Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Some Thoughts on Building an Aviary

Cockatiels are ideal birds for aviaries, as they
are attractive as well as sociable. Their
musical calls are also unlikely to upset the
neighbors.

You will still need to plan the building of your
aviary carefully. Don't build your aviary too
close to the road, or your birds may get stollen.

Make sure that the spot you choose for your
aviary is sheltered from the elements. It should
be shielded from the wind, and be in a reasonably
sunny spot with not too many trees that can loose
leaves in the cage. Droppings from wild birds in
the trees may contaminate your aviary, or
branches could fall off and damage the aviary.

A good place for an aviary is at the edge of a
piece of lawn, and in this way you can sit on the
grass and enjoy watching the birds. Also try and
choose a spot where you can keep an eye on the
birds from indoors. In this way you will be able
to spot trouble, like cats who try and get to the
birds.

If the aviary is well sheltered from the
elements, there will be little need for
artificial lighting or heating. Keep the
lighting natural, unless you want to make a
visual display of your aviary.

Make sure you leave space in case you decide to
extend your aviary at a later date.

The size of your aviary will depend on whether
you keep lots of cockatiels or just a breeding
pair. For more birds you will need a bigger
aviary. Cockatiels will enjoy a flight of 3.6m
(12ft) in length, although slightly less will be
adequate if you are short of space. The height
of the aviary should not be under 1.8m, so that
you can get easy access to clean the cage and
catch the birds when you need to without the risk
of scalping yourself. If you are tall, make the
cage higher.

The width of the aviary is not as critical. A
useful guide, is to keep the cage to 90cm square
per breeding pair.

When building your aviary, you will need to
decide on a floor covering. Grass and gravel are
both very unsuitable, as they are difficult to
clean and can harbor germs and parasites. A
concrete floor that is sloped will work well in
an avairy, but make sure that it is smooth so
that no puddles of water are left on the floor
that can go stale. Paving stones also work well,
as long as they are also sloped for excess water
to drain off. Make sure that you have a drainage
hole for the water to run down.

Although an aviary is a lot of work to maintain,
the enjoyment that you will get out of it as an
avid bird lover will be well worth the effort.

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Michel Maling has enjoyed owning cockatiels all
her life. She has dedicated a blog to covering
all you need to know about cockatiels.
http://cockatielsaspets.com

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