Aussie Finch Forum

Wow Craig P,

If that is your first attempt at an aviary I am sure you will enjoy this hobby. Just one thing, rodent, rodent, rodent. Looks like it is on a dirt floor, rats and mice can cause you grief, but it is all a learning curve.

Good luck,

Ken.

Yes I agree totally keeping mice & rats out will be a big problem, the other problem I see is its a bit small, you might be able to fit a few pairs in there, LOL

That is going to be a magnificent aviary once it's done. Please keep us updated with pictures

I concur with the other statements regarding rodents.

Like the guys have said put rodent proofing into the ground 600/700mm down, and the same distance up the walls. And watch the gaps round the doors are not more than 6mm. Talking from sad experience here. Having to slowly retro fix is a pain in the but.
LML

by the look at where it is, I would also put something around the bottom of the aviary to keep foxes & dogs out & also feral cats, I have a electric fence to keep cats off mine, I have had a dog go through the side of one on my aviaries about 27 years ago so since then I use tin on all the sides, it has also made my aviary mouse & rat proof, I took some photos of my setup yesterday, Ill put them on another section once I have made the images smaller to post on here, it shows the electric fence & also the Tin on the front.

BlackCobra wrote:by the look at where it is, I would also put something around the bottom of the aviary to keep foxes & dogs out & also feral cats, I have a electric fence to keep cats off mine, I have had a dog go through the side of one on my aviaries about 27 years ago so since then I use tin on all the sides, it has also made my aviary mouse & rat proof, I took some photos of my setup yesterday, Ill put them on another section once I have made the images smaller to post on here, it shows the electric fence & also the Tin on the front.

lol yes all of the above has crossed my mind , it will need some tweeking ,i was thinking of putting some fine blue metal to cover up the ground, i was also thinking of putting a couple of chooks in there,no roosters ,what is your thoughts on that??

craigp wrote:

BlackCobra wrote:by the look at where it is, I would also put something around the bottom of the aviary to keep foxes & dogs out & also feral cats, I have a electric fence to keep cats off mine, I have had a dog go through the side of one on my aviaries about 27 years ago so since then I use tin on all the sides, it has also made my aviary mouse & rat proof, I took some photos of my setup yesterday, Ill put them on another section once I have made the images smaller to post on here, it shows the electric fence & also the Tin on the front.

lol yes all of the above has crossed my mind , it will need some tweeking ,i was thinking of putting some fine blue metal to cover up the ground, i was also thinking of putting a couple of chooks in there,no roosters ,what is your thoughts on that??

Emus with chickens comes to mind..as some young may huddle in corners till they get to fly..might make a tasty morsel to a chook. ..not ideal

Garyp,

Looking at the surroundings I really think if you think things out and put down the barriers as advised you will do ok, wire size is another issue. There is another little animal which does live in your area and he is called "Antechinus". He makes rats and mice look like pussycats, can squeeze though a keyhole.

I really hope you do well

Ken.

Ps.

Wish it was mine.

If you are after eggs, put Jap quail in there. Then you and the finches can share the eggs you boil up.
LML

If you put chooks in there they will kill small babies & also fly up to roost & scare your birds at night, you would have no idea how many quails I have bred over the years, its in the thousands, but you would not believe how many I have breeding in my aviaries now, I have none, as I come to the conclusion there not for me, I have had quail fly up at night & hit the tin roof or wire & all my birds start flying & I have lost lots of nests of chicks, also the quail call out at night & call the cats, I have had a lot less cats since getting rid of the quails.
I love the quails, I use to run a trio of kingquails in every aviary, I also use to incubate tons of bobwhites, Japs, Californians, just one season alone I bred over 1,000 young but that's when I was younger & crazy lol
Boy I miss quails now, I have always had such a love for them.