Q&A for How to Build an Aviary

No. Get some plastic and add it to about a quarter of the cage bottom.

Lots of places, depending on where you live. Hardware stores and farm supply stores should have it, and some pet stores carry it as well.

Yes. They like having lots of space to fly around in.

Not very long at all. Two days is the maximum you can leave an aviary unattended without any care. However, this does not mean it's suggested. The water needs changing regularly, as it can get dirty very quickly and algae can begin to grow if it isn't maintained. You also need to check on them daily to ensure everything is going okay, especially if a bird suddenly gets ill or harmed at the least. If you're going away, ensure you can have a relative, friend, neighbor or even a pet sitter to check up on your birds and care for them every day. They will need cleaning, food top-ups and fresh water every day.

Exposure to metals such as lead, zinc, copper or tin can cause heavy metal poisoning. Steel, chrome or iron are safe to use, however.

It depends on the load required for the structure you are building! Light framing would only require 2x2 or 1x3 lumber to construct an adequate and safe structure. A structure's purpose is the key to knowing how strong you need it to be. 2x4s would be good material for a chimp but not a gorilla. A raccoon would be well contained in a 2x2 framed enclosure with medium to heavy wire covering. Same for birds like peacocks or hawks. Outside enclosures should be constructed with treated lumber that will hold up to weather conditions of all types. Remember the rule of thumb "Keep It Simple."

The bigger the aviary, the better. Birds, like any other animal, love lots of room to stretch their wings, play and exercise. An average-sized aviary (as shown in the pictures above) could be 60 x 70".

Concrete is suggested, as it makes your aviary easier to clean up. A hard floor can simply be swept up and put straight in the bin. Avoid tiles and carpet, of course, as these can make it harder for you to clean up. Bits of dirt can easily get jammed between the tiles, while carpet is simply a no-go.

Add wheels to the aviary, or have posts with wheel attachments. Otherwise, use lightweight materials so you can carry the aviary with the help of another person.

PVC wears down easily when exposed to sunlight; use treated lumber instead.

6mm or 1/4"; this will keep mice and snakes at bay. Don't forget to wash the wire with warm water and baking soda before putting birds in the cage.

The size of your aviary will dictate the maximum number of birds you can accommodate. As a rule of thumb, you need at least 12cm of aviary length per finch, with a width measuring at least half the length. So, in a cage measuring 180x180x90cm, you can house 15 average-sized finches.

That depends on the materials the aviary is made of. If the floor is made of concrete, you can simply hose it down with water and use a non-toxic cleaning solution. You can also cover the floor of the aviary with wood chips and rake it every day. Clean the food and water containers with warm water and non-toxic soap. Wash the aviary walls and all the perches in the same way. Vinegar also works well as a non-toxic cleaning substance.

It depends on the type(s) of birds you have and where the aviary is to be located. Pigeons will do fine with treated wood, but other types will not. It's difficult to build an aviary with untreated wood outdoors where it's exposed to the elements, though you can build it off of the ground and use a low VOC paint to cover the untreated wood. Pine is the preference, but never use cedar. Place your aviary away from standing water, and try to keep it as dry as possible.

It can be released when it is healthy and active.

Definitely, especially if they have unclipped wings. They love to fly. If clipped, be sure to place many safe branches and perches throughout.

If the aviary is meant for a larger bird, then build it in the shade. Otherwise, go with a partially shaded area.

Clean the bottom of the cage daily. Lay some paper at the bottom of the aviary and change it out frequently. You should also wipe down the bars every few weeks to a month, depending on how messy the birds are.

All types of birds can, but I'd suggest budgies and/or cockatiels. Don't put budgies and finches together though or the finches will be killed.

Put them in the most sheltered area inside the aviary. Then, any birds can't fly away.

Yes, you can if they are Button Quail. Anything larger is not fair to the zebra finches. Button Quail are calm and stay at the bottom, so they can even feed in different dishes as their dietary needs are not the same as zebras. Also, make the aviary as big as you comfortably can remembering that it needs to be longer than it is tall. Mine is 8' long and 3' wide and I have only four zebras, with room for a few more.

You never want a bird to be alone, especially outside because they will get lonely. However, you don't want to leave the birds unattended in case they fight. Serious harm can be done with a bird bigger to a smaller (conure and parkeet, African grey, and macaw).