FINCHforum

I have been enjoying this site since I found it and am hoping some people here with some experience can give me some pointers on an indoor aviary I am working on.

I have a spare unused bedroom which is 11' x 24' in size, and I am workong on converting about 11'x12' of this into an aviary (part of it will also be the double entry area, so a portion of that space will be used up for that). The cieling is about 7' high also.

I planb on housing a few different finch species (european goldfinches, bronzewings and goldbreasts...as these were suggested to me by a breeder that would coexist well together typically). Initially I will only have probably 6-8 birds, but will probably slowly introduce some others. I also do not plan on breedig any birds at this time, and as such do not plan on intoducing nests or nest building material (that may change in the future)

My questions regarding the aviary are as follows (and of course any questions or suggestions will certainly be welcomed as well).

1. Flooring. I would really prefer not to use some form of substrate for the flooring since this aviary will be indoors. Is there any specific kind of flooring people might suggest that is easy to clean? Maybe a special type or brand of vinyl flooring or something similar?

2. Flora. I also plan on putting in several plants and trees. Is it suggested to use live plants over fake ones, or vice versa? I am not against using either, but am partial to live. However, if using live, are there any specific types of plants/trees to avoid using, as well as any people could suggest that such finches seem to prefer? Will using live plants and trees tend to provide the birds with nesting material and cause them to try to nest and breed?

3. Water. I plan to install a constant fresh water supply in the form of some kind of small water basin fed by a small waterfall. Is this a good idea? Of course I will also be providing other sources of water and bird baths along with this, so the waterfall idea is not intended to be the only water source.

4. Lastly, for future reference, are there any other finch species that people might suggest that would also co-exist well with the three species I plan on having to start?

Thanks much for any info and advice anyone may be able to give. Of course if anyone has any suggestions beyond my questions, feel free to do so, as well as any questions to offer more specifics.

Have you read much on finchinfo.com???

Here is the part about what plants are ok and which aren't:
http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/safe_a ... plants.php

Here is info on building your own aviary:
http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/build_your_own.php


I personally have not built my own. I use very large flight cages and some individual breeding cages.

Bronzewings and goldbreasts should be fine together. European goldfinches tend to be a little more pushy.

Other species which would be good are societies, spices, owls, firefinches, stars....

It depends on how big your aviary is and if you are providing nests. If you do give them nests, then aggression can happen, especially if there isn't enough room. I had a pair of bronzewings that were very aggressive... so it also depends on the individual bird.

Here is the link to the species:
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... /index.php

Thanks for the info. I had browsed through most of those links before, but had not saved them for future reference as I had intended.

Some updates so far, for those who may be interested.

Due to to the location of the closet in the room that is being used, I have altered my design slightly, as to keep the closet out of the aviary itself. The closet is already wired for light and electrical outlets, so I plan to use it for a place to keep cages in case a bird(s) need to be removed from the aviary for agression or health issues as to keep them separated from the rest during that time. This also keeps the room rectangular instead of 'L' shaped.

I now have all the walls and doors up, which took all weekend, but I didnt want to do it cheaply, so I biult them just as I would any other added walls in the house (except that most the walls will be like a screened in porch (using plastic style hardware cloth instead of screen). The room itself finishes out to 7' wide, 14' deep and just under 7' high, which should provide plenty of room for the birds.

The front of the aviary (7' width part) faces the remaining portion of the room which I built more like an observation room, which is more tastefully built an will allow viewing through 2 pieces of 3' x 4' tempered glass, and a solid door to hide the obseravtion hallway, closet and other items stored for the aviary (food, cleaning items, etc), all to be stained in mahagony to match the floors.

I still have to finish painting, putting in the flooring and other odds and ends, before I begin to furnish the aviary itself. I will post pics when it is finished though for those interested.

In regards to furnishing the aviary, I was wondering about a few things from people here, in regards to items them would suggest or have used.

1. Rather than what is just good or bad for birds plantwise, does anyone have any specific suggestions on small tress or large type of branches that work well? I can get plenty of large branches to use, but was wondering what type of tree branches work well or last awhile. As for actual living plants or trees, any specifcs that people have used that that birds tend to really like?

2. I know that finches do not use toys so much, but any types of fun little additions they tend to enjoy? Bells, swinging perches, coiled rope perches, etc?

3. Ground flora? Any specific smaller plants that would serve any useful purpose to finches other than just decoration or eye candy? I realize that most finches will remain at the upper end of the aviary, but is there anything groundwise they would find useful?

Thanks again.

My finches love preening type toys, like preening feather, ropes. Cuttlebone is important, mine also love to fly from one swing on one end to another swing on the other end. They also love to bathe!

Well, I plan on covering the water situation as best I can by installing a one of the Avian Aquatic style birdbath systems with running water (probably a small streat style with a small shallow pool at the end, as well as possibly keeping a smaller secondary birdbath and separate water facilities, to see which they prefer and take to the most. The running water part is partly for appearance and to aid in giving them a little more natural area to live, and will hoefully be their prefered area, but we will see when that time comes.

As for the toys, I was wondering if anyone has used any of the larger bird toys with any success. I know most would be useless, but I was looking at some things such as the wreaths of colored cotton fibers that are frayed. I will have to dig up a link to show what I mean possibly. Although they are designed to allow larger birds to tear them up, I was thinking t hat finches might enjoy picking at them, but they would take much longer to try to destroy them and possibly get good life out of them. Although I certainly dont want anything that could be a potential danger to them to get caught or tangled up in, which due to the way they are made I dont think they would, but that's why I am asking. Instead of assuming the birds would land on it to pick at it, I would include actual perches they could more comfortably land on to play with it.

Thanks again for the info.

just a couple of comments here,make sure your water is not to deep as the smaller birds may drown if they have an accident...and make sure the wire mesh is small enough for the goldbreasts not to fly straight through!you can always put some wire netting over the water or partly fill the fountian bottom with marbles or pebbles my water container in my avairy is a dog drinker that fills up by gravity as the birds being what they are tend to bathe in it also, so it empties quite quickly but i alwys have a large stone in the bottom so that the birds dont get waterlogged

ken

The depth thing has always been an issue for me with most smaller indoor pond type arrangements. I have found a couple which are designed for birds with a 1/2" to 2" maximum water depth which I am looking at using.

For finches, what would be the proper water depth to have? I also plan on putting small stones and such in the bottom so that they dont have to deal with the slick bottom of the pond and allow for easier footing. Personally, I don't think anything over 2" would be a good idea and probably 2" may be a little much, but that's why I am here to try to find out these things first from more experienced people before I submit any potential birds to unnecessary dangers.

I just want to do it right and introduce them into a good safe environment from the start.

Since you are adding stones to the bottom of the bath, 2" depth will probably be fine, since it will actually be 1 to 1-1/2" depth. For indoor plants, schefflera would work, and for hanging, boston ferns. Goldbreasts can squeeze thru the smallest of spaces, so use mesh that is 1/2"x1/2" or at most, 1"x1/2". And all my finches love swings, I would put lots of them around.

Sally wrote:Since you are adding stones to the bottom of the bath, 2" depth will probably be fine, since it will actually be 1 to 1-1/2" depth. For indoor plants, schefflera would work, and for hanging, boston ferns. Goldbreasts can squeeze thru the smallest of spaces, so use mesh that is 1/2"x1/2" or at most, 1"x1/2". And all my finches love swings, I would put lots of them around.

Thanks for the specifics. The mesh I am planning to use but have not put up yet is 1/2" x 1/2" plastic. However the viewing area into the aviary from the outside portion of the room will be covered with glass (two panes of 3 foot by 4 foot), but will also have the mesh about 3 inches off the glass on the aviary side. The door into the side viewing area is solid so even if a bird manages to get through the mesh on that part it will still be unable to get into the rest of the room. There is also a secondary screen door (with the mesh on the aviary side as well) right near the main entrance door, that when open blocks off all available exit routes into the main part of the room (non-aviary part).

Is using the plastic mesh not prefered? I have been un able to find any coated metal mesh in my area, and even at the local Lowe's and Home Depot I havent found anyone that knows what hardware cloth is....haha. I got the plastic mesh mentioned at Home Depot though, but I had to find it myself. If it will help I can provide a simple diagram of how the aviary is designed if that would help any.

Thanks again

I believe plastic mesh is fine for an indoor aviary. It doesn't work for outdoor aviaries because rodents, etc., can chew right thru it. It is difficult to find proper mesh, especially for an outdoor aviary.

i agree with sally as long as you dont use the plastic mesh outside it will be fine for indoors ,as long as you dont make the mistake of buying a budgie to put in there .as it will be full of holes in a short time

ken

I want pictures! It must be done by now!

I used a small plastic bird mesh (keeps birds out of your garden mesh) on our indoor aviary and it works great! Is very strong!!! comes in several colors even...You can get it at Lowell's and is like 20.00 or less for a 25x 50' roll. It didn't come smaller as you will never use it all up. We also used plane old velcro strips to hold all this into the area we enclosed which sounds to be similar in size to your project. Ours is 14lx7'highx3-4'wide. I have less then 100.00 in supplies for my aviary!!! but too, I had an indoor garden to start with and just converted one section, our garden is literally like 80' long...lol However, I think a person could easily frame out a space and use this mesh, have great success (am I did this myself and am NOT handy) and too an inexpensive place for finches. pics of our finch garden as we call it....


http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=rkn&AID=5127012


We have dirt in the bottom of our's (proably a couple feet worth preceeded by rock, etc) as it is a true indoor growing garden and the plants are all alive. This imo makes for no cleaning hassels and fertilizes the plants!!! The birds seem to favor a palm type tree and have pooped on it terribly! they also sleep in it at night except for a couple who prefer the lil houses. One thing they seem to like is the seeds they drop that have sprouted, they play with them, eat them? is all good fun for them, and too they like trying to steal the lil cherry tomatoes off the vines as if they are trohies to hide...hehe! Is funny to watch em!

I have a bird bath thing for them and several feeding/watering areas. They love playing in water it seems. i use bottled water for them as our rural water is icky imo.

Best of luck to you on your project! Please post pics when ready!!! I too am looking for more info, ideas, etc...am very new to finches but so far so good. hope some of this helps. am too new to say, but i think the mesh is terrific stuff! They can't get thru it and like to hang off of it, gives good ventilation overall, and I was going to use glass at first but felt it would get too hot in our home for them.

rita

I wanna see pictures to How wonderful. I have a spare bedroom 16 X 28 its actually a 2nd master bedroom and my cats sleep there all day, lol Im gonna boot he cats and move my bird room there so Im loving seeing what others are doing.