avairy design

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

theres lots of diffrent opinions on what to make an avariy out of. Solid sides, bars, wire mesh, plywood I have the space in my garden for a large avariy but.......
how do I make it?
what flooring. gravel, concreate, grass, sand?

heres my plan drawn on paint.

11704

[Sean]

that plan looks well, the bird can still get the sun but stay dry, can go to the shaded part to get out of the sun, or bath itself in the full sun at the front. seems a bit complicated to build but looks like a good plan to me. mine is just 3/4 covered 1/4 nto covered. I used 1 inch mesh and behind it i used 4ft bamboo bars, it is a 12x8 mews so there was very little cutting involed, most time was wasted infact by waiting on the drill to charge every 15 mins lol:razz: used a ton of pea gravel for the flooring

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

he he he

being a bit cunning. forgot to say but the shed part of the picture is an old wendy shed now me and my brothers have kinda grown out of it well..... It can easliy be converted.lol

[Palmer]

How tall is it????

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

errrm 6 or 7 foot ?
is that ok?

and 6 foot wide.

[Palmer]

Yea:yawinkle:

[Kennelre]

Hi CJ, If you go to Site Navigation and click on Equipment it will give you various choices..... The choice Mews, Weatherings etc is the one you want. Loads of people have asked exactly what you are asking so there is quite alot of info. there and also quite alot of pictures. Your plan looks very promising to me....

[Jackson]

ive just been reading jamima perry jones falconry book!! its got amazing plans for an aviary!!
suggests that one part should be grass and the other sand!! dont forget if your bops freelofted youll need two doors!! basically one into a small compartment with a door into the main avairy so that you can shut the first and get it safely without riskin the bop escaping!!
i recommend sand as its easier to clean than gravel!!

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

yer i'd like to use grass.

call me entusiastic but last saturday I dug up the astro turf.
(not the proper stuff, it was all rotting and horrible) coz thats the place I'd like to put my avariy.

beond what you'd call planning ahead, my parents haven't tecnically said yes yet.....but they haven't said no either:P;)

they were rather confused as to why I was atacking the garden and clearing the shed out.
But I think they have an inkling.:lol:

[Jackson]

yer i'd like to use grass.

call me entusiastic but last saturday I dug up the astro turf.
(not the proper stuff, it was all rotting and horrible) coz thats the place I'd like to put my avariy.

beond what you'd call planning ahead, my parents haven't tecnically said yes yet.....but they haven't said no either:P;)

they were rather confused as to why I was atacking the garden and clearing the shed out.
But I think they have an inkling.:lol:


PMSL that soooooo reminds me of clearing out my shed (hehehe)!! if you buy a few bits like wood or jsut make a clearing then theyll have no choice but to go a head and build one lol

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

good idea!!!

we had our patio done and have stacks and stacks of paving slabs.
( IN THE WAY:evil: )

tryied carring them but hard to grip without cutting your hands.

tried using the wheelbarrow and nearly broke it, and left a trench where the tyre dug into the ground:!:

so when I have a free weekend I'll use gloves and get started.

and if they say no after that........

Il have to resort to teenage tantrums :twisted: :twisted:

[Sprout]

I don;t like grass in aviaries - dies off quickly unless full access to light and the elements. I put an impermeable mebrane down before laying pea gravel - stops worms getting through which can help transmit parasites should your bird eat them.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

Thanks sprout

the grass would have full light but what i mean is are there and health reasons that you can't use grass in the sun-lit avairy part?

like I know if you use bark chips the spores and stuff can cause asperillogosis
Is there any such dangers with grass?

[Sprout]

Dry, rotting grass is ideal for asper, as is woodchips however you can get treated woodchip that prevents it, although I don;t oike such things as I have seen birds with impacted crops beacuse of ingesting food with bark attached. Thre problem with grass is as I said - if the bird carries parasites these will pass into the soil and be almost impossible to get rid of - that is why people move their perches around the garden frequently. Grass is also impossible to disinfect should you get a problem.

[Jackson]

Dry, rotting grass is ideal for asper, as is woodchips however you can get treated woodchip that prevents it, although I don;t oike such things as I have seen birds with impacted crops beacuse of ingesting food with bark attached. Thre problem with grass is as I said - if the bird carries parasites these will pass into the soil and be almost impossible to get rid of - that is why people move their perches around the garden frequently. Grass is also impossible to disinfect should you get a problem.


interesting!!! good advice though!! that'll stop me from mking that mistake!!

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

Thanks mabey grass is a no go.

suppose i could make use of all those spare paving slabs.

or would dirt and stuff get in the cracks!

whatever substrate I use has to be sutible for use undercover and exposed.

should i mabey just go for sand or gravel.

with the threat of bird flu I don't like the sound of not being able to keap the area clean!

[Sprout]

Just use pea gravel. Sand is the best possible substrate for distributing weight well on feet especially for falcons BUT is no good if you are feeding - again it compacts crops. Pea gravel can neasily be shovelled out or sprayed with F10 or virkon to clean it. You will also find birds ingest pea gravel occasionally as rangle.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

Cheers for all the advice.

I find the look of sand more attractive but obviusly it's bird before beauty!
however I could feed outside the avairy or make a feeding shelf?
feeding outside the avairy might be harder in the moult though....

What is easyier to clean?

oh just suddenly thought, Bird world all use wood chips for there owl pens and avairys? might be the treated stuff mentioned before.

[Palmer]

Use pea shingle.

The bird will **** on the floor so you will still have to clean it.

[Zam]

I don;t like grass in aviaries - dies off quickly unless full access to light and the elements. I put an impermeable mebrane down before laying pea gravel - stops worms getting through which can help transmit parasites should your bird eat them.

I use 4 meter wide rolls of silage sheet under the pea gravel. Really tough stuff!!

Also, it stops irritating tufts of grass and weeds popping through - as well as your worms, Sprout.:yawinkle: Hate Weeding!!!!!

[Sean]

sprout sometimes if im digging to the ferretm rolf comes down to nick a worm or two( i try to be sneaky) . should i worry about it

[Sprout]

sprout sometimes if im digging to the ferretm rolf comes down to nick a worm or two( i try to be sneaky) . should i worry about it
No, not a problem

[Sean]

cheers m8

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

started on the paving slabs theyr'e so heavy.
also relocated the snowdrops and daffs and have layed paving slabs to stop the grass growing back.

my parents are well and truley stumped as I told them I dug up the astro so the grass would grow back. lol.:lol:

next on my list is to finnish moving the paving, slabs dig up the astro they were sitting on, and level the ground of.

also the worring problem of the horrible solidifed yik in the compost bin that is also IN THE WAY!!!

the things I do for falconry:lol:

I'l try getting some pics lol

[Palmer]

started on the paving slabs theyr'e so heavy.
also relocated the snowdrops and daffs and have layed paving slabs to stop the grass growing back.

my parents are well and truley stumped as I told them I dug up the astro so the grass would grow back. lol.:lol:

next on my list is to finnish moving the paving, slabs dig up the astro they were sitting on, and level the ground of.

also the worring problem of the horrible solidifed yik in the compost bin that is also IN THE WAY!!!

the things I do for falconry:lol:

I'l try getting some pics lol

Are you even allowed a bird????:confused:

[Sprout]

Make sure the compost bin is nowehere near the aviary, ideally get rid of it completely! Compost is the best substrate for aspergillosis - must be completely separated from the aviary and ensure any prevailing wind won't carry spores towards the aviary.

[HawkNorth]

Hi Sean were did you get your pea gravel and what price

[Sean]

i cant rem,ember mate, i wish i could as i will be getting new gravel after the moult, as tehre covered in pheasent feathers at the moment lol. i looked up builder yards in belfast and only one done it, loads done it for liek 90 quid in wee bags, and loads done aggragate, but only one done gravel, it was 40 quid delivery and all

[Andy Cunningham]

What about drainage? have you got that in place??

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

yer I'm a bit crazy like that...

my mum and dad haven't tecnically said yes.
but haven't said no either;)

but oh well nothing like being prepared. lol

I can't say i won't be gutted If they say no, coz i have put a lot of work in, but when they see I'm activly doing somthing In aid of getting started.
(my birthday prezzie is a falconry course) and not just sitting on the internet talking about it, I find it helps my case. My mum was even suggesting names. lol

don't worry sprout Iv'e being waiting to see the back of that ugly bin for ages. goodbye compost heap!!

[Palmer]

i cant rem,ember mate, i wish i could as i will be getting new gravel after the moult, as tehre covered in pheasent feathers at the moment lol. i looked up builder yards in belfast and only one done it, loads done it for liek 90 quid in wee bags, and loads done aggragate, but only one done gravel, it was 40 quid delivery and all


Blimming hell how much???????
Me and my dad got a tone from a builders meachants for about £20

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

What about drainage? have you got that in place??



do you mean like a pipe that leads to a drain or a slope onto the lawn.

slope I can do.

pipes......

[Palmer]

do you mean like a pipe that leads to a drain or a slope onto the lawn.

slope I can do.

pipes......


Are you even allowed a bird?

You seem to be rushing into it.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

yer I'm a bit crazy like that...

my mum and dad haven't tecnically said yes.
but haven't said no either;)

but oh well nothing like being prepared. lol

I can't say i won't be gutted If they say no, coz i have put a lot of work in, but when they see I'm activly doing somthing In aid of getting started.
(my birthday prezzie is a falconry course) and not just sitting on the internet talking about it, I find it helps my case. My mum was even suggesting names. lol

not YET........

[Jackson]

at least your trying!!

as long as you dont actually but the bop before you get a definate yes from your parents you should be ok!!!!

maybe you could post pics of your progress and if people on here see a problem or have recomendations it maight help!! admitidly the help will be limited but hey what the heck!!

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

Thanks

don't worry I'm not going to rush into this as far as buying the bird is concerend, but I like to be doing somthing to prepare.

be it drawing b.o.ps and avairy plans
talking to you lot
or reading books on them
reserch into prices
looking at the courses .ect.

but when it all comes down to it whatevers best for the bird

yep i'm a looney:rolleyes:

[Palmer]

not YET........


How long have you been "into" falconry and thinking of getting a bird? Researchiung it etc?

[HawkNorth]

thats a good price Sean delivered an all pity you can't remember

[Renton]

Thanks

don't worry I'm not going to rush into this as far as buying the bird is concerend, but I like to be doing somthing to prepare.

be it drawing b.o.ps and avairy plans
talking to you lot
or reading books on them
reserch into prices
looking at the courses .ect.

but when it all comes down to it whatevers best for the bird

yep i'm a looney:rolleyes:

Plus be prepared to spend a lot of money!

[Sprout]

Are you even allowed a bird?

You seem to be rushing into it.

There is nothing wrong with enthusiasm and wanting to further knowledge etc. I don;t see anything wrong here - at least she is asking the right questions and taking note of what is said, more than some appear to do! If she bites off more than she can chew I'm sure there will be plenty of people on here to tell her just that but at leats she does appear to listen!

[GaryPCO]

There is nothing wrong with enthusiasm and wanting to further knowledge etc. I don;t see anything wrong here - at least she is asking the right questions and taking note of what is said, more than some appear to do! If she bites off more than she can chew I'm sure there will be plenty of people on here to tell her just that but at leats she does appear to listen!
Hear Hear sprout so far everything ive seen the girl is doing right,she's listening and asking good questions and when she gets her bird i wish her nothing but good luck,as long as nobody shoots her down in flames she's gonna keep askin the questions,which in my view is positive as long as all the advice is good positive advice,well done CJ

[DeathFromAbove]

do you mean like a pipe that leads to a drain or a slope onto the lawn.

slope I can do.

pipes......

Drainage would be the ability for the water to soak away effectively after cleaning e.g. via a hardcore base topped with pea gravel etc... obviously if where you plan on building it holds alot of water and gets water logged it may be a diff issue.

[DeathFromAbove]

Hear Hear sprout so far everything ive seen the girl is doing right,she's listening and asking good questions and when she gets her bird i wish her nothing but good luck,as long as nobody shoots her down in flames she's gonna keep askin the questions,which in my view is positive as long as all the advice is good positive advice,well done CJ

I'll second that. :cool:

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

thanks for all your support.

no point in askin if I'm not gonna listen .lol

thanks again.

ps. so I lay somthing else down that absorbs water before the gravel or sand or whatever...

[Palmer]

thanks for all your support.

no point in askin if I'm not gonna listen .lol

thanks again.

ps. so I lay somthing else down that absorbs water before the gravel or sand or whatever...


I put on top of the soil, rubble(big chunkes of stone etc) and then pea shingle.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

I put on top of the soil, rubble(big chunkes of stone etc) and then pea shingle.

plenty of that my dads a builder.lol

makes getting hold of materials to build easy he's proberly got whatever I need in the workshop lol

[Palmer]

plenty of that my dads a builder.lol

makes getting hold of materials to build easy he's proberly got whatever I need in the workshop lol


Yea same my dad is a fencer

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

what shall I make the structure out of
wouldn't meatle rust?
what should I treat the structure with if its wood?

I know you have to be carefull with parrot avairys coz they chew the wood.
But wat about birds of prey?

what do you guys use?

thanks again

[BFC 007]

wood
treat the outside with timber preserver preferably before you put the bird in lol

[Palmer]

wood
treat the outside with timber preserver preferably before you put the bird in lol


My wood came already treated!!!!!!!!!!!!!:lol:

[BFC 007]

My wood came already treated!!!!!!!!!!!!!:lol:
lucky you :lol:

[Palmer]

lucky you :lol:


LOL:lol: Lasts for ten years

[BFC 007]

not if i burn it down it wont :supz:

[Palmer]

So shall i bring a shotgun when i come out with you and see if i can get a rare bird?

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

so birds of prey won't chew the wood or anything
thats good my dads got plenty of shed paint stuff.

lasts 10 years! !wow!! and heres me thinking you have to re-do it every year.

thanks.

[Sean]

make sure the paint is safe with animals when dry

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

make sure the paint is safe with animals when dry

will do!

what brands do you use guys?

[Palmer]

so birds of prey won't chew the wood or anything
thats good my dads got plenty of shed paint stuff.

lasts 10 years! !wow!! and heres me thinking you have to re-do it every year.

thanks.


I mean the wood that we get was already treated for 10 years

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

I mean the wood that we get was already treated for 10 years

oh :oops:

so every year it is then lol

[Sean]

i cant remmeber the name of the brand, saker sucker told me about it, he still may remember, its ownbrand B and Q stuff

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

making good progress!

relocated all the paving slabs and cleared the land.
then I layed more paving slabs (temprementaly) to stop the grass growing back and more importantly to stop the cats pooing on the earth.

going well! :P

next stop is to waterproof the shed and repair its roof!

oh yer and I'm saving the mankey compost heap till last

[Jackson]

sounds like your doing well!!
why you doing the shed is that what your using? or are you doing to keep in your mum and dads good books as is what i tried to do lol!!

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

yer I'm gonna adapt our wendy shed but some wood needs replacing and it will need re-proofing and re-roofing.

so plenty to do next weekend still.:D

my dad wants to get rid of the compost heap to as its not very usefull to us so That will be done soon-ish.

I could give it too my grandad.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

dose anyone have any ideas to persuade parents a harris hawk is a good idea.

my parents are turning over the idea of letting me do a course for my birthday.

I'm saving up. and my mum seems remotely interested in training methods ect;:D

my dad is just interested in rabbit stew:roll:

I have to be very carefull when I talk about falconry, if I get them in a bad mood it will be all over :(

got some books ordered now too!!

[Sean]

just show them that you are dedicated. i also still live with my parents and i told them how much it costs, they laughed and said fine, if u can get the money do as u please, a few weeks later i had a part time job while still at college, took a good few months saving but i got it in the end. my parents finally came round, and my dad goes out hunting with me every other trip or so, he loves it now.

[Jackson]

well im having some amazing progress!! my mum and dad have compramised and said i maybe able to house a hh for a up to a year till i go uni!! ill trian it for the centr (who bred it) and then hand it back when its fully trianed!! works for both me and the centre! i get good hands on experiance and the centre get a fully trained hh and a spare space for anything else for a while!!
i persuaded my mum and dad really by showing that it wasnt a phase and stuck with it for two years and still going strong!! theyve realised that this is going to stick with me whatever so they see this as a compimise!!
best way id say was to show them youre dedicated, going to be able to clean it by your self, know what your doing - start talking as if you know what your doing seems t work!! discuss with them what they would prefer avairy size, etc and keep them in the picture if they dont like it or agree try working round it by suggesting otherwise! do as much housework as possible and if thyey want to get them involved as much as possible!!

or you could do as my friend did and get the building material and build it your self!1 i dont suggest this since you have little exepriance etc but it worked for my m8 lol

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

Wow thats really good news your so lucky.

I'm going to got some books on order so hopfull i'll be able to sound like an expert! my mum has said she will think about letting me do a course for my birthday. as a present from everybody as its very expensive!

I think letting my parents know this is no passing phase is a good idea too.

I'm gett up early to make mum and dad a cupp of tea in the mornings and cleaning my fishes out.ect I'm being so carefull to see to all the animals i've got before I come on the interent to research bops,

very satifying when mum says have you feed gizmo
and I can say yes ages ago!!

[Mr_Colin]

I mean the wood that we get was already treated for 10 years

Was this Tanalised wood, did you know part of the solution is ****nic. Not good if your bird chews it. Not that mine has ever done that but I still wouldn't use tanalised.

[Mr_Colin]

dose anyone have any ideas to persuade parents a harris hawk is a good idea.



Have you got a falconry centre close to you? If you have you could get a weekend job or voluteer there. Once your parents realise how keen you are they might relent. You will also get some good free training in the process.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

Have you got a falconry centre close to you? If you have you could get a weekend job or voluteer there. Once your parents realise how keen you are they might relent. You will also get some good free training in the process.

unfortunatly I haven't got a centre near me the closest was bird world and they said no beacuse to many people ask. The closest one after that was in Biggleswade:(

However I do live near someone with a fhh if I do a bit of groveling mabey he can help me out!:-P

also I have change my desing after reading some books so here it is bamboo bars sand flooring (sand is easier to clean in my opinion) and 1/3 bared roofing
1/3 bars then corugatted plastic on top and the last bit is the shelter.

12203

[Jackson]

looking good CJ!!
sure hope the gut with the fhh is able to help you out!!
have you spoken to him much??? if so does he know your plans etc?? im sure hed help you out!!

[Mr_Colin]

also I have change my desing after reading some books so here it is bamboo bars sand flooring (sand is easier to clean in my opinion) and 1/3 bared roofing
1/3 bars then corugatted plastic on top and the last bit is the shelter.

12203

I personally wouldn't use sand either for the same reasons people have mentioned to you already. Pee shimgle is easy to clean, get a trowel and a bucket, skoop the **** into the bucket and surrounding pee shingle, run it under a tap to loosen it up, empty it in a seive, put more water in and some avery safe disinfectant, let it stand, rinse thouroughly and put back in the mews. Simple, sand would be a nightmare to clean unless your just throwing it out, and that's just expensive.

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

I personally wouldn't use sand either for the same reasons people have mentioned to you already. Pee shimgle is easy to clean, get a trowel and a bucket, skoop the **** into the bucket and surrounding pee shingle, run it under a tap to loosen it up, empty it in a seive, put more water in and some avery safe disinfectant, let it stand, rinse thouroughly and put back in the mews. Simple, sand would be a nightmare to clean unless your just throwing it out, and that's just expensive.


when you put it like that sand dose seam a bit tricker!
and expensive.
pea shingle sonds easyier to keap hygenic.

pea shingle it is:P

tried to be pathetic and change the picture again :roll: but it said invaid file
:-D