Colourbond or Gal

[Diane]

One third of my aviary roof is wire, but I felt it was getting too hot so I covered the wire with wheat coloured shadecloth 50% Its been working well. shaded but still bright and as Orix said it minimizes any hard rain. I also found another benefit, when it been really hot I spray it down and it keeps the aviary cooler.

[AMCA26]

1. We have orchids and we were just told to use Opal for the roof for them as well.
2. I have concrete floors and will be putting sand down how wet does everyones floor get if they have concrete and open/shadecloth covering?
3. Top section at the front 300mm will be open the rest covered in with 2 windows that will open 1m x 1m plenty of air for the warm days here i think.
4. Will be putting in a Fogger system for the warm days as well.

[Keven S]

Im in the process of building a bank of new aviaries at the moment(9 x 2.1 X 2.4 ) and pondering the same predicament with the flight ( 4.8 mts) area to cover or not to cover 2/3rds with lazer light .Last saturday we had 38mm of rain and most of it fell in a very short space of time alass I lost quite a few nests of eggs and or young 2 nests of Grenadiers, 1 nest of Napoleons 1 nest of red siskins, 1 nest of lesser red brows. green singers and white eared masks they all insist in building out side , not that we get a lot of rain and certainly never that much that quick. Here in Broken Hill we have many days above 40 during summer and not sure if it will add to the problem of excessive heat, I do have an automatic watering system in place on my existing aviaries wich works well but the flight area is open. I will be travelling to the Orange bird sale in a couple of weeks time and intend visiting six different aviaries on the way over and back so hope to pick up some new idears along the way.

[finchbreeder]

Lucky me, when we bought this place there was a great big cape lilac tree down the back so I had "he who prefers tools" build my avairys under that. Shade in summer, sun in winter. A big tree really is the best heat deterant if you are lucky enough to have one.
Because my avairys are under a tree I can have plastic sheeting on the roof for winter warmth, as the tree stops this being too hot in summer. Have seen wheat coloured and green shade cloth used effectively as drop down shade and wind breaks, that can just be rolled up when not needed.
Have the avairy waterers on auto timer to come on twice a day in summer so if I have to be out or away at least I know they get cool fresh water.
Have dirt floors so no problem with excess rain, though such a thing is a once every 10 year occurrance in this neck of the woods.
LML