The Truth About Outdoor Parrot Aviaries
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The Best Outdoor Parrot Aviary
If you own any of the following parrots, you may be looking to buy the best outdoor parrot aviary for your bird: African grey parrots, macaw parrots, cockatoo parrots, eclectus parrots, or amazon parrots. An aviary is very simply a place where birds are kept. Because aviaries are large enough for birds to fly, they are sometimes called flight cages and can be kept either indoors or outdoors.
If you already own a parrot, you know these birds have special needs because they are highly intelligent and need lots of room to move around. That’s why aviaries are perfect for parrots. Parrots also live a long time; it is not unusual for parrots to live 40-60 years or more, so be prepared to give your parrot the healthy environment it needs to thrive for many years to come.
There are many factors to consider before building or buying an outdoor aviary and acquiring a parrot is not a decision that should be taken lightly. You must make sure that you will be able to adequately fulfill the mental and emotional needs of these complex birds. Before you begin, you should take your time to consider different species of parrots and the wide range of needs they have. Luckily, Bird Baths For Sale is here to help!
If you have never owned parrots but are considering buying one, check out our advice below before adopting one of these highly intelligent birds.
Before You Buy Or Build An Outdoor Parrot Aviary
If you do not own a parrot, or have never owned a parrot before, you should make sure that owning a parrot is right for you. Consider the following factors before making a decision.
- Noise level: Consider the environment in which you live. If you live in a city or suburban area, close to neighbors, remember that even the quietest parrots can squawk loudly from time to time. You should also be prepared to give your parrot as much attention as possible so that your parrot does not constantly call for attention.
- Time and Attention: Petcha.com cites time and attention as the #1 reason why people give up parrots. Be prepared to spend adequate quality time with your parrot on a daily basis. Remember that parrots are highly intelligent birds with complex emotional lives. If you spend little to no time with your parrot, your bird may become noisy or resort to destructive behavior. Phoenix Landing does an excellent job of educating people about proper parrot care. Take the time to understand what parrot ownership involves.
- Cost of Ownership: The expense of owning a parrot does not end when you buy or adopt your bird. Remember you will need to feed your parrot, provide toys and make visits to the avian vet. You should be prepared for the costs involved in providing for a parrot.
- Providing Proper Parrot Nutrition: Remember that you will need to buy a variety of high quality food for your parrot. Vegetables and fruits that are high in vitamin A are most beneficial. These include squashes, cantaloupe, broccoli and mango. Salmon, tuna trout and a variety grains are parrot favorites. You should avoid feeding your parrot simple, commercially available bird seed, as this does not contain a sufficient amount of vitamin A.
Build An Outdoor Parrot Aviary
Parrots are large birds and this means they are very strong. If you decide to build your own outdoor parrot aviary, you will need use extra thick wood and extra strong wire. However, these are only a couple of the factors you need to consider. You should avoid galvanized wire, as this is highly toxic to birds. 10 to 12 gauge stainless steel are much better choices, depending of the size and species of parrot.
You must be sure to build an aviary that is large enough for your parrots, so choose aviary plans that will give your parrots plenty of room. The birds should have enough room to move and fly around to keep their muscles in good shape. Provide ample room for greenery and toys so your parrot won’t get bored. Add a floor that will make cleaning up easy. Cement is an ideal material for an aviary floor. You should also ensure your aviary has a partially covered roof to protect your birds from the harsh sun and from the rain. The steeper the roof the better for preventing predators from climbing on top of the aviary.
HARI offers additional valuable tips on building your own parrot aviary. Always remember, bird safety is paramount. Be sure to use lead-free paint and metal. In addition, you should use two layers of wire mesh to keep your birds safe from predators. Another tip HARI suggests to keep your birds safe include installing an electrical fence around the aviary. You can also the outside of the aviary with about 3 feet of flashing metal to prevent predators from climbing the sides of the aviary.
What To Put Inside Your Outdoor Parrot Aviary
You can fill your aviary with things that will simulate your parrot’s natural habitat as closely as possible. A basking lamp, for example, can be an excellent source of comfort and warmth, especially in cooler, wetter weather
You may also wish to add a variety of plants to your aviary or flight cage. If you decide to add a water source to your outdoor parrot aviary, you should follow the same rules as apply for bird baths. Flowing water is ideal and you should change it on a daily basis to prevent bacteria and algae growth and to discourage mosquitoes from breeding.
Because parrots are native to tropical climates, they love to bathe. You can add small baths into your parrot aviary, or you can add a larger, heavier bowl, filled with about 2″ of water. The bowl should be heavy enough to not tip over when your parrot perches on it. Many parrot owners prefer to take their birds out of the cage or aviary for a bath. If you prefer to do so, you can bathe your parrot in the sink, or using a special perch you can use in the shower. 
Some other items that you can add to your aviary include drinking and feeding trays, nest boxes, breeding boxes and bathing pools.
Add Home Made Toys To Your Outdoor Parrot Aviary
Adding interesting toys to your parrot aviary does not have to be complicated or expensive. You will find safe, simple items around the house that will make perfect additions to your aviary. These improvised parrot toys will keep your birds busy for hours.
Parrots can safely chew, gnaw on and shred cardboard paper towel and toilet paper rolls. You can also hang simple sheets of paper in your aviary to keep your parrot occupied. Old cardboard boxes and egg cartons can provide places where birds can play and hide. String and rope, in addition to making excellent perches, also make good toys. Popsicle sticks and feathers round out the list of items that you can add to your parrot aviary to keep your bird busy.
Buy The Best Outdoor Parrot Aviary
If you would rather buy an outdoor parrot aviary, we recommend the A and E Cage Co. Walk-In Aviary. This is one of the most durable aviaries we`ve found. It is safe and non-toxic and made of wrought iron. There is plenty of room in this walk-in aviary to add multiple toys, so your parrots will never get bored!
This outdoor aviary does not come with its own floor. We would recommend adding either a soft floor or a cement floor. You can use gravel or sand for a soft floor, covered with pebbles or gravel. Install wire mesh under the gravel to prevent birds from digging their way out or predators from digging their way in! Fasten the mesh to the walls of the aviary to keep it in place. A soft floor is a good choice, however, a cement floor will make the aviary more stable and is easier to maintain.
This aviary is perfect for any large bird species because it has one-inch bar spacing and a 5mm bar size. The only disadvantages of this aviary that we have found is that it is very expensive and heavy to move around. But if you want to give your birds the best, this is the best aviary for you!
Find out more about bird aviaries here.
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