Procrastinating has its perks!

bill2468 · Post by **bill2468** » Thu May 18, 2006 1:04 pm

Been hemming and hawing over how big a cage is right. Still find it hard to accept that a 18x18x30 cage is the right size for just TWO Zebreas!!!!

Was looking at a 23x10x15 at Amazon for $27.99 The above mentioned cage is at Petco $39.99 less discount.

If you just on your hands and procrastinate you will have warm hands and see that Petco now has the 18x18x30 cage on sale for $29.97. Not sure if same price is on the cage at the store (two blocks from me) and if their discount would still be in effect.

I have been looking at various home made aviaries and how furniture is converted into a aviary such as a chest of draws or a china cabinet (comes with glass in front and vent holes or slits can be added). I think a old speaker cabinet will do too. I have a wall unit with tambour doors that would be great to darken the aviary at night but I like my T.V. there.
If I were not all thumbs I would be looking for mesh wire right now and my first aide kit!

BiLL

Post by **Hilary** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:18 pm

Bill -

I know how you feel. My next addition will be an indoor flight, but thinking back to my shop projects as a teenager, I'm going to need some help! There's also the electrical for lighting to consider, and I know that's WAY beyond me.

The reason 18x18x30 is given as a minimum is that the 30" gives a finch the chance to beat it's wings x number of times to cross the cage, so it actually gets a chance to FLY. Since they're often not given free flight time, any flying will have to take place in whatever cage space you provide. If it's too small, all they can do is hop, and that's neither healthy nor natural (IMHO). Good luck - I'd grab that sale cage!! Hilary

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:27 pm

My parents had an old TV that measures something like 5' tall x 2' deep x 4' long (HUGE!) that broke... I insisted that they let me have it... it has an oak exterior and is in pretty beautiful shape aside from being completely nonfunctional and more expensive to fix than to replace. So I gutted it and intend to turn it into an indoor aviary--so it will look like watching the animal planet 24/7? My only problem now is that the shell of the TV is so *huge* and I have no way of transporting it from my parents' house to my home.

The 18x18x30 cage really is just big enough to hold one pair. I know they seem like small birds, but they can be pretty territorial and seem to require a minimum "territory" or "personal space" of about 3-4 square feet of floor space per pair. If you try to cram more than one pair in a space this size, the likelihood of fighting and injuries due to fighting increases--especially with the less gregarious species such as zebra finches. Two pairs fighting over the same 3-4 square feet of territory leads to stress which can result in plucking and constant chasing/harassment of the other pair--which just leads to more stress...it is a vicious cycle.

Also a minimum cage length of 30" is recommended since finches only really get exercise by flying, and require at least this much flight space to "truly" fly (as opposed to just a long "hop" from one perch to another).

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:30 pm

Hilary, what kind of indoor flight were you thinking of constructing that requires knoweldge of wiring lights? You could probably get away with an extension cord, a false backing in the flight (to hide the extension cord), and a "ready to be plugged into an outlet" shop light. That way you won't need any experience wiring! :)

Post by **Hilary** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:36 pm

Crystal - We want pictures if you succeed in getting the old TV home and converting it! You did a beautiful job on the owl aviary. Funny, my bunny hutch that I did when I was 15 didn't look at ALL like that...... Hilary

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:02 pm

I'm forunate that I have a brother who has all the wood working tools known to man, and the knowledge to use them.

He built my flight cage, to my specs ;) and didn't complain once.

Hilary,

Get a shop light (as Crystal suggested), and plug it in. WaLa... instant sunshine.

Bill,

Don't ya know anyone who can build that flight for you? Perhaps a high school shop student who needs a summer project?? You buy the material and they provide the labor. If not, I believe Petco will honor the advertised sale price, so long as they have it in stock.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:07 pm

I have to give a lot of the credit for the appearance of the owl cage to the miter saw I used. It belongs to a friend who was nice enough to lend it to me (I really want to buy my own as soon as I can comfortably afford the $200+ price tag). A power saw and a power drill (or two.. a separate one for predrilling saves a lot of time) will get you a long way.

Of course it helps to have other things too like clamps and vices and a work table and a level and a few extra people to help... Though I didn't have any of that, which is why it took me forever to finish the project.

In the end it was worth all the time and effort (not to mention the weird looks I got for being female AND using a miter saw). I still have a couple finishing touches I'd like to add to it before placing birds inside, but we'll see how that goes.

Post by **Hilary** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:58 pm

WaLa? AhHa!!! Dang, I thought it'd be harder than that.... Hilary

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:07 pm

Hilary wrote:WaLa?

Yeah, you know... what the magician says. Same as "ta da".

Psst, I wasn't sure how to spell "wa la".

Post by **Hilary** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:12 pm

I got it! Just didn't occur to me that I could use a shop light! Hilary

Sally H · Post by **Sally H** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:06 pm

psst...it's a french word...Viola!

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:30 pm

Voila! .. an exact transtion is 'Look there!''... but figuratively is means... 'And there is it!'

Jeannette
da froggie