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Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:29 pm
by Dayna
I want to build some large flights of 8ft X 8ft X 3ft. My only problem is that the tallest hardware cloth rolls I can find are only 36" and that wont do at all. So my question is since 36" seems to be the biggest I can find how do you apply it so that it looks seemless and is safe for the birds? I don't want to put it on only to have it easily be moved or bent in so that the birds try to get through it and get stuck or get caught on it flying and end up hurting themselves or worse. Anyone have any suggestions or solutions to this problem?
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:56 pm
by finchmix22
I took the hardware mesh cloth and wrapped it around the two pvp pipes I'm using for posts. I secured it with plastic ties that lock. Trim the ends and there is a mesh on each side of the wall/door etc.
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:17 pm
by PrettyBird
Mine is about 4 ft x 3 ft.
After I made the frame for each sides I used the black mesh and stapled it to the edges of the wood on the inside.
Im sure there is a way to make an 8ft, you will have to have more wood panels to be able to staple the mesh.
Heres a pic of my 4 ft I made this summer. (not bad for a girl, and first time building anything ;) lol )
Total cost to make this was around 60 bucks
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:26 pm
by CandoAviary
I use the 36" rolls in 100" lengths.
On this aviary I used the 36" rolls horizontally. 3' top, 3' middle and then cut it down to what the bottom run was. Built a 2 x 4 frame and attached the 1/2 " x 1/2 " welded wire hardware cloth to the interior and then attached screen to the exteior to keep mosquitoes out. You may want to add 1/4 inch hardware cloth to the bottom with a folded piece of metal to keep mice and snakes out if you aren't planning on screening. Here in Florida the moquitoes would eat the birds alive...
Here we used the 3' wire vertically, same 2 x 4 wall frame
Another 2 x 4 frame with 36" vertical hung cloth
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:52 pm
by Dayna
Thanks for all the replies. I was hoping I could get away with not having to do too much extra framing but looks like I am going to have to do a bit more than I thought. Your flights/aviaries are all beautiful btw.
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:36 pm
by finchmix22
Candace,
You said you used a metal wire screen? I'm not sure what you mean, but I want to do something on my outdoor aviary to keep out mosquitos too. What type of screen do you have on the outdoor aviaries?
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:04 am
by Dayna
What is everyones opinion on the plastic mesh? Good or bad?
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:43 am
by nelloyello11
Dayna wrote:What is everyones opinion on the plastic mesh? Good or bad?
I would not trust it. It seems pretty flimsy and would probably not hold up well, especially if it will be outdoors. It would not do much in the way of keeping critters out.
For my flight, I ordered from
http://www.elawngarden.com/advanced_sea ... 09&x=0&y=0.
They were the cheapest I could find for PVC coated hardware cloth. I emailed them a couple times with questions and they were very helpful and pretty quick to respond. They have 1/4" and 1/2" galvanized mesh in 48" widths I think. And maybe 3/8" too. Shipping was also pretty reasonable.
Re: Question about hardware cloth
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:00 pm
by CandoAviary
finchmix22 wrote:
Candace,
You said you used a metal wire screen? I'm not sure what you mean, but I want to do something on my outdoor aviary to keep out mosquitos too. What type of screen do you have on the outdoor aviaries?
I use just the nylon screen material. When the 2x4 are placed as studs there wiil b3 a 3.5 inch space. the 1/2 wire is on the inside so that the finches cannot get there nails caught. the screen is on the out side of the 2x4 s. I then cover all the staples with trim to make it look nice and to make it more secure. When cold weather comes we pop off the trim and staple heavy gauge plastic up...replacing the trim. The doors are screen dorrs that has had the screen removed abd replaced with the hardwhere cloth.
Black nylon screen with trim board covering staples
With plastic over the screen and trim board replaced.
