Building a Shelter For Your Aviary

Although cockatiels are hardy birds, it is a good idea to plan some sort of shelter for them in an outdoor aviary. They will appreciate somewhere dry and sheltered where they can escape from bad weather.

Traditionally, shed like structures served this purpose that attached directly to the rear of the aviary. In fact if you have a spare shed in your garden, it can be easily converted into a shelter for your cockatiels, and the flight area can be built around an outside window. Make sure to remove all the glass so that the cockatiels can move freely in and out.

If you would like to go down this route, you can also buy second hand sheds at reasonable prices at a bargain or garden centre. Look to purchase at the beginning of winter when the display models are usually sold at discount.

If you decide to build a shelter yourself, the procedure is somewhat more complicated, as you will need to allow for the slope of the roof. The simplest method would be to build a flat roofed shelter made from a tough marine plywood, and the highest part of the roof should be attached to the flight area. Slope it off towards the rear so that the rain water can run off.

Make sure that the enclosure is well lit, so that the cockatiels will be encouraged to roost there. To do this you will need to have some windows covered with wire mesh which can be fixed carefully with netting staples. Flatten down the cut ends, or the cockatiels could fly into them and injure themselves.

It may be worthwhile insulating the shelter. You can use normal house insulation material, which will be less of a fire hazard than other cheaper materials. Follow all the precautions carefully when installing the insulation, and then cover it completely with hardboard or thin plywood. Cover all accessible edges with battening or the cockatiels will be tempted to nibble at the edges of the wood, and it will not be very beak resistant.

Insulation should be thought about before your shelter is finished, as it will be easier to put it in before doing the finishing touches. The roof unit will definitely be easier to insulate before the structure is fully assembled.

The doors to the shelter will come on last, or they will just get in the way of the building process. A connecting door, opening outwards from the shelter into the light is a must, regardless of any other entrances to the aviary itself. Separate doors to the external aviary and the shelter are not necessary. Make sure to allow for a safety porch so that you can safely enter and exit the aviary with out any of the birds escaping. It is best to have a door on the shelter, as this is where you will have the easiest access for the feeding of the birds.

Michel Maling enjoys owning birds of the parrot family. She has always had a cockatiel or two in her family.
To find out more about cockatiels, visit: http://cockatielsaspets.com