My goal in the coming months is to get serious about building an outdoor aviary for my small birds. I've been meaning to for awhile now and it's time to get down to business. This sort of thing seems daunting to me because I'm not a so-called "handy" person and I have never really built anything large before - Home Depot kind of overwhelms me lol. I think I know of someone who may be able to help me, but I haven't asked yet. I'd like to get started scoping out materials and checking prices, etc.

So for starters I'm asking for advice and opinions on materials and such here. I have seen some others' outdoor aviaries using dog kennels and such, but that won't work for my guys, way too big holes of the mesh/chain link - thus my need to build something myself.

I have room in my backyard and here are the initial questions/things I want to consider:

1) Size & portability - I do have plenty of room in my backyard, but because we have harsh winters I was thinking that something portable and/or collapsible might be ideal to get it safely stored away during the winter months. So this might restrict size, I don't know. I'm thinking 10x10 feet as the minimum?

2) Safety - I obviously need a mesh wire that has very tiny spacing and also safe for tiny little feet. And that can withstand outdoor conditions during the spring/summer months.

3) Components - is it best to have a roof over the top? And how would I add in a door to get myself and fids safely inside (that probably sounds stupid to ask, but a building-challenged person needs to know these things lol).

Any advice would be appreciated. Has anyone here built an outdoor aviary for small birds? Suz, I know you've built your own flight cages, I'm sure you have valuable input.

With late summer approaching I'm doubtful that this would be completed before our weather starts cooling down so even if I'm shooting for next spring to have this finished that's ok - gives me more time to think, scope out materials, and build.

I am quite interested in all the cool ideas people come up with.

Maybe you could start with something that already comes pre-made? - at least in part. Not really knowing your level of carpentry skill or your husbands - i would put together my wish list & size requirements & ask a handi-man if he could do it for a reasonable price.

Of course web searches bring some interesting ideas & certain aspects can be nice to add to your wish list.
Here is my first suggestion -
Lady Gouldian Finch .com - Aviary of the Month

Some reading material to add to your wish list & maybe focus you on the essentials.
Is it getting fun Yet???

LOL my carpentry skills are pretty much non-existent. I do have a handy man in mind, well he used to be handy at least. Haven't asked for his help yet but I'm pretty sure he'd be up to the challenge with me. My husband is sort of handy, but not really on this level - and he's not very patient, he likes to get things done quick and easy and when it comes to the birds I need a well thought out plan before building begins.

I love that picture of the finch aviary! I haven't checked out pre-made stuff yet - not sure what's out there but I will do some googling for sure.

Ahhhhhh to be British...
They really are busy with those aviaries - except for the rain, guess their climate is better for an aviary all year round instead of Southern Ontario or Michigan.

Check out these prefab jobs

Aviary Accessories
- but maybe we'll find an American equivalent!

I found a live one!

Aviaries: Creating a More Natural Environment for Birds

These are great pictures and websites - thanks!! That last picture looks really neat - the sloped dome top and wheels on the bottom (although not sure where I would be able to wheel it to when not in use, my garage isn't all that big!).

I just want something pretty big where the birds can have plenty of room to zoom around - and it's nice since my guys are so small! - and big enough for me to bring in my own chair and sit with them since they would only be out in it under supervision.

Three-quarter-inch nylon mesh makes strong, flexible aviary netting for parrots.
I liked this idea for the walls - granted it would have to be replaced over time but what material wouldn't be?

PS - can you tell i'm a frustrated builder & would love an aviary & am living thru you at present???

I had made rough plans for builiding an aviary here at one point.. for the tiels here.. but then realized that with the hawks next door..
Even if built sturdy enough to withstand the hawks that live and nest on the property next door.. the tiels would still probably die of fright when the hawks attempted to try for them....
So just turned the sewing room into fid/bird room/aviary... where they are now cage free for over half the day.. since have fidproofed. and had Old Man build a screen door for the room out of hardware cloth..

I stead of pouring a concrete slab for the inside.. was going to use the one foot square concrete pavers for the floor... so could clean easy and no have animal try to borough into the aviary.... or have birds let have acess to dirt and bugs...

The plan was to built the aviary in sections/panels..using untreated pine 2x4 and using hinges (gate type or door) to attatch the sections together...each section as wide as the hardwire or aviary wire width... or put a brace in and then staple the wire to it in strips...

So when want to dismantle and store.. just pop the pins out of the hinges.. roof could be done the same way..

I had planned to cover half (so fids could get out of direct sunlight and heat) with a heavy shade cloth or roofing and have the other with wire top... so could put a spinkler on and let the fids bath natural like.... and possibly even get one of those plastic bird baths.. LOL

If misquitoes a porblem in your area.. will also need to put up mesh screening around aviary.. to protects fids from West Nile and other disease then can be spread by those little blood suckers...

Several large post of safe aviary plants with the soil covered with washed large gravel.. and possibly a small cut down tree... cleaned and trimed.. then put in large pot and then filled with gravel to hold in place.. a natural gymn.. and can also scew SS O screws to.. to attatch toys..


This was my idea for and avairy.. and with doing in panels.. could increase size.. or reduce as wanted/needed...

Sarah....... I would suggest you not use any wire with bigger spacing than 1/2" x 1 inch as snakes can go right thru it, even rats/mice..... (1/4 inch spacing may be best, especially if ya ever plan to allow breeding). I suggest GAW aviary wire (H.D. does not sell it to my knowledge), ya can order it on line or maybe at a local feed store for livestock etc..... I would just purchase a roll of it 50ft. or 100ft. long (however tall ya want it - comes in avariety of heights) if your budget allows. Then ya can buy post holder type stakes from H.D. and simply pound them into the ground, add your 4x4 wood posts (untreated but possibly painted to keep the weather from getting at them too much) and then simply use screws and fender washers to attach the wire to the wood. Use 2x4 wood to make your rafters and bracing and to connect the sides etc.... I would use sheet metal flat roofing and let that over-hang from all sides or slope it if ya like - ya want to keep the rain water from running down the sides of the cage so the birds don't lick it and possibly catch diseases from the droppings of wild birds etc.... Ya might even buy some sheets of polycarbonate corrugated panels from H.D. to keep driving rain from entering the cage and wetting the food etc.... Flat sheets of plexi-glass or polycarbonate can be used to attach near the top of the flight all the way around the cage to help hold in the heat - if ya are going to supply a source of heat in the winter.

Then again, ya don't even need to use wood at all if ya don't like. Just attach the aviary wire together with hog rings/crimps or J-Clips and attach metal poles to the corners with hose clamps to have a free standing aviary if ya decide that ya don't really need to enter the flight. Another idea is to attach the flight to the side of your house over a window that opens upwards, take out the screen if ya have screens and make a small doorway/opening where ya can have the birds come thru safely into your home (no chance of escape that way). I forgot if you own or are renting (?) your place of residence..... There are many more ideas for flights/aviaries - those were just a couple/few. Let me know if ya need me to clarify any of the suggestions I have made or to supply some pics of whatever for ya.