Planning an aviary - any hints and tips?

Hi everyone,
I'm planning to upgrade my run to an aviary so in the planning stage I just wanted to ask for any hints and tips. I'm getting the local shed guy to build it for me, he just converted my gazebo into a summer house for the buns and his work is excellent so I know he will do a good job.
What things do I need to consider?
I'm thinking of those corrugated plastic sheets for the roof but how do u stop the rain from driving in when it comes down sideways! As it seems to be a lot these days!
Thank you x

i dont know a thing about this topic but i hope that these links will provide you w/ some kind of insight

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?119102-outdoor-aviary

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-an-Aviary

I'm In a bit of a rush now but this is an old thread I made showing my shed and aviary set up from start to finish..I used corrugated plastic on the roof, the rain doesn't seem to get in too much sideways and if it does the buns don't get wet. My panals were 5x3 if I was to do it again I would get 6x2 so I could stand up in it

Anyway ..my thread....

:wave: As I asked loads of questions when I was trying to decide on my set up I thought this might be helpful to someone of how I did my set up...this is for 4 buns

The space I started with



Shed building commences (7 x 5)





I covered the inside with polysterene sheets for insulation



The polysterene sheets are covered wih exterior plywood



The lino has gone down


The inside of my shed - I made a ledge out of an old wardrobe so the buns have somewhere off the ground to sit on or snuggle into - this will be stuffed with hay in the winter



Buns in their new home




Ive meshed over the shed windows


The flap from shed to run - was going to get a cat flap but I think this works just as well as its also a ramp but I can shut it if I want to


The shed with attached run which was temporary while I was waiting for my avairy panals and also introducing space gradually to my newly bonded 4



Attaching the avairy panals



The finished product, I used corrugated plastic sheets from Wickes on the roof





Inside the avairy

Hi, I had some of my panels( the sides) half strong mesh and half blocked in so the light came in, but the wind and rain stayed out, all tbe front panels were mesh so the buns could see out into the garden,:wave:

I have an 8ft x 6ft shed attached to the same size aviary. As I had so much indoor space I didn't bother getting a solid roof put on my aviary but if I'd had anything smaller than a 6ft x4ft shed I probably would have done.

I used aviaries4u who were fab. I plumped for 16g mesh instead of the standard 19g which was exactly the right decision as we have a local fox and the 19g mesh on my grass run just doesn't cut it in my opinion. My aviary is also made of good quality chunky (2"x2") wood so is very sturdy. No decent pics of it atm as I've not long had it but definitely pleased with it.

This is mine, 8x6 shed and 8x8ft avairy attached, the avairy is screwed into concrete. We used corrugated heavy duty Perspex and slopped the avairy roof slightly, then it has guttering along the back for the water to run into which feeds into a water but. My avairy is 90% recycled panels from runs I had, only had to make one extra panel and the shed is also recycled.

I love Kaths setup

Yours is fantastic too, and the fact its made mainly using recycled materials is brilliant!!

Wow they look amazing!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Thank you everyone, mine is going to run along the back fence so at one side will be the side fence, and at the other side will be the side of the summerhouse, so it will be closed in on 3 sides. It will be approx 4.5 metres long, but will be south facing so I'll need to think about sun shade. I'll make a note about making it 6' high so I can stand up in it, good idea.
Love everyone's photos, thank you.

P.s. Caths101, my little boy was born on 27th august 2011 too!

Karen's said:

Thank you everyone, mine is going to run along the back fence so at one side will be the side fence, and at the other side will be the side of the summerhouse, so it will be closed in on 3 sides. It will be approx 4.5 metres long, but will be south facing so I'll need to think about sun shade. I'll make a note about making it 6' high so I can stand up in it, good idea.
Love everyone's photos, thank you.

P.s. Caths101, my little boy was born on 27th august 2011 too!

Click to expand...

Aww how strange and how time has flown hey, first they were little babies and now cheeky toddlers!!

Will your aviary be attached to shelter? A shed? As if it is I wouldn't worry About shade too much, some boxes etc and little hidey places would be ok. Mine love laying out in the sun. You can get ice pods as well

Yes, I've got a runaround tunnel to give permanent access to the run from the summerhouse and I'll still use that for access to the aviary when it's built so I suppose they will be able to get shade if they need it. I tend to panic and overthink everything!

Oh yes time does fly, I can barely remember my little boy being a baby, sometimes I feel sad about how fast he is growing, but then he learns something new almost every week and I'm amazed by him, he has just started to say "I love you mummy", and it melts my heart

This is mine for the Contis


Showing the aviary being built

Thank you. I have one of those tarpaulins for the run at the moment, so maybe I could use that as you have on the front when the rain is really bad. How do u fasten it on?

Karen's said:

Thank you. I have one of those tarpaulins for the run at the moment, so maybe I could use that as you have on the front when the rain is really bad. How do u fasten it on?

Click to expand...

We have hooks screwed onto the wood to match where the holes are in the tarpaulin, reinforced in windy times with a few bungee cords. We also have bamboo screening over the roof now to cut down on sun, and some tarpaulin attached to a long piece of wood which goes under the bamboo and keeps the rain out at the sides.

My aviary is attached to the shed and is accessed by a hole in the side of the shed. Because the weather is so rubbish in this country and they have permanent access to the run I started off having 3 sides meshed/half meshed, this has now changed to 3 wooden sides and I had a tarpaulin raincover made to fit the front which I roll up when the weather is okay. I also have insect netting on the 'open' side.