FINCHforum

Hi all,
I have finished my first flight cage. All it needs is some paint and its ready for a pair or two of birds. its dimensions are 1.25 cm x 65 cm. It will be placed in a very sheltered part of my yard protected from drafts and strong winds. It will face east so it will get the morning sun but will not get the hot afternoon sun. I have covered all sides except for the front. I will be adding a tin roof on top of the plywood to protect from rain. For the record, we have long hot dry summers and mild cool winters.
I am not sure if I should have covered the sides though and I wonder if they will get enough air circulation. And I also realised that having solid sides might make it hard to put in a nest when I eventually want to breed my finches.

any advice tips etc as to how it could be done better.? I can remove the sides relatively easily.

anyway, thanks

Adrian

I haven't kept cages outside, so don't have experience with it, but if you have really hot summers, you may find that the closed box style gets too hot. You will also have to watch for predators. The roof will keep out hawks, etc., but cats will be attracted.

Sally wrote: I haven't kept cages outside, so don't have experience with it, but if you have really hot summers, you may find that the closed box style gets too hot. You will also have to watch for predators. The roof will keep out hawks, etc., but cats will be attracted.

Hi Sally, thanks for the tips. The flight will be in shade on the hottest part of the day so that should be ok. Also, if I use riversand at the bottom I can wet it down with a spray bottle if I need to. I guess I will see when summer comes, which is not too long away.

As for cats, I have two very active Staffordshire Bull terriers that keep unwanted furry guests away - cats know better than to come into my yard

cheers
Adrian

Adrian....the more sunlight that enters the cage the better

You should make open wire windows on all the closed walls

Sunlight is like steroids for birds....

The more sunlight your birds get the stronger they will be

Open wire....the best

Hi Dutch,

Wow! You have so many birds, so you keep all the 120 + zebras and 23 gouldians in one aviary? How do you know which one get along with and if some aggressive ones will pluck other zebras? Is the pic above the aviary you currently have? I like it, and curious what size is your aviary?

I have about 35 zebras but already have a lot to do and always make sure they don't fight or any plucking feather happens lol!

David

dutch wrote: Adrian....the more sunlight that enters the cage the better

You should make open wire windows on all the closed walls

Sunlight is like steroids for birds....

The more sunlight your birds get the stronger they will be

Hi Dutch, good points, I just figured considering the fact that the cage will be in a sheltered part of my backyard but will still be out in the weather, including the rain.

I will face it east where the birds will get morning sun until about lunch after which it is shaded from the hot afternoon sun by overhanging trees. It will also stop the cold ocean breezes we get over here.
Also, I am hoping predators like hawks and butcher birds are less likely to harass my birds.
No drama though - if i find i need to take the sides off that can be done. Guess I'll find out soon!

thanks for the tips

Adrian

David.....yes all in the 1 aviary in that pic

5 meters long 3 meters wide and 2.5 meters high

All my birds get along...no agression...no plucking

I use to breed several types of parrots....switched to finches because I didn't want aggression in the aviary

Adrian.....what type of birds do you have

dutch wrote: Adrian.....what type of birds do you have

No birds yet Dutch. Still deciding but Stars, Societies, Zebras and Painted Firetails are all considerations. Probably looking at only one pair at the moment whilst I get the hang of it.

cheers

Adrian

Adrian, not sure where you situated. If you have cold ocean breezes, then partially closed sides are not a bad idea. They will have plenty sunlight as you describe it. Most of my birds seek shelter from the sun by mid-day and rest until later afternoon anyhow.
Draft and damp kill birds faster than a few shorter hours of sun so shelter is a good idea. Heat stress too, is no joke. So depending on the average temperature you think the flight will get up to. You can make some alterations for cooling. This is especially important for nesting sites. If the chicks overheat they cannot escape their box and will die.
If you wanted to cool the flight, you could always make vents in the solid sides that you can mesh over and either open or close depending on the weather. Slide type vent or flap etc.

For nesting boxes, depending on what type you use, you could put a screw / nail / hook through the wood and comfortably hang a box off it if there is enough support (add a plank behind the box that you can screw into for mounting a nest box, if needed).

My only other suggestion is to make sure you have some sort of safety cover for your access hatch. Them finches are sneaky and might get past your hand when frightened in a smaller space. I see your flap hangs down from the lower part of the access hole.
Generally I try to get any access flap to hang down covering the access hole, as if the latch ever goes... if sort of stays down partially secure. Not that it will stop any finches dead set on escaping. It might just deter a few.

Nice size flight for a few finches. Enjoy the start of the hobby.

Good job Dutch! Congrats and wish your finches will be healthy always

David