Hello from the variably-weathered Sydney

[Nrg800]

Hey everyone! I've been following these forums for a while now, and decided I should join. I'm a 13 year old from The Northern Beaches, I'm currently in the planning stages of a big planted aviary out of the side of my house. The only problem is that I've been in the planning stages for 6 months now, and the whole plan just changed.
I've gotten myself a basic model of it,

the shorter bit on the right is going to be under the house. That is where I plan to put some of the nest boxes, and the third closest to that is colour-bond, and that's where there are going to be alot of perches so that the birds can easily get out of the wind and/or rain. The bit on the left without the wall is the only bit that will get sun in the winter (all of it will get it in the Summer). So that's also going to be mostly clear of bushes and the like, so that in winter the birds can lay in the sun, and dust-bathe. There is also going to be a path through the middle leading to a bench. I am planning on having it mostly leaf litter on the bottom. Will this be easy enough to clean? Is it just a raking of the top level every week or so, and replenishing it with fresh stuff from the yard? I plan to have the Following species:
Star Finch: A Pair of them
Painted Finch: A Pair of them
Scarlet-chested Parrot: Are these going to destroy the plants and (possibly) chew through finch mesh?
Diamond Dove: Will these be too flighty?
Painted Button-Quail: Are these difficult to get in Sydney? I've heard varying things, but will they be okay in a Planted Aviary, or still too flighty?
Blue-faced Parrot Finch: A Pair.

Are any of these plans bad, and can I do anything better, and do you have any ideas for more?

Thanks!
~Nathan!

[Buzzard-1]

G'day Nathen and welcome great to see some more young persons getting into birds.Could you give us an idea of the dimensions? It appears that you have done some research and are trying to cover the important bases.

[Nrg800]

I certainly can! The Aviary is about 2.6m High, 1.15m wide, and 6.84m long, not including the under-house part. That's only about a Meter tall, 1.75m wide, and about 1m long ;)

Thanks!
~Nathan

[gomer]

Welcome Nathan.looks like your well on your way there.As said dimensions would be of help,To know what and how many birds will live together in harmony.

[Nrg800]

The Dimentions are above( ;) ), and I just took some pictures of where we're planning to put it. It is currently a Chook Pen, and that's going to move to the lower level of the Yard (The Neighbours are all fine with this!)







We'll take the Picket fence down, and replace with Wire, we'll extend it lengthwise to the first brick pillar, and inwards to the second ;)

~Nathan!

[Buzzard-1]

Looks good with those dimensions I can't see a problem with the birds you want. Three things that come to mind is mouse proofing, a safety entry cage and the fact that you have had chooks in that location, just be aware that chooks can be carriers of pathogens (infectious organisms)that don't harm them but can be fatal to small birds.

[Diane]

Hi and welcome to the forum Nathan.

Very comprehensive computer designed aviary you have there. I quite like the idea of the under house bit, lots of protection from wind and rain without having to spend $$$$$ to build!.
My only reservations about that would be, as you will be getting taller as you get older will this area still be accessible to you? Also notice some plumbing pipes in there, if there was a blockage in one of those pipes would a plumber be able to access the pipes without going into the aviary? (Hubby ex plumber, which explains why that thought popped into my mind )

[Nrg800]

We're planning to have Double doors placed where the Chook house is currently. The only pipe that would be in the cage is the pool pipe, which brings water from the pool to the Fountain in it, so I don't think (and this is my nieve 13 year old brain thinking here) that it would be very important, we do have a leak in the fountain, which we'd have to fix. Would the problem with mice be easy enough to fix by just putting the mesh about a foot into the ground? Also, would I have to have the wire being strong parrot wire, with a Dog around, or would I be fine with the cheaper finch mesh?

[jusdeb]

Scarlets wont chew through finch mesh but are a bit hard on plants , given one or two plants ant they will destroy them given lots and lots of plants and they will do minimal damage.
Welcome by the way lol

[Nrg800]

xD Jusdeb? Do you know anyone in Dubbo who has a Nice planted aviary, I'm going up for Christmas, and I'd like to see a well done one. Inspiration is easier if you get it from other people xD