New aviary

Evelina · Post by **Evelina** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:46 pm

Hi! Im new to this forum and to keeping birds, and im about to get my first finches ever! After seeing some society finches i just couldnt resist these adorable little creatures

Ive spent the last 3 months reading, planning and building an aviary for them.

Evelina · Post by **Evelina** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:47 pm

This is the result. Im not quite finnished yet, i need to attach the fronts of the bottom trays, and install some proper lighting.

tray: http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ ... 240069.jpg
closed doors: http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ ... 240059.jpg
my cutie (german shepheard) in front for a feel of the size: http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ ... 240076.jpg

It is 80 inches long, 24 wide and 80 high at the highest point. (if im cunting correctly, have to transform the numbers from centemeters.) I can easely stand and move in it.

The question is, am i overcrowding the cage? Therse alot of room to fly in, and the perches are places so the birds have to fly between them, but im onlt gonna start with 2 finches, so they could do with less branches.

I also have some problems with the placing of the cage.
The aviary is standing pretty close to a doorway, about 16 inces, will the birds be very botherd by this? I have 2 dogs who uses the door frequently. And it is standing in my livingroom = tv in the evenings. Is it enough if the birds gets 6h of sielent darkness (i go to bed around midnight, and the sun rises around 7, earlyer in the summer and later at the winter ofc. ) or should i change my bad tv habits and go to bed a bit earlyer?

I would have problems placing the cage in any other rooms, my rooms have far to many doors and windows... But i guessw i could close and lock some door if i notice that the birds gets stressed.

Thank you for reading
/hugs from Sweden!

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:53 pm

Wow that's a great job on that aviary! It's gorgeous! I don't think they would be over crowded in that from the looks of it. It looks very natural and like there is still a lot of room for them to fly in. They shouldn't be bothered by being near a door. I did find that my society finches were more skittish than my zebras; it took them a couple weeks to really get used to things here. All my birds are in my living room, between the TV and a door, and they are just fine.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:48 pm

That's a beautiful aviary - well done and welcome!

Post by **Sally** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:24 pm

Welcome to the forum! And what a beautiful aviary! I don't think you have too many perches, it looks like there is still lots of flying room. Your finches will be in heaven. They may be skittish at first, but they usually settle down once they get used to their new home and the routine. I have birds in my second bedroom, where my computer is, so when I go in there after dark to work on the computer, I wake them all up--they act like it is morning, but then settle right back down when I turn off the light.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:38 am

Thats GREAT you did a wonderful job. And the GSD isnt to shabby either, lol

The ONLY downside to the door is cold drafts but you could always cover that end of the cage in the cool season???

rfn1 · Post by **rfn1** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:30 am

You folks are driving me crazy!!!

My condo is too small for this sort of set-up but if I see one more fantastic aviaries like this one I'm going to have to move!!!

Great job on this project. Your birds will be in good hands! What breeds are you thinking of working with?

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:03 pm

Hi Evelina...welcome! Your Aviary is just gorgeous to look at....I love how you fashioned the doors to open on each side for easy access to the Aviary.

What are you going to use as a substrate on the floor?

Please come to my house and make me one too!

( I just live across the Pond in Minnesota)

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:03 pm

It looks very nice Evelina, I'm quite jealous.

I think that they will have plenty of flying room and will enjoy the space (after they have acclimated to it).

The birds will probably also learn to ignore the dogs/people walking through the door.

rkn · Post by **rkn** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:35 pm

What a nice job you did! Very nice! What did you use to enclose it, a mesh or wire? Is it on wheels? One or two doors? details please! also when and what kinds of finches do you have? Looks like they are going to be spoiled!!!!!!!!!!!!

rita

Evelina · Post by **Evelina** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:30 am

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone! It feels relieving to know that you think my aviary will be a good home for my little birds.

I dont have any finches yet, and ive never had any birds at all, not even a budgie when i was a child, so i feel very exited now, and a bit scared. Ive had pet rats for many many years, and i know a lot about their behavior and how to read the smallest sign of health changes in them, and to go from that to getting finches that i only read about in books and on the Internet is very scary indeed. ¨'

Im starting with Society finches. I love their sociable and active behavior, and though many think they look boring with their shades of brown, i find them absolutely gorgeous! And they have the cutest chirp to

And their song isnt that bad either.

Then i might get a pair Gouldians. It is really my husband who finds them appealing, and i should encourage him to share my hobby

They are beautiful, but something about the Societys has got me really hocked.

He has also fallen absolutely in love with button quails, and i have to admit they are the cutest thing ever! I know a lot of ppl keep them at the bottom of their finch aviaries, but i have to think about it for some time. The thought of some birds living in other birds droppings doesnt appeal to me.

But ill start slow, 1 pair of societys, and if it works good without any problems (allergies for example) ill get more finches.

A bit more about the aviary itself.
I built it out of pine wood in my fathers workshop, he was a cabinet maker and has a lot of tools and machines. Unfortunately, he was to tired to help anything. But i did have help from my wonderful husband!

The aviary is stained and coated with a "non toxic" varnish.
Then ive stapled on stainless wire.
I made the design of it myself. The aviary is made up of sections and can be picked apart! So if i have to move some time the biggest part of it is the roof.
It is on wheels and it has 5 doors and two trays! One door in the middle of the front, and what looks like the two big doors on the side is actually 4 doors, i can open and close the bottom and top part of them individually, to prevent any residents from escaping.

I think ill go to the pet store and buy the birds tomorrow. Ive looked allover for a breeder, but ive had no luck. Ive talked with a store i like, and they had some societys in, so hopefully ill be a finch owner tomorrow!

By the way, did you know that the Society finch is called "Gull finch" (måsfink) in sweden? A pretty weird name in my opinion

williep · Post by **williep** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:07 am

Evelina, you've done a wonderful job on your aviary it is beautiful.

As far as the quails go, they'll do fine "in between the bird droppings". Your cage has a slide out tray and if you clean it every week or 2 they'll have a wonderful time. Just remember to provide grass for them to sleep on at night and to breed. This must be changed once a week. You don't have to line the entire bottom with grass, a small patch will do.

Keep us up to date when you get your birds!

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:44 pm

Im starting with Society finches. I love their sociable and active behavior, and though many think they look boring with their shades of brown,

Societies come in ALL KINDS od colors not just boring broen, theres, whites, pieds and reds and oh my it goes on, lol

Ones with little featered heads those

i forget the name but CUTE< lo

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:38 am

beautiful cage eveline, once the finch keeping bugs bites you properly though you will find yourself wanting more and more of them. they really are gorgeous birds