60x40 Foot Aviary

[FF218]

Hey,
One day, If I make enough money, I hope to re-create the 'jungle' habitat [similar to the shyne foundation only more elaborate] for Macaws that people dont want anymore. Becoming somewhat of a shelter, but I'll [hopefully] be their last home. I read an article saying that for a Hyacinth to sustain flight the Aviary should be at least 50-60' long and 30-40' wide... So I would try to make it as wide as possible but lets just say I went with a 60x40 Ft. Aviary. How many Macaws would fit comfortably? Any ideas about this? Bad idea to house the birds together? Remember ALL birds would come from Shelters and from homes where the people coulnt care for them anymore (its too loud, doesnt preform like they thought it would, is not pretty anymore because he plucks his feathers etc.) My purpose is to try and give these guys the space they deserve and get them closer to their natural habitat.
Thanks for the help
-Josh
P.S. I was thinking about putting in a Sprinkler system that withdraws into the roof so the birds couldnt get past them...This would allow for watering of the plants and giving the birds a nice rainforest shower ;) The Aviary would be indoors but I was thinking about doing vents that lead to outside that I could open and close just to let some fresh air in. Also I was thinking about putting in speakers [of course not where the birds could get to them] and play one of those rainforest CD's... maybe even go as far as dimming the lights a little and playing a thunder and rain CD [not to loud, so I dont scare the birds] when I turn on the sprinklers....
opinions?
Also, I was planning on putting in another few aviarys to breed some of the rare varieties such as the blue throat and Hyacinth. Then donate the chicks to zoos and other people who are looking to breed Hyacinths. IMO we need more people breeding these guys because their numbers are dwindling.
Thank you for reading, sorry for the long post

[SDavid]

"One day, .....I hope to re-create....."

A noble project but I'm just curious-how much of a chance do you think you have of making this happen? I mean is it a real possibility or are you just dreaming.

You seem to have a very elaborate idea of how you want the facility to be made but dont seem to be sure if you'll ever do it. Anyway, my advice would be simply to study as many of these types of facilities as you can, zoos as well. Ask the experts and read as many books on bird keeping as you can. Do you even have the experience to entertain this idea?

Just as with any business venture you have to research the heck out of it before you do it. Also, how would it be funded? Would you pay for everything yourself? You'd need a staff to take care of so many birds.....who would pay them? And other expenses.

"Also, I was planning on putting in another few aviarys to breed some of the rare varieties...."

Have you researched the need for that? I mean, is there a demand by zoos for these animals and where will the extras end up? You can't just assume that the zoos will automatically take them.

"IMO we need more people breeding these guys because their numbers are dwindling."

That all depends. What do you mean by "people." IMO, the best breeding is for the purpose of re-introducing a species back into the wild.

I don't think the average person breeding birds to be sold as pets is doing the species a favor. Sure the species will continue to exist but how? Rotting in someone's living room? At the very least, breeding should not be done carelessly but with a very specific purpose to help the species recover.

[jgee]

You are my hero!!! I have always wanted to do this. I have built large aviaries, but this is the scale it should be done on. I don't care if it is just your dream. It is still inspiring.

The idea of adding a water (misting) source is excellent and necessary. It will also help to raise the humidity, which will be good for the birds and plants.

Another good element would be to put a good sand/gravel floor and put some ground birds in the aviary. They will walk around and break up the droppings. The sand will leech the moisture out and the ground birds will break down the rest of the waste. I have seen set ups where pheasants (as ground birds) live very comfortably with parrots--and pheasants are every bit as beautiful. Quail are good for this purpose, as well.

Also, if primarily indoors, are you going to rely on outside lighting (through windows) or full spectrum lighting inside?

As for the number of birds, it depends to a large extent on the compatibility of the birds in there--and the niches they take. There is good research and knowledge available about this subject.

The fun aspect of this is it would be a dozen hobbies in one, the birds, plants, the ecology, the biology, the building/operation etc. Selection of the plants would be as demanding as selection of the birds.

Good luck.

[SDavid]

FF218:

Sorry that I didn't read your profile sooner. I see that youre still in High School. I commend you for thinking about a good cause like this at such a young age. But, don't get too far ahead of yourself. I mean worrying about aviary measurements before you even know anything about these birds.

I see that your experience is with reef tanks ( I have one myself ) and with one Cockatiel. Don't see how you can make the jump from that to wanting to work with Macaws.

But...I wish you the best of luck and like I said above, just research the heck out of it.

[FF218]

No, just a goal of mine. Hopefully, if I make it big time, this is what I would want to do.. help some birds that are in need of a good home. Then higher someone to do some of the daily things like hiding food around the aviary to promote foraging, draining the pond and cleaning it out every once in a while etc. I didnt think they would allow a breeder to release birds into the wild? Dont the animals need to be somehow 'trained' to get there own food and what not to eat etc. by their 'wild' parents? Plus I doubt they would let just anyone release animals back into the wild. If I can do that, I would absolutly LOVE to be involved in releasing Hyacinths back into the wild. I wouldnt be building this myself, I would higher specialist and talk to many many zoos.
Lighting will be artificial. Hell, maybe you'll see my aviary online one of these days ;) lol...
No, just one of my goals is to help birds [as well as people] if I get rich.
I promised myself that if I ever do get rich I would use alot of my money to help people and birds. This is only one way I would do so for a few macaws in need of a good home [they are my favorite bird]. Im just dreaming but maybe... you never know..

[swanwillow]

I have the same dreams... But, realistically, I'm looking at a bird room. One step at a time is the way to go.
a bird room-ten ft by ten ft. its 6 ft tall. Having a bunch of lorikeets flying in there, or individual cages, lots of climbing structures, and out of cage time.

Thats MY start. Macaws are beautiful creatures, and there are some very pretty large aviaries done like that. But they are non-profit, and before people start giving you birds, people are going to want you to NOT breed them. Your taking in unwanted birds to.. make more? but that gets into topics beyond the scope of my temper. (mine!! bah, I have a short one...)

Its great to look at, but ACTUALLY running a rescue is a LOT of work. I've looked into it. cost breakdowns: (without the aviary)

the bird... lets say we get it in for free. We ARE a rescue!
the vet visit. YES, all birds must see a vet
cost: $100 for the visit, plus another $100 for bloodwork. don't forget any meds that they may need to be on (antibiotics, etc) $50 (guesstimate)
food for one macaw, not seed, lots of fresh fruits and veggies for one month
$40 (easily, probably more)

so in the first month, for one bird, your looking at at LEAST 250. Then, it gets into caging, toys.,.. yes, in an aviary, I said caging. NOT ALL BIRDS GET ALONG, and rescues are... well, ya. Plus theres the 90 day quarantine. Plus another vetting/bloodwork at the end, just incase a disease showed up during the stay (this isn't always done, but PBFD can stay dormant for years... and not show up in the first round of bloodwork if it was done within 90 days of the bird being exposed)

okay, so to do just TWO birds, you'll need
separate rooms (2) for quarantine.
anywhere from 500-1000 dollars for vetting
another 100 or so for food to last the 90 days (I'm thinking macaw)
cages: they are around 1000 a piece for the big macaw sized ones that last
toys: macaws like big wooden rip to shreds toys... add anohter 200 or so. This 200 will be gone through QUICKLY because birds like to break toys!

then, time away from your job to take care of a bird that is mutilating itself, is sick and needs meds every 4 hours, etc.

your looking at an easy $5000 for two macaws rescued from two different people.

sucks, huh? If you do rescue/rehab.. the cages can be passed down bird-to-bird after a through sanitation each time. thats $2000 less. But thats still $1500 a bird. And thats about what rescues charge for adopting a macaw that I've seen in my area. sometimes less, I may be over exaggerating, but I'd rather over exaggerate than under...

then, building the aviary. Well, you need land. lets assume you have land. But your looking at a LOT of money for that aviary. Its a great idea, and maybe someday you can spend upwards of $20,000 on an aviary. Its an AWESOME idea!
but, I think having a room in my house will do just fine for me, thank you :D

[FF218]

This aviary project isnt looking anywhere near $20,000.. and by the time it is planted, with all the high-tech stuff I plan for it, would most likely be in the millions. Then highering two-three people, the point is to give the birds their natural environment. The point of this being inside with cement walls is because, it would most likely be in Florida where there is hurricanes. I am NOT looking for any sort of money from this. Im not looking to re-sell these birds or anything. Vet bills would be chump change if I ever had the money to start this project, and I probably wont. I may end up just rescueing a single cockatoo b/c thats all that money will allow for. who knows? But it is fun to entertain the idea of having something like this built. By the time this project was built I wouldnt have a job where I answer to anybody.. I might have to go and make deals, pick out locations etc. but I wouldnt have to answer to anyone. I do have plans for what I want to do and hopefully they work out.
EDIT**
Also, good luck with your bird room, I hope that it turns out just the way you imagine it to be!
Also there will be quite a few cages on the outside of the aviary for any sick birds [wont be connected to the aviary]

[SDavid]

"I didnt think they would allow a breeder to release birds into the wild? Dont the animals need to be somehow 'trained' to get there own food and what not to eat etc. by their 'wild' parents? Plus I doubt they would let just anyone release animals back into the wild. "

Youre right but I didn't say "a breeder" or just "anyone." It has to be done by an organization with the specific purpose of helping a species recover in the wild from the damage caused by humans. Just like there are similar efforts with other species.

Again, I like your idea of helping abused birds. I don't think there's an animal lover out there that hasn't entertained this idea. I'd also love to be involved in efforts to preserve their natural environment. After all this is the main reason for any species' demise.

[jgee]

What you will have to learn to realize this dream is an education unto itself--and in many fields. However, your starting point--in terms of age or experience, doesn't matter. What matters is where you end up following a dream.

I knew a man many years ago in Livermore, CA who worked his whole career as an engineer. He retired and decided to raise birds. He became a world expert on birds--particularly pheasants. He kept the birds in long flight aviaries outdoors. He had a pair of parrots and a pair of pheasants in each aviary. He raised dozens and dozens of different kinds.

He was contacted by a man in the Middle East who owned a large estate and who had some very rare pheasants. At that point, there was only one hen left, so he sent her to this man in Livermore, who spent the remainder of his life bringing the species back, starting with breeding the single hen to a close cousin species. Eventually, he shipped birds back to the estate, and then from there to their native habitat.

While he is now gone, the birds live on.

[Bonesy]

A very noble idea, but just a wish to the average person.

Maybe rather than waiting to get rich, you could set up a group for rare bird and macaw owners in the future, who'd be willing to chip into the idea to make it real. Then maybe you could open it to the public and have a few dollar entrance fee for a walk through and a run down of the birds living there. Then you might catch interest of the organisations who re-release and rehabilitates rare species and they can come and see what you've done.

As Jack Savoretti says in one of his songs, "A dream is just a dream, and nothing more..." however, dreams make a path to walk along, and without dreams, some of the most amazing and breathtaking projects and structures on earth would be still just that... dreams.

Some people say, if you sow a seed, it will grow. It's up to you to nurture it until it flourishes into something fully grown

Sadly many of us give up far too easily on dreams, and if you don't believe in a dream, and don't nurture it, i won't grow. So if it's truly your ambition for the future, dream on, BUT, work HARD to achieve it