Curly willow "tree" for outdoor aviary?

[lstyles]

I am finishing up my outdoor aviary (6ft H x 6ft L x 3ft D) and have been looking for some plants/branches for the inside. I was at city garden today and they were trimming a curly willow. I asked for one of the branches and they gave me this:


It is about 7 feet tall and 4 ft wide. I need to cut it down some and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about how to do this best? Which branches should I remove? Should I keep just a few branches or leave the smaller ones too. I dont want the aviary to be too crowded but want to give them lots of places to go. I plan on adding plastic ivy and and other plants for hiding. Photos of what others have in their outdoor aviaries would be great!It is still green wood. Is this a problem? It is listed as a safe wood for birds.
thanks,
Lori

[L in Ontario]

It's really hard to see with the shadows of the branches making it look even fuller I'm sure than it really is. Corkscrew Willow is great for finches to hop around on!! The size you end up with all depends on how much space you have in your aviary - if it is big enough, put the whole branch in! Otherwise trim it down just enough so that it fits. The birds will love the bounciness of the smaller branches when they land on them and overall I LOVE that branch!!

[Pukasand]

It's really hard to see with the shadows of the branches making it look even fuller I'm sure than it really is. Corkscrew Willow is great for finches to hope around on!! The size you end up with all depends on how much space you have in your aviary - if it is big enough, put the whole branch in! Otherwise trim it down just enough so that it fits. I LOVE that branch!!

I agree.. that branch is fabulous.

[monotwine]

I agree, put it in as whole as you can. Once it is used regularly you will see which branches your finches use most and which collect poops. Usually I wait till I see which get most dirty and then chop off those.

[lstyles]

Okay...will do. Will post pictures hopefully this weekend when I get it all together. I figured I would put trunk in pot of cement to stabilize it...any other ideas?
thanks
Lori

[Queen_Bee]

Great find! Visually appealing and good for the finches. Can't wait to see pics of your set up!!

[L in Ontario]

Okay...will do. Will post pictures hopefully this weekend when I get it all together. I figured I would put trunk in pot of cement to stabilize it...any other ideas?
thanks
Lori

My flights are not big enough for pots of cement. I just put big branches in (standing) on the floor leaning UP in a corner... like a tree that leans.

[B CAMP]

Maybe time for some larger aviarys for LIZ

[poohbear]

Funny you should say that...I've one growing in the garden that I'm thinking of incorporating in a new flight....Trouble is the little devils will probably nibble off all the green shoots.

[monotwine]

I vote Poohbear that you incorportate it into the new flight! The finches may eat some of the new shoots, but willows should be able to withstand the onslaught.