An aviary, or flight cage as it is often known has many
benefits compared to a standard birdcage. Although an aviary is typically much
larger and more expensive than a birdcage, it is always the best way to go for
bird owners that value their bird’s happiness.
So what size should a bird cage or aviary be? Generally, the
rule of thumb is that a bird’s enclosure should be at least three times the
size of its wingspan. Although for smaller birds, it is possible to find
affordable cages of this size, a large aviary, particularly an outdoor aviary
will allow a bird to move around a in a much more natural manner and get
sufficient exercise. To create as realistic a habitat as possible, you could
even incorporate trees and shrubs.
By providing a large aviary for your birds, you provide them
the opportunity to act much as they would in the wild. Not only can they move
around in a much less limited fashion, but if you have a number of birds, they
can interact and socialise in more natural way; picking their own mates and
social groups. An aviary of around four feet wide by eight feet long and six
feet high would be an adequate size to happily house up to twenty budgies,
parakeets, cockatiels, or a pair of larger parrots such as African Greys. This
said, the larger the aviary, the better, and the happier the birds.
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| A spacious aviary with large mesh panels is ideal for larger birds |
Even aviaries of this size or larger can be easy to build
using modular aviary panels. Aviary panels are available in different sizes,
but all sizes come with holes so that they can be bolted together and act as
either a side or corner panel. These holes can also be used if you wish to
incorporate an existing wall into your aviary; just use the holes attach the
aviary to a wall using wall plugs. For smaller birds, smaller welded mesh
panels are available with 14 guage mesh. For larger birds, large 9 guage welded
mesh panels are more suitable, as smaller welded mesh panels can cause large
birds to trap their claws and beak.
As an aviary built using easy to put together panels can be
constructed with relative ease, it is also similarly simple to take it down and
reassemble it if needs be. Due to the modular design of this type of aviary,
you can also decide to make it bigger or smaller when required. If you purchase
more birds, or decide to house larger birds such as parrots or macaws, you can
simply add more aviary panels as you see fit. Standard roof fittings can be bought to
fit any size much in the same way as side panels.
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| Aviary panels |
When you buy a standard birdcage, you do not have this
freedom, and rather than extending a bird cage, you would be forced to purchase
a new one if you needed more space. For happy and healthy birds, a spacious aviary
will always be better than a standard birdcage. Aviary panels offer you a
quick, cost effective and simple way to create the ideal aviary for your birds.
