New Finch Mansion!

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:58 pm

Tammieb,
How did you attach the screen panels to the floor of the enclosure? Do the panels sit on top of the floor, or is the floor sitting in between the panels? Did you reinforce the floor so that it would support the weight of a person?
Well, today I removed all the screens and started painting. I don't really have any exciting pictures, but here is one of the door with the screen removed.

I managed to get one door stained. I'll take another pic when I'm done painting.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:42 pm

We made a frame out of 1x4's then layed the 1/2 plywood floor on top of the frame and screwed them together, up from the bottom and into the screendoor frames. The doors are sitting on top of the floor, (that way the floor supports their weight and I believe it helps prevent the dust from sifting out onto the floor). The doors are then fastened together with L- brackets like this at the corners,

and flat brackets like this along the front,

I only used four screen doors... one for each end and two along the front. I then used plywood for my back wall and top.

It looks like you have six doors. If your aviary is going to be more than 6' long I would brace the floor. We didn't mine as it is only 6' and it supports me, I weigh 140lbs. It is sitting on 2" casters.

Keep in mind that I used plexi glass for the bottom half of mine, this REALLY helps to contain the mess. It was rather expensive but WELL WORTH IT.

If you have any other questions I would be happy to tell you what we did. My brother is very good at woodworking so he made me small access doors at each end, top & bottom. This is something you might want to think about doing also as it prevents birds from escaping. I can take some photos later if that would help you.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:08 pm

hi tammie
i used a smaller version of this to join the wood on my aviary,because it is outside i was frightened any metal might have rusted

ken

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/phjig/

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:36 pm

Ok that makes sense. Thanks!

I kinda wondered if it was going to be sturdy enough to withstand being pushed and rolled, with the doors on top of the floor. But with attaching them by screws coming up from the bottom, that seems like it would be very strong. I didn't think of that. I was thinking I would attach it using the "L" brackets.
I am going to invest in the plexi-glass. That seems like a great idea. Do you have any problems with the plexiglass being "static-y" and attracting dust and seed hulls? Just wondering. I am going to build an entrance chamber to prevent escapees.

I don't want to make it too complicated with little access doors. This is already taxing me to the limit of my construction skills

hee hee! Ok, I better go paint another door before it gets too cold. Weather says we might get snow.

it never snows here. Brrrrrrr!

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:22 pm

No problem with static on the plexi. Maybe a bit at first, when you pull off the protective plastic coating. But it only lasted a day or so. You will have to clean poo off it though cause no matter where you place the perches, they are still able to hit the plexi. It's kinda like parking your car out in the open rather than under a tree and the birds still manage to hit it.

Wow, an "entrance chamber" sounds much grander than my little "access doors". ;)

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:25 pm

kenny wrote:hi tammie
i used a smaller version of this to join the wood on my aviary,because it is outside i was frightened any metal might have rusted

ken

http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/phjig/

That's a handy tool to have! Unforunately, my brother doesn't have one.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:15 am

hi tammie
if your brother is a wood worker he may be interested in this

http://www.newyankee.com/gettools.cgi?K2000-PP

ken

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:14 pm

Today I went on a quest for black vinyl coated hardware cloth for the aviary wire. Apparently, such a thing does not exist. O-well, one can dream

Anyway, I seem to recall one of you guys having painted your wire black. (or were planning on painting it black.) I just wondered if you could share with me what kind of paint you used (or are going to use) They make green vinyl coated wire, but it kinda clashes with the orangy cherry color I am painting the wood. Also I remember some of you commenting that you can see the birds better through black wire.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:24 pm

it is true you can see the birds better through the black wire..you could spray it but thaa may be a bit messy but an ordinary quick drying enamel paint would do..i dont know whether you can buy this stuff in your country but it drys in 2 hours

http://www.international-paints.co.uk/
ken

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:36 pm

Yes, I believe it is available here. I was mainly concerned with making sure the paint wouldn't be harmful to the birds. I suppose anything, once it's dry, will be relatively harmless. Especially because they don't grab onto anything with their beak.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:03 pm

I tried looking up black vinyl coated wire when I was building my aviaries, and each time I found companies who supplied it, it always seemed a little too expensive (with shipping to boot) to be worth it.

If this is going to be an indoor-only enclosure and you don't have any dogs or other pets that might chew it up, there is a mesh that is made of black plastic which is light weight, easy to cut (with regular scissors even!), and has the same benefit of making the birds more easily visible. Also it is easy to clean. It is availbe through places like Lowes and Home Depot. I also found it on Amazon.com under the name "Poly HDWE Cloth": http://www.amazon.com/EASY-GARDENER-INC ... B000A16W10

In my opinion it is safer than painting metal mesh (paint on a malleable surface like mesh often chips off, and the birds could eat the chips). The only disadvantage I can see with the polymer/plastic hardware cloth is that it is not suitable for outdoor use because a rodent or very motivated predator could chew through it easily.

I should note that I have 3 cats in addition to my aviary full of finches, and the cats often climb up the black poly mesh (to reach the top of the aviary where they enjoy sleeping...the birds hardly care anymore) and have never been able to break into it, so it's really only the animals that tend to CHEW things up that are probably the biggest thing to consider before deciding to use the plastic mesh.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:04 pm

I know they have the black plastic mesh at LOWES and HOME DEPOT, probably MENARDS as well. The problem is it's a seasonal item, so they may not have it in stock yet. I've seen it with the fencing material and with that black netting you put on fruit trees. I'd check that out before I bought wire and went to the trouble of painting it. That would be a pain IMO.

I used the green vinyl, but it doesn't "clash" with the stain I used.

Finchlet · Post by **Finchlet** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:39 pm

Ok, I'll have to check out the plastic mesh again. i didn't think it would be strong enough. I don't have any other critters, and the aviary is going to be inside, so no danger there. Thanks for the info

bluefinch · Post by **bluefinch** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:52 pm

Hey Finchlet, I was able to find the black vinyl coated wire mesh at one of my local hardware stores. You probably have all ready checked with any locally owned shops in your area, but if you haven’t it might be a good place to look.
The one local shop I go to always has a better selection of mesh then I have seen at Lows. Of course the shop is smack in middle of farm country so they have everything!

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:14 am

If you have an ACE Hardware store near you they may have it. Or can order it in for you. Mine will do that and not charge me any shipping.