Getting the correct Bird Aviary

A aviary is the most important piece of equipment you’ll need to purchase for your new bird. A suitable aviary can help your bird stay healthy and safe. There are a lot of bird aviaries on the market, which can make it difficult for the the new bird keeper.. How does the bird owner select the right one?

Firstly, make a point to research about the the type of bird you wish to keep. In keeping any type of parakeet, cockatiel or some other long tailed bird species, you will need a long aviary so that your bird can get enough exercise. If possible ensure the aviary is sufficiently long enough so the bird can actually fly from one side to the other. A bird with a heavyset body, such as a lovebird or a Sengal parrot, will be able to get a good deal of exercise by climbing around the aviary. This type of bird will do better in an aviary that is taller.

You should then consider the size of the bird aviary. Generally it is a good idea to buy the largest aviary you can pay for your bird, a newly weaned handfed baby bird may feel lost and terrified in a large aviary. Some young birds may have trouble finding their water dishes. If it is affordable, buying a smaller aviary while your bird is a baby and them moving onto a bigger aviary when it is older would be a good idea.

It is also a good idea to keep in mind the spacing between the aviary bars. A great looking bird aviary is not very effective if your bird can fit through the bars! If you’re considering using an aviary with wire mesh, you should compare the size of the hole in the mesh with the size of your bird’s head prior to making your choice. If the bird aviary is made from one inch mesh , it will allow a cockatiel to put his head through. When cockatiels bring their heads back through the bars, they have been known to bend into a ‘U’ shape and put their heads into a different hole.

When you have determined the aviary size and bar spacing, look at a few other facets of bird aviary design. Looking at the cage tray. When you remove it to clean it, is there a grate in the aviary to prevent the bird from escaping? Is the tray of the aviary deep enough to catch the mess of your bird? Even if the aviary has a deep tray, you still may find that your bird scatters a lot of seed hulls and feathers on the floor if there’s no cage apron. You can place the aviary in a plastic apron base or cover the bottom with a cloth apron but an in built metal apron is a better choice.

Finally, do not forget to have a look at the aviary cups. There should be a way for you to easily access the cups without reaching into the aviary through the main door. If you are buying a bird aviary for a larger bird, the cups should actually bolt to the aviary unless you want to spend every morning and afternoon for the next 50 years reaching for cups that your bird has flung onto the bottom of the bird aviary

If you a replacing a bird aviary for an older parrot type bird, some owners have told me it’s crucial to get a bird cage of the same colour. It is assumed that if a bird is used to a coloured painted aviary, it will not cope easily with a metal coloured aviary.

 

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