Severe weather - outdoor aviary

steph · Post by **steph** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:30 pm

I searched the forum and couldn't find anything on this...

For those of you that have outdoor aviaries - how do you deal with severe weather..severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. I guess for people up north you have to move them in for the winter, but here in Florida mine will be outside year-round. If there's a hurricane or a rare-freeze I can bring mine in since I just have two, but I know some of you on the forum have many more birds than me. So, what's your setup for dealing with bad weather?

I wondered if I should have some sort of hiding place for my birds for windy thunderstorms. They are in the screen porch, so they are protected from direct rainfall/hail, but wind will still get to them. Maybe I should add more plants...

franny · Post by **franny** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:23 pm

Steph, I don't have an outdoor aviary, but I've heard some folks say they use clear vinyl - you can get heavy weight vinyl on the roll at Walmart for not too bad a price. I'd suggest you get the clear, so the birds are still getting daylight.

You can attached it to the top of the window screens (inside if you can - otherwise it might be hard to keep it tied down) and just roll it up and tie with twine when not in use - when it gets stormy, just let it down, sort of like a regular window blind. You can use grommets to give you holes to tie it down in case of strong wind.

I'm sure others will have ideas, too.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:13 pm

I have birds in a outside aviary year round when the weather gets bad I have a plastic tarp that I put around the aviary in high winds and real hard rain. Just a normal rain I don't do anything they get a little wet but thats ok. When it get real cold I put the tarp around and put A heat bulb under the tarp shinning on one end they can set as close or as far away as they want

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:27 pm

I had my finches outside last year but it was near the end of the year like september and august. They did fine, i had a tarp over them and covered them when there was hard rain or if it was windy. I had my cage under the Oak tree so they were shaded all day but still had a spot where the sun shined right in the cage and they had plenty of light. When i had them outside at the beginning of last year i had to 60 watt heat lamps under the tarp on 24/7 to make sure they got plenty of heat.

I have a question about drafts though. If i covered the cage with tarp and the cage is off the ground on top of cinder blocks can the drafts come in from under the cage

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:46 pm

Yes I think you would need to close that area to stop all the drafts at least the sides the wind comes from

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:26 pm

I put heavy duty plastic up with staples. Then I take 1" x 2" wood strips and run them around the top, bottom, sides and down the middle every 4 foot. This keeps the plastic tight and it looks nicer.
I also got an ould filled radiator heater and took the bottom of a 36" high cage out and sat the cage on top of the heater. I only had to cut it on a few nights. The plastic works so well that the sun would warm the inside to 80% and hold the heat through the night. The only time I need the heat was when the day was cloudy/rainy and didn't get much above 50% and the nights were colder. But in FL that doesn't happen much.
With high winds/hurricane I would move birds in.... I have many extra cages. It would be a job but I would try and save the birds. We are right on the beach....Yikes.

Fishfreak218 · Post by **Fishfreak218** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:51 am

Well, I have an outdoor aviary with 2 cockatiels and 2 diamond doves in it.
(i know, against the rule of mixing species but it has been working out great for months with literally not one sign of aggression).
Anyway, I also live in florida and during "severe" cold ~anything in the 60's or below~ i take them inside to an indoor cage. I think having a seperate cage indoors is your safest bet.

HoangQuan · Post by **HoangQuan** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:12 pm

steph, here's what I use for covering a part of my aviary:

It can let sunlight go throught, but prevent the rain and wind at cold night

I just covered up the highest part of the aviary( the nesting place) cuz the birds love to perch on the highest point of the aviary to sleep, and if they sleep in the bushy bamboo, they'll be ok as well

steph · Post by **steph** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:08 pm

Very nice! Thanks for the pictures! I like the idea of putting up something that you can see through - for the birds as well as for viewers.

Misso · Post by **Misso** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:50 am

Hi Steph

may get an idea from my Aviarys, i use clear pvc blinds, there awesome for stopping drafts and rain! takes 2 seconds to roll up or down, and u can still see the birds in the aviary.

Rolled Up

Rolled Down

Jarryd