for 2 parts.

[nelloyello11]

That has much promise to be a beautiful aviary-greenhouse! Please keep us posted on your progress!
Oh, and welcome to the forum!!!

[donbonner]

Welcome to the forum!

What a great greenhouse! I can envision it too...
One important thing that comes to mind is installing a double-door either outside or inside the greenhouse. The single door is too risky for birds to fly out when you walk in, and it would also keep the temperature better in winter.

I had planned to build an inside mess cage entrance (two doors or walls to save heat). Here is an initial floor layout. Probably not going to have a seating area but that certainly is an idea. We have chickens so I know about dropping stuff everywhere.

here is the entrance. I plan on walling in the other doors.

[newlinta]

WOW...don...if I had that building I would do exactly the kind of thing you're planning to do with it!!! I'm SURE I would get in trouble from the other half for spending too much time in it...lol
good luck with the project!!

[Ursula]

I see you've considered a lot already! What a great layout. It will be beautiful. It will also depend on the type of finches that you put in whether they might destroy some plants... Please keep us posted on the progress, can't wait to see that!

[nelloyello11]

Wow!! Looks like a fantastic plan already!!!

[bluebutterfly213]

I love seeing the ideas others use while building their aviaries. Looking forward to seeing progress pics.