DIY Aviary/Flight

[Intyme]

I found a video on youtube, and decided to build it. I think some other people have built a similar one too. It's finished (sort of) I plan on putting a waterfall and some live plants in it as well. I'm still racking my brain on some water dish ideas. Let me know of some suggestions. I do have a hanging feeder. The bottom is pine shavings. The whole thing is 60x48x24.
Day one




The cats are very entertained
My finches
My button quail, they help with the wasted food

[Ursula]

Nice!!

And cute quail! (I couldn't imagine my aviary without buttons...)

[managermania]

Are quail better than doves? Better in an aviary?
Ursula- why do you like the bottons so much? Just curious as I am new to birds.
Intyme- beautiful job! I built one similar, but yours is much better built.

Thx!

[Intyme]

Thank You! I worked very hard on it. I put it kinda near the tv so we could watch them all the time! They are so much happier in there.
I wanted a dove or two but we got the two quail for free,so we couldn't resist

[Ursula]

I just like the button quail because they are very small and cute, and I like to watch their behaviour. They seem to be always on the move and are very curious. Whenever there's something new in the aviary, like a new plant or a heap of hay or whatever, they come and check it out. I have 3 boys now, and they are very much bonded with each other. When they get "separated" in the aviary they call out to each other, and I like their "crowing" sounds. At night they always sleep in the same spot huddled together. I don't know, I just think they are little clowns...
And of course the cutest are their babies. I had that joy once, 8 little fluff balls, the cutest thing you can imagine.
The only bad thing about buttons is that they can be aggressive when it comes to courtship and rivalry. Groups usually don't work. Pairs work well, no matter whether male and female or 2 males or females. I started out with 2 pairs and it worked ok because my aviary is big enough, but I had to give several away after I had the babies. I kept 3 males and 2 females, and the 2 females eventually died. (Unfortunately the females usually don't live as long as the males.) Now I have my 3 boys and this group works very well. Without females they are much less aggressive.

[monotwine]

Lovely set up. Your finches sure look happy.

On a side note: I prefer quails to doves for foraging excess seed as the quail use ground space and not flight space which is then free for finches. They only really fly if they get frightened - then they are rather a problem as they have no flight control.
Doves are lovely in that they coo etc, but they usually breed like rabbits and a cage that size would not be able to accomodate doves and finches IMO.

[lovemyfinch]

Lovely set-up, I know that your little will love it

[managermania]

I know what you mean. I love my doves but when they fly and move around, they freak out the finches. I moved them to their own little aviary until I have a really big walk-in aviary.