New Outdoor Aviary Aviary - finishing touches

[JokerZero]

Greetings,

Nearly there with our aviary, nice sheltered location (see pic), just a few more items, small roof section to go onto the porch is just drying off ready for its wire, a layer of untreated bark to go in the main piece, some oak or fruit tree logs and branches from my friendly tree surgeon, some natural rope, and carpet tubes, big pot with some soft earth in it for a bit of burrowing, a couple of large water bottles, galvanized spring latch for the main door, some nest boxes to make or buy (recommendations most gratefully received), couple of quite rodent wheels and we are done.

Oh yeh - one other thing - Chipmunks!

Looking for young females agouti for preference in Hampshire (GU52)

Thanks

Trev

[tarcus]

  nest boxes.. I started by using budgie boxes from my local pet store
I have advanced since then and make my own from log lap or ship lap planks in the form of terraced housing.
Usually 2ft long with four separate compartments being two plank widths deep 8" and 4" high with plank inserts for separation.
Best of luck in whatever you choose to do

[JokerZero]

Thanks for the tip

[JokerZero]

built those boxes - thanks - also have 3 females lined up to occupy the new home next week.

[JokerZero]

Looks like the pet shop who promised to get our chippies is not going to deliver.
So if anyone has young females - preferably brown in Hampshire/Surrey/Berks - agoti - then we would be very interested - as we have a nicely fitted out aviary waiting for occupants.

[judyw]

Hi Trev

Love your work. The chipmunks will love it.  I am thinking of building something like that one day. If I could ask you Where did you get all the material like the mesh and stuff. I was trying to get some mesh but couldn't find a place they sell it. All I found was chicken mesh and that is not strong enough. Hope you will get some chipmunks in there.
 
Regards

Judy

[tarcus]

Find mesh on ebay it is cheapest :-

http://home-garden.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=galvanised+wire+mesh&_sacat=46289&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1311&_dmpt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Birds&_odkw

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-x-1-2-x-36-x-19-g-x-6-m-galvanised-weldmesh_W0QQitemZ270281197495QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Birds?hash=item3eee03c7b7#ht_500wt_749

Posts can be found in most DIY shops but if you have transport and are close enough I would suggest trying to look for local importers where you can get rough sawn timber at a much cheaper price than most retailers. 

[judyw]

Thank yo for the advise. Will try to get some.
Judy

[judyw]

Hi

One more thing.
How did you do the bottom and what did you put down so the chipmunks can dig themselves out?

Thanks

Judy

[JokerZero]

thanks for the comments - to answer questions and basically to show off my DIY project for the last few weeks:

The mesh came from ebay as suggested - I bought 30 metres of 4 foot high mesh and still have enough left I think to make a run for some other pets. Get hold of a good pair of side cutters - cutting the mesh is the worst part of the job, you can use tin-snips to make it easier but then you tend to get more sharp points. I tried to make sure I cut the wire only at the weld and then leaning the cut so the point of the wire lies on the weld, this way you (and your pets) are less likely to lacerate yourself on the bare tips.

I got a piece of twin wall perspex from ebay too - this fits into the 1st 2.2 meters of roof nicely - cuts out UV and provides shelter.

The floor is slabbed - I used riven sandstone from a local supplier - not the cheapest around but not too much money as the area was only 4 sq meters and they are nicer than concrete. There will be a layer of play bark, (its in bags waiting to go in), but I will leave some of it clear to help wear down claws, but I expect that that wont last long.

If I did it again I would adhear to one simple rule - dont go to B&Q for anything - the timber is expensive and frankly - bent - if its not bent it will be, the instant you take off the plastic wrap, if its not severely bent then it will split - in short go to Wicks, or Travis Perkins or an independent or just saw up some trees yourself - just dont buy their junk.

Wicks gate springs are good - both my doors have them now as well as a latch inside and out on the inner door, both doors will spring shut if not obstructed so the chances that kids will let anything out is slimmer.

Total cost of materials was  around £150 - till we started fitting out the inside;
Inside I made nest boxes from scrap,(quite proud of these actually so chances are the animals will ignore them), bought some ply for a shelf and used some fallen pine logs for access to the shelf and general interest, recall that 25mm rope was v expensive for 5 meters - about £20.
 

[candyfloss]

Sorry for invading this thread but is there any chance you could post pics of the terraced nest boxes? They sound like a great idea & i would love to show my hubby a pic then it might inspire him to build me some!