Flight Aviary

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:50 pm

i'm not going to go for the parrots just yet, i'm a bit concerned im going to jump into the deep end too quickly, so ill be getting 8 zebras, 2 diamond doves and a pair of silver button quail.

Ive been visiting as many shops as i can, and ive found one that while it has small cages the owner is obsessive with his birds and constantly monitors them's, even tho they are small they are extremely clean, compared to some of the other shops i've been to with really large aviary's and the quality of birds just doesn't compare.

But all shops i've visited have had the Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) in with finches, even the shop with small cages has 3 parrots and a pair of finches in with them.

Dean

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:25 am

Well ive had to scale back the design abit,

And unlike i said before.. im not recycling the timber... found termintes in it... but i will recycle the corrugated iron... its so hard building a design around the materials you currently have... and also the fact that wire comes only 90cm high rolls.

I feel i have to apologies for this long planning period, and also these disjointed journal style posts... its not usually my style, normally i try to be informative... however know almost nothing about building aviarys.. its mostly guess work at the moment.

The Estimated Costing for this project is as follows:

Treated 90mmx35mm
7Lengths @ 1.5m= $36.75
4Lengths @ 2m = $28
2Lengths @ 2.5m = $17.5
2Lengths @ 3m= $21
Untreated 90x35 (For Roofing)
3Lengths @ 3m = $16.65
5Lengths @ 1.5m = $13.88
Treated pine Sleepers
4 @ 200mmx50mmx2.4m = $42

Timber Total $175.78

4 Extra Pavers @ 60mmx 45mm = $44

Wire Not sure how much ill need, i'm hoping to get 10m = $75ish
might have to get another 5m = $40ish

Corrugated iron = free

Total estimated costs for project $AUD340

I'm pretty happy with that

Now lets see how much this project blows budget buy, i havn't got a strict budget, but around $500... hoping to do it for less and buy accessories (Feeders, waterer's, plumbing, plants, pots) with whats left over

Cheers Dean

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:20 pm

No need to apologize Dean. We understand things don't always go as planned. You still have a decent sized aviary which I'm sure your birds will enjoy. I can't wait to see the finished product. So, get to work young man!

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:05 pm

Well things have gone pretty slow because of work and also blowing the exhaust in my car and spending christmas eve and boxing day replacing it... but boxing day arvo i got the chance to cut up the wood and start assembling it.

Anyway i thought i would share... im going to try and get the gable built and start attaching the wire and the iron by the weekend... so i'm to paint over the weekend.

Should have it finished this year hopefully (5 days)... then i can start installing the fun stuff

Dean

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:43 pm

Hey Dean, I was beginning to wonder about ya. It's good to see you haven't given up on the aviary. We are anxious to see how it turns out.

Keep the pics coming.

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:25 am

Slightly Embarrassing... i took to photo to send off to my girlfriend in the UK... which is why i've got the a macho pose happening.

Currently its cost me AU$350 to build, i've done a bit more than in the photo... but i've stopped working.... i cant seem to get the wire tight enough... its really saggy (Any ideas)... because the wire is thicker than my previous wire... its harder to work with. So i'm waiting for my dad to get back from a holiday in Sydney, because the racketing tie downs are in the car... and i think they will solve my saggy problem.

I've also gone for a drive to buy some Bamboo... but the places i went to where charging $100+ per pot up to $250

.... so looks like i'm going to have to practice my ninja skills and liberate me some Bamboo i know 2 small bamboo forests along side train lines....its considered a pest in australia because its so invasive... so i don't think anyone will mind me taking a few thousand dollars worth of Bamboo

... i was blown away when the bamboo wasnt $30 per pot... shows how often i buy plants

Dean

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:37 am

i had a novel way to tighten my aviary wire,you can see a picture of mine in the gallery some how its come out as anonymous but its the one with a workmate leaning up aginst the front...if you get a piece of wood about 2ft long and 3" wide fit 2 stout nails in it about 2"from the end or 2 cup hooks like i have and before you fasten the wire, stick the wood under the wire netting and make sure the hooks are caught in the netting and use the upright of the aviaty as a lever and press down on the piece of wood and you should be able to tighten it with your right hand and fasten it down with your left if you cant just stick a nail in the wood to hold the tension whilst you get a staple in..it would be easier if you had a staple gun

ken

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:53 pm

The aviary is looking good Dean. Yeah, landscape plants can be pretty pricey. The renewed interest in gardening has pushed the costs up.

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:40 pm

Hey Kenny, Yeah i have got a stable gun, but staples dont do too much with the weight of this wire... im having to use U-Nails... but ill deffiantly give that a go... if i have some rope laying around i would just use that... but i cant find any.

Tammie, i actually think the price of plants has gone up because Australia gripped in an extreme drought, we cant wash cars, and can only water our plants on saturdays and tuesdays (Even numbered house- odd numbers are sunday and wednesday) Were probally going to go into stage 5 water restrictions which means no washing cars, or watering gardens. Nurseries are charging a mint because they require alot of water to keep things alive.
Worst drought in 1000 years according the sciencists.

Anyway.... I went to a big bird supplier today... and i was told by acouple of people finches and treated pine would be fine. But now im being told by this shop... treated pine is bad... however they were more into parrotse... I didnt think finches would chew on wood... will they?

Otherwise im up a certain creek without a paddle... because my aviary is constructed entirely out of treated pine.

Cheers Dean

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:13 am

Your finches won't chew wood like parrots, so the treated lumber will be safe. No worries there.

I hadn't realized AU was suffering though a drought also. Here in the middle of the US where I live we have a shortage of moisture but not so bad that they've gone to the extreme of limiting water for private residence. Now, big agricultural irriagation has gotten very pricey with some wondering if the practice shouldn't be stopped all together.

Good luck with the wire. My brother and I struggled a bit getting it tight on my little avairy so I know what you're going through. We left a few wrinkles but everyone's always too busy admiring the birds that they don't notice the little imperfections in construction. My brother is my project helper... and I have many. Well, he is always telling me, "it's good enough for who it's for." ;)

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:13 am

I hit a bit of a brick wall with the aviary, due to the normal January heat wave ... Temps reaching 38-44*C i only had a few cooler days that i could work on it.

And i recently got back from running a camp with 120 "adorable" teenagers.
The campsite actually had a couple of aviaries that housed finches, cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds. And i did notice a couple of things which i'm going to incorporate into the decoration and i will share them once i have pictures.

My girlfriend has now arrived home 1 week early... 8 weeks was a little long and terror threats scared her home.
My plan is to have it kitted out within a fortnight... things remaining are as follows:

Screw Roof and Side Corrugated Iron on.
Screw Flat brackets onto mid-legs
Attach side wire.
Build a door.
Cut and install some access holes for feeding stations.
Paint (Brunswick green)
Example:
Get lots of Plants and potplants
Install watering system (With drip fittings so i can still water plants during stage 3 water restrictions)
Decorate with perches and accessories
Buy birds. (Zebra Finch and silver button quail)

Atleast now i have another pair of hands to help me... but my girlfriend is convinced she is going to sit in the shade and watch me work.

Dean

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:48 pm

It's good to hear from you again Dean. I was beginning to wonder if you had melted in the summer heat.

I could use some of that warmth over here, we are having a bad stretch of frigid temps and I absolutely HATE the cold.

We are anxious to see the aviary completed so don't let your gf distract you from the job. ;)

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:29 am

Finally almost finished... Still have to

Paint (Brunswick green)
Get lots of Plants and potplants
Install watering system
Buy birds. (Zebra Finch and silver button quail)

So close to completion... its finally lookup and secure... birds could go in now.... but i like doing things as good as possible.

Pictures to come very soon.

Dean

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:59 am

Yippee!

Can't wait to see it.

reddstagg · Post by **reddstagg** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:19 am

My very large Aviary

Lovely Gable (only area of the aviary that had construction problems)

Yay my little access door... and a lovely handle that i put on it.

This is an access door up the other end of the aviary... im considering installing another on the lower portion so i can access a water bowl or something. But ill wait till the decorations are in.

Ive developed a keen eye for spotting Bamboo, i have 10 locations that ive spotted bamboo at.

Im going to go for abit of a walk along the local river.. my dad says he thinks there use to be LOADS near the river(On Crown Land)... if his correct ill take 2 carloads (i have a small car)
Otherwise im going to go ninja mode and borrow from the train stations. (The 2 locations the bamboo has grown off private land and spread along the train lines)

More photos coming as i decorate it. Lots of plants to go in.
Im also putting in Fishbone Fern, And some Spinifex grasses. There will be some eucalyptus branches also going in for perches... until there is enogh bamboo

Dean