Better Curtains

[CandoAviary]

Last year on the balcony where I have many 5 foot flight cages I used the inexpensive plastic roll down blinds. They mostly fell apart with the sun, rain and wind after one year.... I decided to try these.
I put up PVC piping along the top and bottom. I bought nylon shower curtains and added my owb gromets to the bottom to match the top. I then strung 7 of them along so I can slide them open and closed.
LOVE THEM.... They keep the night air off the birds, though there is room at the top and bottom to allow ventilation. They repel water perfect.... well they are shower curtain liners Even driving rain in thundestorms doesn't penetrate.
They also make perfect shade cloth yet still allows bright light ... this will be good come August

Last years roll downs


New ones
Gromets added to the bottom


top shower curtain with factory installed gromets


I use an extra ring to hook them together if their is a very windy storm brewing


One side slide opened


other side


one 5 foot section slide closed


Far side


All of them slide opened and the birds talking with nature


when I put the bottom row water cups in (approximately25) the birds go nuts with bathing and splashing... sounds like a water park in Florida


The nice thing with them on the balcony is they can splash all they want and it will evaporate before I have to clean it up

[B CAMP]

Looks good

[G8love4finches]

What a clever idea!

[finchmix22]

What do you do when it is hot? Do you have AC or fans? I like the idea for shade and rain/wind, but in Texas the heat is so bad, I'm afraid the birds would get fried or burned, even in shade. Hmmm...

[CandoAviary]

This balcony is covered . The heat has never bothered them yet...It has gotten to over 100% at times. Gouldians seem to not be bothered by the heat though, they just become a little less active during the heat of the day.... but so do I
I opened the bird house and just ran fans last year. I put 4 box fans in the windows up front of the house blowing out and then I hung box fans from this balcony blowing inward, then some blowing sideways...and some blowing from downstair towards upstairs.. the air is circulated through the entire house. I have central heat and air but the birds seem to like the sunshine and fresh air better than cooler temperatures... plus I like the cheaper electric bills...

Here is a post of the house that I turned into a Bird House
http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... bird+house

[6finchfriends]

That's a great idea. Especially when the wind and rain gets going and for shade as well!

[JohnBoy]

Very clever Candace. I will keep that in mind for the future.

[L in Ontario]

[CandoAviary]

I was just telling Hubby yesterday that this has been one of the best ideas I have had in a while and the best instalation he has done.... well for the output and the return it offers that is.
I love how these are working, they keep the birds comfortable and they are so quick to close at night for security and a quick slide open in the morning. The material is holding up to the strong Florida sun also

[AiSell]

Looks great

[jls7453]

That is a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

[finchmix22]

Jerry,
I'm glad you responded to this older post, as I'd forgotten about Candace's great idea for summer. I am going to try that this summer.

[CandoAviary]

After winter and lots of rain, wind and sun, the curtains still look good as new... I can't wait to move the flight cages back outdoors...it is very crowded with all those cages inside the aviary