Planning Aviary

[Jesse254]

I am trying to plan an aviary and have a few questions. I can make it inside or out. Weather tolerance of the birds would make the decision. I live in Central Texas where it can get to 105 F in the summer. During the winter it will get below freezing a few days a year but might stay in the 40-50 range for several days. I am planning on Society and Gouldians. My questions are:

1: How heat tolerant are these finches? They would have shade outside.

2: How cold tolerant are these finches? They would have protection from wind and rain outside.

3: Does anyone live in this area with "hands on" experience that could guide me.

Thanks

[bugaboo5]

Welcome to the Finch Forum! I'm not from Texas, so I don't have any hands on experience with keeping birds outside in your climate. However, I will say that gouldians are probably better off not being in below freezing weather. They are native to Australia, so with adequate shade (to protect from direct sun) and clean water (to bathe), they should be okay with the heat. But the cold, not so much. Granted, if the aviary is kept insulated (wrapped and protected from cold drafts) and heating sources are provided, they may be able to handle the colder winter, but for me -- I would play it safe and keep them inside. If you can, perhaps you can build a inside/outside aviary where the birds can get through a connected door (or window) to come and go inside and out as they please?

So to answer your questions:

1. Heat tolerant, yes.

2. Cold tolerant, not so much. They can be acclimated, of course, but below freezing is really cold for a species that is native to Australia.

3. No hands on experience.

I hope others will chime in. Good luck!

[Sally]

I'm in north Texas, but I don't have hands-on experience either, as my birds are all inside, but I agree that the cold winter would be the problem with Gouldians.

For hot summers, I would think you would want either a fountain, bird bath, or some type of misting system to help them cool off.

For winters, either bring the birds inside or have an insulated enclosed area that they can be in during the night. On another forum, Gouldian breeders in the United Kingdom have posted about their Gouldians going outside through a hatch from their insulated indoor aviary into the snow, but they don't stay outside for long. Debbie276 is from New Jersey, and I think she keeps Gouldians in an outside aviary with a heated inside aviary that they have access to--I may not have this right, so I hope Debbie corrects me here.

[debbie276]

I have gouldians and owls in an outside aviary. There is a coop that is heated to 55-60 degrees F during the winter. The birds fly in and out through a little doorway. During the cold weather they are inside at night and fly in and out during the day, sunning on the perches.

Can't help with the heat, while on occasion it gets over 100 here, it's never for a long period of time. I have heard of aviaries set up with misters in areas that get real hot.

Best of luck

[Jesse254]

Thanks guys, I will have to do either a indoor/outdoor or just an indoor aviary. Glad I asked.

[poohbear]

My gouldies are mostly in the birdroom in the winter at around 45/50f and occasionally let out into the outside flights on mild days, but shooed indoors at night.We don't often get really hot weather here but gouldians will stand high temperatures provided they have shade.One or two friends in Australia use water misting systems in part of the flight when temperatures rocket over 100f.
At the moment here we have snow and overnight temps of below zero.This is my birdroom from my kitchen window this morning.

[carlamay]

I prefer indoor as I can see and enjoy my birds more. So it depends on whether you are a sport breeder ar are going into commercial breeding as to where you put your avairy.

[lstyles]

I am interested in seeing some pictures of these aviaries that have an inside area. It doesnt get very cold in Bay Area and for my zebras who I keep outside I use a single 60W heat lamp in corner which is enclosed on three sides and then put plastic over the rest of the hardware cloth parts of the aviary. Zebras are much more tolerant than the gouldians though. I do think being outside at least part of the year/day is good for the birds though and so would like to consider building or improving my present outside aviaries with an "inside" are in the aviary overall. Any/all photos would be appreciated.
thanks,
Lori

[monotwine]

I think indoor aviaries have more pro's than con's when it comes to the birds health. At least you are not fighting the elements nor external pests, pathogens or predators - all which come with outdoor keeping.

Just make sure the birds have sufficient light, Vit D etc and they would probably do better off indoors.

Some of our forum members have wonderful aviaries by converting sunrooms etc. I suppose there is no reason one could not add a suspended aviary through a window to allow birds to catch some natural sun and wind, but could be closed off in bad weather.

[debbie276]

Here's a picture of my outside aviary to show the little door they fly in and out of.

All of the food water and nest boxes are inside so it doesn't attract attention to any predators. We've had fox, raccoon, skunk and cats trying to get in. It got so bad that we had to install an electric fence along the bottom.
This picture was taken with our game camera that we have focused on the aviary. If there is any activity at least I know what I'm dealing with so I can try to take precautions.

[finchlyn]

I didn't realize these little finches could live in outside aviaries that got that much snow. That is amazing they do okay in that climate I would love to build one half inside my house and half outside. That way I could enjoy them whether inside or out and the birds could get real nature

[debbie276]

When it's too cold outside they just fly inside where the temperature is kept around 60 degrees F. I have to say though, the owl finch seem to enjoy playing in the snow.

[Jesse254]

Some great ideas. I think I will go with an indoor one for now and maybe build and outdoor one with an attached structure to come into during inclement weather later. Thanks so much everyone.

[Ursula]

I have an indoor aviary and I think there's 2 things you need to consider: 1. which species do you want, because that will determine the hardiness (for example african waxbills shouldn't be kept under 60 or so for longer periods of time), and 2. are you allergic to dust (because depending on the number of birds and the bedding you use you WILL have dust in the house).
Hope that helps.