Misting system

[MariusStegmann]

I am giving some serious thought to putting a misting system inside my aviaries. That is off cause after I move my aviaries again, because the location is not working for the birds. I have lost at least 10 clutches of various kinds of birds due to the eggs being cooked inside the nests. I am moving my aviaries closer to a big apricot tree. In summer it gives shade and in winter it has no leaves and let the sunlight through.

[Sam007]

Good idea.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

Sorry to hear that you've lost so many clutches Marius.
How hot has it been, that the poor egges actually cooked In the nests, that's terrible.

And here's me putting a little extra heater in my kitchen (on top of central heating that's set at 22c) because I have babies in the nests, and I'm worried about them being too cold.

Good luck with the apricot tree (how I envy you, I love apricots) and with the misting system.

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs Off cause the eggs never "cooked", but never less then chicks died because of too much heat. I can't imagine having snow all around the house. I only know snow as something that you see on some mountains in winter. We don't eat the apricots, we leave it for the birds. As it is close to my aviaries, I don't spray it with insecticides and they are always full of worms anyway.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

Wormy apricots, blah.....

So far ( knock on wood ), this Winter hasn't been too bad. If it stays like this until Spring and then gets better, I won't complain too much .

What sort of a misting system were you thinking of putting in? How would it work?

[Rox]

I've been thinking of doing it. What I have done in the interim is hang thick shade cloth along the back of my one aviary where it gets the most sun. It has already made a huge difference to the temp inside the aviary. I might even run shade cloth along the roof as well, where there is metal roofing. I also have a small fan to hang up for when the temps get to high. This just helps circulate the air but I haven't needed it since putting up the shade cloth.

As my nesting area's are in the sheltered part of the aviary's, I'm hesitant to put misters in there, as I don't want any type of damp at all near nests. If I ever do put misters in, it will be in the planted section only.

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs Just the normal plastic irrigation pipes with smaller pipes that screw into it. Instead of the normal heads, I would use the ones that produce mist.

@Rox It is is done right, it never produces water, just a fine mist which evaporates immediately.

[Gouldiandave]

Im world climate of avriculture dry air =lots of sprayed water
Damp air=dehumidifier
Simples

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

Would it be on a timer system, or just turned on occasionally?
As Roxanne already mentioned, I also wondered how it would work around nests, so as not to produce damp situations for the chicks.

[lovezebs]

Gouldiandave

Hey Dave, was just thinking, that on the Emerald Isle, you don't have to worry too much about lack of humidity

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs I would have to put it on a timer with the drought we are having. I was just thinking of turn it manually during the heat of the day.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

That makes sense. Do you also have some sort of fan to move the air a bit?

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs My aviaries are open, so fans are not necessary. Most days there would be a breeze blowing and it won't be too hot.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

Thats good then.
A nice breeze, a nice cool mist.... sounds pretty good to me

I always mean to ask, and always forget How close are you to the ocean ? Do you get some sea breezes blowing to your place? That would definitely cool the air a bit.

[monotwine]

After visiting you the other day I can agree. Wow that one aviary gets super hot.
If you can create a bit of a gap with your shade net and wet that, it will cool aviary down too. It can be pegged out at an angle. Australians often use that method too in their dreadful heat.
A shaded tent to the sun side also allows for air to cool naturally before entering the aviary.