Safety porch alternative

steph · Post by **steph** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:12 am

For those who haven't read my other post, my husband and I are building a fairly large aviary. It will be at ground level so that I can walk into it to clean it. I'm trying to figure out a safe way to enter the aviary without risking an escape, but the aviary is already so large I don't really want to build a safety porch coming off of it. I like that its a rectangle, but if I had a porch it would be a large, weird shape. My other option was to build a safety porch within the rectangle I already have, but that would make less space for the birds.

Anyone have a different method of entering/accessing your cage or aviary that doesn't involve a porch?

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:57 am

steph ,

even it doesn't look to good please build a safety porch , i don't have it but
thats the next thing i am gonna add , this because last year 2 birds escaped and i had a hard time to catch them ( i was lucky they flew around the aviary )

Ray

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:59 am

There is no alternative if you don't want to lose birds...It might be suggested that you make a low entry door as most birds stay high up when disturbed...This is true, but stooping to enter makes it awkward to keep your eye on the birds while entering.
Older birds will indeed keep their distance and remain high up but unfortunately young inexperienced birds won't do this, and in their panic may fly straight at you at any height.
I speak from experience and there is nothing more upsetting than having a youngster fly past your ankle and knowing it will starve in the wild.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:50 am

I don't have to have one because I enter from my house. If a bird should escape it comes into the house. But.... I usually keep on my ceiling fans, so that is always a concern for me. I have only had it happen twice, but it is funny how they always go to the screen door trying to get back into the aviary. All I have to do is open the door and in they go.

Poohbear is right..... I thought I had accidentally let a courdon blue into my yard by accident last week when I was washing a plant. I could not find him anywhere. He was in the aviary, but I remember the fear in my heart thinking he was out there and going to starve. I was so happy when I saw him. I did the happy dance!! So build a safety door. You will be happy you did that one day I am sure.

steph · Post by **steph** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:04 am

Thanks all. I've decided to put in the safety porch. I think I'll be happy I did. Here's a picture of what we have built so far. I laid pieces of wood on the floor where the safety porch will be.

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Post by **Sally** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:22 am

I wouldn't bother with a safety catch, since your aviary is completely inside a screened-in porch, which acts as a giant safety catch. Yes, you will have escapees from time to time, but a long-handled net should take care of that. Your safety catch will partially block the view of the front of your aviary. I have escapees from cages in my bird room every once in a while, but the door to the room is closed, so they can't go very far. Of course, any aviary which is outside MUST have a safety catch, as most escapees will die within days of getting out.

I don't have an aviary at all, so I can't speak from experience--just my opinion.

steph · Post by **steph** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:25 am

I thought I might not need a porch since its already in the screen porch, but I read that finches can get their nails caught in screen mesh and get injured.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:11 pm

We took the screen off our door and put on the hardware cloth. I would not use regular screen as they could get their nails caught.

Does this porch enter into your house ?

steph · Post by **steph** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:17 pm

I'm not using regular screen anywhere on the aviary - I'm using hardware cloth. I was concerned that if I didn't have a safety porch attached to the aviary that the birds could escape into the screen porch (where the aviary sits). It wouldn't be as bad as if they escaped into the outdoors, but it still wouldn't be good because they would be exposed to regular screen and risk getting their nails caught...also, of course, recapturing the bird would be stressful for both of us.

Yes, the screen porch is attached to my house.

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:28 pm

You could attach hardware cloth over the regular screen (put a 1 X 1 frame around the windows, then staple the hardware cloth on that, so there's a gap - so the birds won't come in contact with the screen, but will still be protected from mosquitoes etc.). Then buy a net to catch the birds, and no safety catch needed.

Unless you have cats or dogs of course, then you'll still need it to be sure that no bird ends up in the main porch and then someone comes along and opens the patio door before it's captured...

fincher · Post by **fincher** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:25 am

hi i think you should put the safety door on just in case there are any small holes in your porch area and it is always safer to have the the extra safty area
thanks chris

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:36 pm

I will be putting a safety door in my indoor aviary too.. Mine will be in the 'bird' room (no access to the wild). It just seems to be a good idea.

Don't know who would be more stressed if they escaped.. Me trying to catch them and put them back in, or them flying around with no place to perch.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:18 am

to me a safety door is a must on any aviary or cage large enough to walk into. I would still feel this way even if the cage was inside the house and the birds couldnt be lost to the wild.

steph · Post by **steph** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:02 am

I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, and I agree with you mickp.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:06 pm

Your aviary is going to be so nice and spacious for your birds...I can't wait to see the finished product....Hurry please!