FINCHforum

using the corner of the room so aviary will be 7' high 9' long and 3' wide will be using the t-bar screen doors. the floor is bare wood thought of using brown paper on floor, would sand be ok on floor? hope to find some button quail to put in it, how many pair of finches (zebras) would be ok or just use it for the fledglings? thanks

Rather than sand,I would use a wood or hemp based bedding used in stables.It's cheap,light, and absorbent...you just need a few inches of solid board round the base to stop it spreading outside the aviary.

Sounds like a good size aviary!
I would put some roll flooring like vinyl down on the wood and then put your bedding on top of that. When you need to do a really good cleaning you could easily scrub and wash the vinyl floor better then wood. I used sand for many years without a problem, now I've been using the cheap clay kitty litter. Your bedding should be something that doesn't hold moisture that could cause you can get mold and lets not forget pleasing to your eye.
Would love to see pictures ...

thanks i think the vinyl is a good idea, hope to get started soon, seen one like this on on net that she left the screen in the botton and used wire for top but i like the look of the plexi-glass

I did plexiglass on the top front for viewing purposes. On the floor I put the self stick vinyl tiles that has the adhesive on the pack.

I wouldn't keep buttons just on sand! Mine are doing very well on aspen shavings, and they have a shallow bowl full of sand to bathe in. Buttons love hidey spots, they will appreciate real or fake plants, and maybe some little hut or something to hide in.

Ursula wrote:I wouldn't keep buttons just on sand! Mine are doing very well on aspen shavings, and they have a shallow bowl full of sand to bathe in. Buttons love hidey spots, they will appreciate real or fake plants, and maybe some little hut or something to hide in.

I've just removed two little cabins that I put in corners for the quail to hide in...they never used them and roost right up next to the wire.

poohbear wrote:

Ursula wrote:I wouldn't keep buttons just on sand! Mine are doing very well on aspen shavings, and they have a shallow bowl full of sand to bathe in. Buttons love hidey spots, they will appreciate real or fake plants, and maybe some little hut or something to hide in.

I've just removed two little cabins that I put in corners for the quail to hide in...they never used them and roost right up next to the wire.

Mine don't use huts or cabins either, maybe they have plenty of other spots to hide or feel secure like yours? But I've read on forums that other people's buttons do like them. Just wanted to point that out as an option...

Curious thing with my buttons, which might mean they do feel secure: They seem to actually be attracted to the vacuum cleaner! Whenever I vacuum outside the aviary in the dinig room area I can see at least one or two buttons sitting on the wooden threshold of the door, looking out at the vacuum. My dogs have to be put outside while I vacuum because they hate it, but the buttons seem to like it? Go figure!!