ALMOST DONE!! What do you think?

[koux33]

We've been working on this thing (albeit sporadically) since January, and we're almost done! We should be done tonight or tomorrow if all goes well. I can't wait to let our little birdies get out and stretch their wings! Materials are pine, plexiglass, and the blank spots on the sides, top, and doors will be wire mesh. All we have left is to attach the top, attach the mesh and put on the doors. We have some beautiful natural mesquite perches ready to put in once it's done, and I also have plans to get some greenery in the top corners and a couple nests so they have some places to hide. What do you think? I know it's more than adequate space for 2 birds, and we're hoping to breed them later this year. Any suggestions?

[L in Ontario]

So far, so good! Can't wait to see the finished aviary!!

[Ria]

Looks great so far! Your birds will love zipping back and forth in there! One thing about nests, though - zebras will breed if they are ready or not. Do you know how old your birds are? They ideally should not be bred until at least six months of age. If they are pet store birds, presume that they are only three months ( the youngest age to be fully colored and sold). If you provide nests now, they will breed and lay eggs. Even if you take the eggs away, egglaying is still physically stressful to the female. If I were you, wait till the end of the year before you provide nests. Glad to see your birdies in such caring hands!

[koux33]

Thanks for the tip! We don't know their age, but I would guess they're pretty young. We weren't planning on even thinking about breeding for a while, so that's good to know. We'll skip the nests until we (and the birds) are ready. The only thing I'm worrying about, is they're not exactly tucked into a corner - they have full visibility on both sides, (the short sides will be against a wall) and I don't want them to be too stressed out with all the activity in our home. I want them to have somewhere to hide if it's too much. Will the plants up in the corners be enough? Or will they just get used to it over time? Am I over-thinking this?

[koux33]

FINISHED!! We couldn't be happier! It was so frustrating, and we almost threw it in the dumpster a couple times, but we worked out all the problems and it turned out great! We put the birds in last night, and they were spooked for a couple minutes but I think they're gonna really like it. I don't think they've ever had this much flying space, they're not very good yet. They've been trying to get up to that circle swing up at the top for a while but they keep missing and landing on the perches on the other side. Hopefully they'll get better after a while, I think they just need to build up those flight muscles that they've probably never used this much. Anyway, we're all done and I'm so excited!

So I'm trying to figure out if this is the best set-up for them, as far as furnishings go. Since it's such a wide space I tried to put multiple water/food dishes on both sides and middle of the cage, and I arranged the perches so they're not over water bowls or obstructing the flight path. I'm hoping to get a couple more toys for them (a swing and ladder probably) and some greenery around the top corners. Any other suggestions? These are my first finches ever, so if there's something I'm missing I'd love the input!

[Mozelle]

Fantastic! What a great flight for your zebbies! They're gonna think they're in heaven - once they can reach that swing

Trying to finish our own. Sorting out the best way to attach plexiglass doors to the front...
Your flight is so much larger, great job!

[koux33]

Thanks! I think they'll grow to love it, but for now I don't think they quite know what to do with all that space! It'll probably take a couple days for them to get used to it. We attached the plexiglass by drilling a hole through the wood and plexiglass, then bolting it in tight with a washer/nut on the inside. Not as seamless - you can see the bolt heads on the outside - but I think the look worked for this project. I'm sure there are better ways, but I don't really know what they are...

[ranchnanny]

What do you have on the top? In my flight I have one section for food another for water and the other for bathing/toys. I had hung clear vinyl to keep the bath water from splashing all over the floor but it got so dirty I took it down. How will you clean the plexi glass on the inside?

[koux33]

If you mean the top of the cage, it's wire mesh. As for cleaning the plexiglass, it gets pretty clean using just plain water and a wet paper towel. We designed it so I can reach every point in the cage through either one of the doors, so I was just going to wipe it down when it got dirty, cleaning one side then the other so I don't spook the birds TOO much. I have a small water dish up towards the top on the one side (that yellow one hanging on the wire) and then a large bathing dish on the middle of the floor (the white ceramic dish). I don't think they'll fit into the yellow cup comfortably so I'm hoping that one won't make too much of a mess, and the one on the floor will probably just splash onto the Plexiglass a bit. My thinking is, I'd rather have water splashed on the glass than to have water all over the carpet.

[ranchnanny]

Know what you mean about water on carpet or wood floors.... I have been using large plastic flat containers and the spa I made... But still got the water thing going so I came up with an enclosed bath to sit on the floor of the flight cage. I really have to much time on my hands LOL! . I took a large plastic square bottle of peanuts and cleaned it out really good and cut a large square hole and lined the hole with tape flipped it upside down (lid on bottom) put a bit of water and it didn't take long for them to use it. Barely any water being thrown out.....Works Great!

[CandoAviary]

Nice job and I love the look of it

[Chichireeo]

I really love how you have the flight like a partition between two rooms. That way the birds can be part of the family.
Would you want to put some covering for night time so they feel secure and undisturbed when they want to sleep? Maybe curtains across or vertical blinds. For me, if I want to go into my bird's bedroom to get something at night, I have to tiptoe in the dark cos I don't want to wake him. Especially during molting, I read that they need to sleep a lot.

[koux33]

Would you want to put some covering for night time so they feel secure and undisturbed when they want to sleep? Maybe curtains across or vertical blinds. For me, if I want to go into my bird's bedroom to get something at night, I have to tiptoe in the dark cos I don't want to wake him. Especially during molting, I read that they need to sleep a lot.

I have thought about that, but I have no idea how to go about doing it. The curtain idea would be cool, but I'd have to think about how we'd do that, it may be a bit complicated. For now though, that's why I'm wanting to get some greenery and extra perches up at the top, so they can hide in the leaves when they are spooked or want some privacy. Then, later when we're ready for breeding, that's probably where we'll put the nests.

[waxbill lover]

Gorgeous aviary! I love the dark stain, it looks so great! Before long, you're gonna have that thing FULL of finches... 2 is never enough..........

[koux33]

Gorgeous aviary! I love the dark stain, it looks so great! Before long, you're gonna have that thing FULL of finches... 2 is never enough..........

Yes, I know. Why do you think we made it so big? Just don't tell my husband that.