outdoor aviarys and insects(Westnile etc)

[Sasha2]

How does one protect the birds from outdoor pests.Im mainly worried about mosquitoes but this year is so dry there havent been any yet.Are wasps a concern.I suppose in the wild they deal with it but West Nile is a concern.

The reason I ask is because Ive almost got the aviary done but I havent gotten my son to come over and screen in the porch yet.So all kinds of bugs can fly into the 1/2 inch holes.


Also what are the highest temps I need to worry about.It does get pretty hot in summer, and this year looks to be brutal, especially by August where it can get to the triple digits.I know that Zebras are from Aust. so probably can handle quite a bit of heat.

[CandoAviary]

Screening is the best way to go for protection against the bugs... In the wild birds roost up high so little trouble with mosquitoes munching on them while they sleep.
As far as heat in the triple digits... offering a spray mist of water will allow them to cool off.
Here the temps rarely reach 100 but 95% happens frequently. I use lots of fans and keep the air moving and no one has perished from the heat yet. Most times finches will acclimate to the warming naturally but you never want to take a new finch and subject him to different temps without a long period of acclimation.

[dan78]

As Cando said mesh is the only way I know to keep pests out but there is probably others I don't know about. As for heat and finches well lets see where they come from, most finches come from areas that are hot and dry during warmer months, there are a few varieties that do come from colder climates so heat maybe a factor. As for heat and finches well most will accept a high temp like 104'f with little to no problems. Heat alone won't kill finches but what factors that come into this are direct sunlight without any shade, stress and lack of bathing water. If you have shade for them and you don't keep going out and annoying them so they keep flying you'll probably find they will cope just fine, keep fresh water up and if you can change bath water daily so they can have a soak. Mist spraying can also help but just watch out that they don't get stressed to often.

[kenny66]

coopex used inside the aviary is a residual insecticide safe for birds which will keep every bug away. spray rate is 3gms per 500ml from memory. there is also a powder form. most australian and some S/A finches inhabit dry areas with extreme heat. usually these finches roost in the coolest location-high, in shade etc. big issue as dan said is to not stress them out too munch by constantly hassling them. give them shade and water and nature should do the rest. be carefull about putting fans on finches as it can cause problems.

[Sasha2]

Thanks everyone. I was looking at a pigeon site and they had some pest strips, would those be okay for finches and doves outdoors?

Im getting my doves on Friday and they will be the first in the Aviary.
Of course I need to get the doors on first and get perches and such but have an extra cage till then.

The aviary is on the East side of the porch so its naturally cooler and half the aviary is full shade, the other half has morning sun only.

[CandoAviary]

The aviary is on the East side of the porch so its naturally cooler and half the aviary is full shade, the other half has morning sun only.

Morning sun is fabulous and not so hot
As far as the fans.. as I said I use them for air movement.. Plus heat isn't so much the problem as high humidity.. the air movement helps not only in ventilation but to help keep the atmosphere more arid. Humidity is a problem in outdoor aviaires. It encourages mold, mildew and a great place fpr cocci and other protozan culprits to grow.

The fans used for air movement (auxillary ventilation: I have the fans sucking the inside air outside or in your case, the porch air through the screen to the outside air) of course they are not to be aimed at the finches

[cindy]

For mosquito control in your yard, leave no standing water, empty outdoor containers daily. It takes very little water in a container to breed moquitoes. Dump outide garden bird baths daily especially after rainy days. Screening such as pool/patio screening is your best defense. Typically if any mosquito borne disease are detected in your area the health department and your local mosquito district help notify the public.

[wellingtoncdm]

I use shade cloth from home depot to help keep sunny sides of aviaries cooler. It also acts as a screen for bugs. I only lost one canary a few years back from bugs and then screened in the canary aviary. I am babysitting one canary for the summer who won't live outside. Finches are hardier in my opinion.

[Flight Tail]

If you also plan on breeding, be sure to have a way to control for small ticks. Indoors, not a problem, outdoors, yes.

There was a wild sparrow that made a nest high up in an open garage. I knew there were babies, because I could hear the chirps. I used a ladder to see how they looked like, and I almost fell down.

The nest was crawling and moving with small tiny ticks.

It won't be like that with your birds, just know that you might have a pinchful, not a handful.


Cheers!