Building an Aviary: Use 2x2s or 2x4s?

Moth Feathers · Post by **Moth Feathers** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:59 pm

Hi!
I'm going to be constructing another aviary soon and I'm wondering what size/type of wood to use- 2x2s or 2x4s.

My first aviary I built, I used 2x4s, and they worked well. But 2x2s are cheaper and easier to deal with, so I'm wondering if I can use them instead for my next aviary.

The aviary is going to be 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 6 feet tall. It will be indoors. The back of it is going to be a solid sheet of plywood, and the other sides will have a 3 foot tall plywood 'border' around the bottom to keep bird mess inside.

My concerns are for stability. I don't want the aviary to shake like it's going to fall down when I walk inside of it. I want it to be nice and sturdy, like I can lean right against it and not have to worry about it budging an inch.

This may seem like a silly question but 2x2s look so small, it just seems like they wouldn't be able to be used. But then again, finch aviaries don't require a whole lot of strength, so maybe 2x2s are fine, not sure.

Any help is appreciated!

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:05 pm

I would stay with the 2x4's. the 2 x 2's tend to warp and curve more easily, unless they are screwed to a support to hold them straight.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:29 pm

I've had no problems with 2x2.

G8love4finches · Post by **G8love4finches** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:29 pm

Beautiful aviary Poohbear!!....Happy, Happy birds!!

nelloyello11 · Post by **nelloyello11** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:39 pm

A couple things-
Is it going to be inside or outside? Weather conditions etc, where you live, might factor into what boards you would want to use.

I am working on building an indoor flight/cage set-up 80" long x 60" tall x 30" deep, which can be split into 4 units.
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14766
If you go to the second page, you can see the pictures of my construction so far. I used 2x4s for the base and the center supports on the top and middle. Everything else is 2x2s. When I first started assembling, I was a little concerned (like, woah, I didn't think it would be so wobbly....). But as I added more and more of the vertical pieces, it became more and more sturdy. Having the solid back (pegboard on mine) also significantly helps with that.
So I think it depends on the design of the aviary, as well as where it will be.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:33 pm

I would think with that size aviary you are planning, along with the plywood backing that it should be very sturdy with 2 x 2's. This is a wall of a large aviary and after we attached the wire to the 2x 4's we covered the staples with strips so that it looked attractive.

This aviary is 6' long by 3' wide with a plywood back. I covered it with counter formica for ease of washing. The 2 x 4 on the back were to cover the seams of the formica and also to attach the flagpole holder that holds a branch. I painted the wood a soft grey and left the 1/2 " x 1/2' wire natural.

The sides are 30 ' screen doors that has had the screen replaced with the 1/2" wire. The top is also wired and a light fixture mounted to the ceiling. A wrap around made from 1 x 10" and painted to match slides on top, this makes changing the 4' bulbs easier.

Inside looking up

straight up to the light which is turned off

Moth Feathers · Post by **Moth Feathers** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:15 pm

Thanks for the help everyone!

You all have gorgeous aviaries. Love the pictures! Poohbear, your aviary's wood looks so nice and natural. Candance, I love your second picture where the aviary is practically the entire room. And the cute little fledglings, fledglings are always adorable.

I'm really considering the 2x2s now, but I've been thinking that I should do some more horizontal support. Originally I was going to have like..none..but after seeing Poohbear's aviary with what looks to be a 1 ft horizontal piece in between each vertical piece of wood, it seems to be important to have them.

Also, another question. How important is it to have small doors? Of course there's going to have to be a 'big' door that allows me to walk in, but what about small doors (about the size of the doors found on cages) to put food and things in? It seems like the aviaries posted have them.
In my current aviary I have a single 'big' door, so I have to walk in when I want to replenish food and water. The birds don't mind much and simply fly to the other end, but that aviary also happens to be eight feet long. Since this current aviary I'll be building is going to be considerably smaller, is it important for me to have some small doors so I don't have to walk in all the time?

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:32 pm

I was trying to find a picture of the swing out door for feeders but just couldn't locate it. Below is a link to a metal aviary with a swing out panel with cups attached. You can easily install a wood panel that swings around. The cups are refilled and then you swing it back around and lock into place... these work beautifully.
http://www.cagesunder500dollars.com/p-3 ... ation.aspx

http://www.cagesunder500dollars.com/p-5 ... -1802.aspx

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:49 am

It might be an idea at this stage to consider a feeding station in a catching cage...built inside or out.
With a sliding door operated at a distance using fishing line....an absolute boon when you need to catch
a bird without disrupting all the others.Not hard to make if you can get a cage front,and the birds quickly
get used to using it.Needs patience to catch the right bird though..

Post by **Sally** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:30 am

I think this is the aviary with the swing-out feeder doors that Candace was looking for. I've always thought this was such an ingenious idea, as these daily chores can be done without disturbing the birds at all.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6162

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:26 pm

That is exactly the one Sally, Thanks... I could not remember isabird for anything... I searched scarlet chested grasskeets until I was cross eyed.
I love this incorporation to her aviary. I want to add one to my door to the sunroom aviary. As it is now, I hang the feeders on the door and can usually open the door without escapees...but every once in a while I have a speedy gonzales zip out. Of course they just fly around the sunroom until I net them up. Most times when I clean the aviary they all get free flight and when I close one of the doors and grab the long handled net most will fly right back into the aviary on their own. I think it has to do with fresh bathwater than fear of the net

But for quick feedings or when I have a breeding pair with chicks it would be nice to be able to service it from the outside.

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