Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all
Just found this board after searching for aviary plans. I am not the DIY'er type so looking for plans so can figure out the material cost and then find someone "affordable" to build it. Not having much luck finding a pre fab aviary so looking into designing my own.
A bit about what I want and where I am. I'm in Tucson,Az so we get weeks of hot (100F plus) weather and it can get down to 32F but only a few days worth. We get monsoons during the summer. I'd like to keep parakeets and Button Quail in my aviary. I'm looking for either plans / ideas for a wood & wire or metal & wire aviary. A catch door would be a plus. Size wise thinking 3 or 4 ft wide, 5 or 6 ft long and no taller than 6 ft (home owners association rules).
I am planning on installing a timed mist system for cooling off in the summer and I could run heater or heat lamp but I've been told we don't really need it here. Roofing will have corrugated steel or something similar (plastic??) to keep sun off and rain off the birds. Ideally I'd like it to stand above ground, either on pavers or fence blocks. Not 100% sure if want the walk in capability but if I do, will have the catch area so nothing escapes as I go in.
For quail I need to use 1/4" hardware mesh ...so either flooring will be the mesh or 1/2x1 wire with 1/4" wire over it. Also a foot up the sides will need to be this as well so the button quail stay put. The entire aviary is going to be inside a 6x8' chain link dog run. I have dogs that have free access to the yard and for the birds protection, this is necesary (also a lot of times you aren't really careful on the wires sticking out the sides so this protects them as well).
Well enough for now, hoping someone reads this board and has photos, ideas, suggestions, material list, plans or something else to help a budding newbie to aviaries out.
Thanks
E in Tucson

I'm glad to see someone new here. I have run across a couple places that had some neat ideas for aviaries and will see if I can find one of them again. Also amazon has a great book that is relatively low cost called something like cages and aviaries and has designs for building your own. Then you would be able to have several ideas and also the plans right in front of you. If you can't locate it let me know and I will get the name of the author etc for you. Good luck!

Hi there
Saw a few postings by you as I skimmed the board. Just responded to some craigslist post on 2 home made flight cages, hoping he sends pics. Pine frame lined with wire mesh just doesnt cut it for me. One he said was 1/2" galv wire the larger cage in aviary netting. Has teils, keets, canaries in the larger one and finches i the smaller. He used them indoors.
I have one book with how to build bird stuff, not sure by who. Found a few pics so saving them and on Finche Niche found one that was made for inside, so saved that info and material list. Want to get ideas before making a mistake in building one. Thought about getting used and then perhaps in time making (having one made) my own.
Anything you think would help, let me know.
Ellen

One thing. It has been reported that galvanized wire has substantial amounts of zinc in its makeup. Some people claim that scrubbing it with a wire brush and a vinegar solution will remove all the zinc from the outside of the wire. Others say this just makes it rust faster. If possible try to use one that has been tested with no zinc or lead contaminants.