DIY Aviary

Jazzy Bird

Jazzy Bird

Regular Member
Hello everyone,

After my mom passed away 11/4/2019, I inherited her birds. I am slowly learning about them. I have four bird hunting dogs and this means that we have to keep the birds in a separate room. There were three birds but unfortunately one of our dogs got a hold of the Sun Conure and he did not survive. We now have an Umbrella Cockatoo and a Cherry Head Conure.

I'd like to have an acrylic glass aviary built so that the birds are safer and so that the room they're in does not have to be blocked off completely, at all times. What type of wood is safe? Any tips, suggestions or ideas? Thanks in advance!

Heather
 
Hello and welcome, so sorry to hear of you mums passing, it was good of you to take on her birds, I fill sad about the sun conure this is a problem when you have predator's living near birds.

the problem with using wood is that the birds can have fun soon chew through it. the problem with using acrylic is that your birds may become scared if your dogs approach, especially if they witnessed the death of the conure.

i take it they are in normal cages at the moment?

with acrylic it can be difficult to hang a perch and toys, i honestly will think that double the caging may be the best way around the problem. building a wooden frame and using a mesh on the inside and out side of the aviary frame. this gives a gap that will keep the birds far enough away from the dogs reach.

there is a list of safe woods that can be used on this site
 
:welcome: Sorry to hear about your mum and also about the Sun Conure.
Good advice given above though. Acrylic would not be suitable for the reasons mentioned also the circulation of air and for cleaning too.
 
Sorry to hear about your Mum and Conure.

Are you planning of building the aviary indoors or out doors?

I have concerns about building an aviary out of acrylic or glass, as already mention, this will mean poor ventilation which may cause the aviary to get too hot. There is also the danger of the birds flying into the glass causing injury.

As with keeping any birds, all predator's including dogs and cats must not be able to have access to any potential prey.

You would be better off investing in a solid commercially available cage for your birds. Keep the dogs out of the room, especially when the birds are out make sure that your dogs are shut away. Cover your cages up with the birds inside when your dogs are out.

Good advice from Michael using a double mesh, also having the mesh on the inside will also help prevent the birds from chewing the wood, but be-aware that parrots beaks are very strong, so make sure that the mesh is securely secured, especially if you plan to house the larger variety like your cockatoo
 
You'd be better off having a cage custom built and having it double meshed. I've had custom cages from Rosemead aviaries in the past and I've had no issues with them. The cages were built completely to my specifications.

Would be much safer than using wood. You could then have perspex panelling put around the bottom of the cages only as an extra layer of protection.

I would not have an acrylic cage though due to ventilation issues and if the birds get spooked they could fly into it and injure themselves.
 
Michael Reynolds said:
Hello and welcome, so sorry to hear of you mums passing, it was good of you to take on her birds, I fill sad about the sun conure this is a problem when you have predator's living near birds.

the problem with using wood is that the birds can have fun soon chew through it. the problem with using acrylic is that your birds may become scared if your dogs approach, especially if they witnessed the death of the conure.

i take it they are in normal cages at the moment?

with acrylic it can be difficult to hang a perch and toys, i honestly will think that double the caging may be the best way around the problem. building a wooden frame and using a mesh on the inside and out side of the aviary frame. this gives a gap that will keep the birds far enough away from the dogs reach.

there is a list of safe woods that can be used on this site
Click to expand...
Thank you. It has been tough, that's for sure. Yes, they are in normal, large cages right now. The bird who the dog got a hold of, was not inside his cage when it happened. He pushed through the gate when I was walking back into the room and all other dogs followed. By the time I got the other three out, he had the Conure in his mouth. :( That was within a few weeks of bringing the birds home and one of two times dogs were up on main floor when birds were out. Now when the birds are out, dogs are either outside or in the basement. Even when the birds are in the cages, dogs do not go in their room. We keep the dogs out of the room the birds are in, with gates. Prior to the birds, the room was one that we used for the dogs - to keep them confined if need be and they loved sitting in front of and looking out of the large window.

I'm learning the body language of the birds. Jasmine, the cockatoo sometimes hangs on the side of the cage with his beak, flapping his wings and makes various noises. He is not sick as just had him at the vet for a check up. Is this something they do, just because?
 
CaptainHowdy said:
You'd be better off having a cage custom built and having it double meshed. I've had custom cages from Rosemead aviaries in the past and I've had no issues with them. The cages were built completely to my specifications.

Would be much safer than using wood. You could then have perspex panelling put around the bottom of the cages only as an extra layer of protection.

I would not have an acrylic cage though due to ventilation issues and if the birds get spooked they could fly into it and injure themselves.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I have never heard of the panelling but will look into it. Neither bird flies with the exception of a time or two when the Cherry Conure flew up from the floor where I put a container for a bath, and back up to his cage. He can fly short distances, like if he feels panicked and needs to, but has never been trained. The Cockatoo has never flown.
 
Jazzy Bird said:
Thank you. I have never heard of the panelling but will look into it. Neither bird flies with the exception of a time or two when the Cherry Conure flew up from the floor where I put a container for a bath, and back up to his cage. He can fly short distances, like if he feels panicked and needs to, but has never been trained. The Cockatoo has never flown.
Click to expand...
The main reason I am interested in an aviary is so it is something that cannot be easily moved, if the dogs were to put their paws on the front of it. Cages are on wheels. Also, the cages are 2-3 feet out from the walls to avoid messes from going on the walls, so something to keep the mess contained and not take up as much space, would be nice as well. These are large cages.
 
RoyJess said:
Sorry to hear about your Mum and Conure.

Are you planning of building the aviary indoors or out doors?

I have concerns about building an aviary out of acrylic or glass, as already mention, this will mean poor ventilation which may cause the aviary to get too hot. There is also the danger of the birds flying into the glass causing injury.

As with keeping any birds, all predator's including dogs and cats must not be able to have access to any potential prey.

You would be better off investing in a solid commercially available cage for your birds. Keep the dogs out of the room, especially when the birds are out make sure that your dogs are shut away. Cover your cages up with the birds inside when your dogs are out.

Good advice from Michael using a double mesh, also having the mesh on the inside will also help prevent the birds from chewing the wood, but be-aware that parrots beaks are very strong, so make sure that the mesh is securely secured, especially if you plan to house the larger variety like your cockatoo
Click to expand...
Thank you. I am sorry too and miss her terribly. I am really glad that I registered for this forum as there is so much I do not know. I appreciate all of the feedback!!!

The aviary would be indoors and I would then use a cage during warm weather, to allow them time outside/in our garage when we are down there with the doors open. I thought that if we did have an aviary built we would have mesh top and also have half of the sides as bars, so they could use them for exercise and ventilation. It is sounding like maybe coming up with another option might be best. If there was a way to enclose the cages behind something in that room, that would help. Something so the dogs cannot put paws on and knock over or break the seed/poo catchers on the sides.
 
Jazzy Bird said:
I'm learning the body language of the birds. Jasmine, the cockatoo sometimes hangs on the side of the cage with his beak, flapping his wings and makes various noises. He is not sick as just had him at the vet for a check up. Is this something they do, just because?
Click to expand...

Perfectly normal, see this thread here

Crazy wing flapping?

Good evening Another post! Bo is currently on the top of his cage, holding on with his feet but stretching up with his neck and chest and flapping his wings making noise but is not flying due to the clipped wing. He looks like he is going to take off and lift his cage with him haha! This is...
theparrotclub.co.uk
 
Jazzy Bird said:
Thank you. It has been tough, that's for sure. Yes, they are in normal, large cages right now. The bird who the dog got a hold of, was not inside his cage when it happened. He pushed through the gate when I was walking back into the room and all other dogs followed. By the time I got the other three out, he had the Conure in his mouth. :( That was within a few weeks of bringing the birds home and one of two times dogs were up on main floor when birds were out. Now when the birds are out, dogs are either outside or in the basement. Even when the birds are in the cages, dogs do not go in their room. We keep the dogs out of the room the birds are in, with gates. Prior to the birds, the room was one that we used for the dogs - to keep them confined if need be and they loved sitting in front of and looking out of the large window.

I'm learning the body language of the birds. Jasmine, the cockatoo sometimes hangs on the side of the cage with his beak, flapping his wings and makes various noises. He is not sick as just had him at the vet for a check up. Is this something they do, just because?
Click to expand...
I think Jasmine wants your attention and may be asking to come out of her cage. Have you managed to spend any time building a bond with her? You're in for quite an experience with a cockatoo! There's nothing quite like them and they can be very very difficult to keep. I'd advise reading everything you can possibly find. Good luck! 😊
 
We have built several cages and aviaries from, what is it called? stiff, square shaped mesh stuff. Works out a lot cheaper than cages, you can make them to the size and shape that suits your space, my husband cheats and fastens the panels with plastic ties, never had any problems, easy to clean, loads of space inside, an most of all safe from the dogs. The panels can be taken apart easy and reshaped if required.

We unknowingly adopted a hunting dog, of course he has to be watched when the birds were out but I feel the birds are safe as he learns, "NO Touch", we do not hunt with him.
 
NikkiEagle said:
I think Jasmine wants your attention and may be asking to come out of her cage. Have you managed to spend any time building a bond with her? You're in for quite an experience with a cockatoo! There's nothing quite like them and they can be very very difficult to keep. I'd advise reading everything you can possibly find. Good luck! 😊
Click to expand...
I think it is mostly attention seeking as well. I spend a lot of time with Jasmine, actually. I learned from the vet how to help groom him, which is a way to bond, and I have read a lot. I have been playing toss with him, with a set of new toys I bought a couple months ago. He's learning how to unscrew the toys, which is pretty cool. He gets to spend plenty of time outside of his cage, in more than just his room, and I have even taken him to visit my dad for the afternoon, recently. I'm still learning though. I wish my mom was here to guide me. Thank you for your response. :)
 
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