Now that the majority of the finishing touches are complete I wanted to share our Aviary with you guys! When we went to pick up Barry and Iris they were living in this odd mix of open, semi sheltered, fauna covered enclosure. I can't even adequately describe it but the owner had a lot of plants growing around and over it. It had a ramshackle whimsical feel. When we realized we weren't going to be able to free range them right away I thought maybe we could use this overhang from our shed to create our own little aviary like space. I think it turned out pretty good!
Please keep in mind that this set up probably won't work for everyone. We are in a mild climate (hardly gets below 40 F) and apparently don't have many predators or at least they have no interest in our ducks. This was built 100% with materials we already had on hand.
The Process
First I took some small trees we cut down and made them into posts (you can see them in the right top corner of the picture above). Then I folded the bottom foot of chicken wire at a 90 degree angle flush with the ground and wrapped it around the perimeter. I used staples and nailed it into the side of the shed and posts. The bird netting is stapled into the boards at the roof line of the overhang and then tied with twine to the chicken wire and to the neighboring panels of bird netting. I also stapled the bird netting to the tops of the tree posts to help keep it taught. (The chicken wire we had bought for the duck tractor and the bird netting we had from our garden fence project. )
For the doorway I needed 2 T posts which we already had laying around. One to attach the end of the chicken wire to. The other is used as the 'hinge' for the pallet. I just lifted the pallet over the t post, screwed a piece of wood onto the post next to it and put a stopper piece on the pallet so the arm can't accidentally fall causing the door to not be secure. The netting above the gate is left unsecured on the bottom and right hand side so it can be lifted. There are bent nails on the pallet that the netting can be stretched over so it doesn't open. Is it the most fun to open? No, but we didn't have to buy anything to build it.
The only things we bought was the bedding, feed bowl and the pool. The Pool actually wasn't necessary because Muscovy ducks do not need a pond but we thought they would enjoy it!
Here are the nesting boxes! I have no idea if they will use them, only time will tell. I will probably put a piece of wood in front to keep the hay in but since ours aren't close to laying yet I haven't gotten around to it.
Muscovy ducks are a little different than most ducks, they actually like to roost! So I took these branches from the trees we cut down some wire, zip ties and nails. Voila perches! Of course Barry and Iris like to perch on the gate. Whatever weirdos.
In the Future
I'm thinking about putting in a little river rock bed where the water comes off the roof. It's looking pretty ugly as is.
I will definitely be building a grass box. I have no idea what they're called that's just what I call it. Basically it's a small raised bed with a screen on it so the birds can't eat the whole plant. This way they get some greens even though they aren't free ranging yet.
That's our super cheap aviary! It works for now but it's by no means permanent. I am very proud of it though since I built it almost entirely by myself. Hubby helped with the door because I have girly arms and can't lift a pallet that high! As soon we have some perimeter fencing up (we live on a highway) they will be out free ranging. We haven't quite decided what their permanent coop will be. We've been considering some chickshaws. If you have any experience with those let us know in the comments. It seems like a very small space for that many birds.
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