outside aviary

[jjones122290]

You all helped me before, now I need it again. I have changed alot of the ways I treat my bird now that I know he is trying to build a nest, but he sure is hollaring alot. Never has before. So I want to build him an affordable outside area. What can I use that is strong enough for him. He really isn't a cage chewer but I want it to be safe. Any suggestions?

[Alyce Johnson]

Some folks have made outdoor aviaries using chain link fencing - that's fairly affordable. Ask Nancy Rattigan (moderator). She has one of that style. It's supposed to stand up to pretty much any type of beak no matter how strong.

I recently saw a dog run kit from a "pet co" or "petsmart" type of store for a very good price. It was chain link set up (no roof) with a person sized gate for about $100. It was about 6 or 8 ft wide by 12 feet long or so. I think the walls were 6 ft high. I personally thought that was a great deal! The only reason I didn't buy it was that I don't have a chunk of my yard that large that I am not currently planting a garden in. Once I move to my mom's house I will certainly install one!

And you could also buy a roof set up for the dog run made from metal framing meant to have a tarp put on the frame. You'd have to rig up some additional chain link between the top of the walls & the peak of the roof frame on the two ends and you'd have to substitute metal sheeting or fiberglass car port type of roofing for the tarp, of course. But that would probably still be fairly economical & easy to do.

The real beauty of this system in my mind is that it was designed to be free standing - no need to pour posts & such to hold up the walls. You could set it up on your lawn or on a concrete patch of driveway, either way. Also it seemed easy to disassemble to move it later on. (Meaning it wasn't a permanent installation type of deal.) Check the "big box" chain pet store sale flyers for deals on doggie runs.

Also I think Nancy has a source now for stainless steel wire but that's certainly not the cheapest option of course! I personally think chain link is probably perfectly fine. Per my AV he has never once treated a bird for zinc poisoning. So there's a lot of concern about it, but he has never actually seen it.

Of course if big globs of solder or the coating are peeling off of any type of metal item (fencing or toys - whatever!) you shouldn't have it anywhere near your bird (or your human child for that matter). But you can get decent quality materials - all you have to do is look stuff over *carefully* & make sure there isn't metal flaking off.

Also there is a difference between *electroplated* zinc coating - which does NOT flake off nearly as much versus a zinc coating which is applied by a process of "hot dipping" the item into a coating of molten liquid zinc. Both types are dipped into hot liquid zinc, actually. And I believe (but might be mistaken) that both types are referred to as being "galvanized". (?) But the addition of electricity to the process means a much cleaner more tightly adhered coating with way fewer beads or flakes. Whereas just dipping it in the hot liquid zinc w/out the electric current leads to a sloppier coating with more beading & flaking once the metals cool & harden.

In both cases a coating of zinc protects the underlying metal from rusting. The important difference is the technique by which the zinc coating was applied. The electroplating is a more expensive process but is a safer bet for use with birds if you can get it.

I know you can get electroplated zinc coated hardware (nuts, bolts etc) but I have no idea if there is chain link fenceing available done by the electroplate process. You'll have to check it out & do some investigating.

The electroplate final product is shinier. The hot dipped is that traditional dull silvery color of all chain link fencing you've seen around. You'd just have to check out what's available & ask some very probing questions. Remember that both are dipped. The difference is how "high tech" that dipping process was. That's what determines the final durability & quality (and therefore the safety, for your birds) of your zinc coating. Regardless you will still have to very carefully inspect each square foot of any fencing you put up that your birds are going to be climbing around on. You can use a clean BBQ metal brush to take flakes off if there are any.

This is one reason I'd lean towards the doggie run kits - they seem typically shinier to me - at least some of them that I've seen. So I suspect they may be done by the electroplate process. You can also check the doggie "corral" kits at the pet supply places. Those panels aren't as big, but they're usually a high quality (non-flaking quality) of metal - they're typically very shiny & clean - no beads of metal coming off. And you could put those on posts (metal or wood) to make taller walls. (The tallest panels of that stuff are usually about 4 feet tall, that I've ever found.)

See what your local home store (Home Depot, Lowes) has in stock & also check "big box" chain pet supply stores. Sometimes they run specials on select items & are actually selling them at near their own cost, just to get folks to come into the store, so you can sometimes get some really good deals! And you can also check the web for doggie run suppliers too. If manufacturers are electroplating their coatings on, they will be advertising it as such, you can bet on that. (And expect to pay more than for standard "hot dipped" fencing.)

[jgreilly69]

any one near new jersey know of a use avairy? jgreilly69@AOL.COM

[quincey]

Could you help me with my severe macaw Quincey his back feathers are getting all ruffled and messy. Where he is smooth normally what is this and do I need a doctor because I have five birds that can catch it Please help Quincey

[quincey]

Quincey needs help and I dont know how to use this site help Quincey He has ruffled feathers all over his back not normal he is usually smooth help

[kellywess]

Quincey, you may want to start a "new thread" in the Macaw section. I will try and help you as I too have a Severe. Quincey may be molting. Do you have any pictures that you can post so we can have a look and see what may appear to be going on. My Marvin (severe) has been going through a horrible molt for the past couple of months. He is vey aggitated because of it. Marvin does not like water, so without a bath I am sure that is causing him more aggrivation that if he would willingly take one. He pulls the new feathers out once they break through the skin. "Maybe" this is what is going on with your Quincey. Are you noticing alot of feathers at the bottom and around his cage?

[Lori~D]

All of Hartmans Aviaries outdoors are chain link huge fights.