How to Build a Bird House Inside an Aviary

Owning birds as pets or to breed and sell requires many special accommodations. For a few small birds such as parakeets or finches, an indoor cage is adequate. But to house large parrots, cockatoos, flocks of smaller birds or to breed birds, an aviary is necessary. Wild birds will readily build nests in man-made birdhouses. Placing a birdhouse inside the aviary serves as a shelter for the birds at night and encourages breeding.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Plywood
  • Electric saw
  • Pencil
  • 1/4 inch thick Plexiglas
  • Scoring knife
  • Circular saw
  • Circle cutter saw
  • Electric drill and drill bits
  • 1/2-inch wood screws
  • Nontoxic glue
  • 1/2-inch nails
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Instructions

  1. Building the Birdhouse

    • 1

      Determine the location of the birdhouse. A birdhouse for an Amazon parrot will be 18-by-18-by-12 inches while a parakeet's nest box is smaller, 9-by-9-by- 7 inches, so select a space appropriate for the size. Look for a sheltered location away from the main roost or play area. Nesting birds prefer some exclusion from the flock. A secluded corner is ideal or if you have the space, build another room onto the aviary, and separate it with a door that can be closed to keep the rest of the flock away when the birds hatch.

    • 2

      Cut the plywood with an electric saw. Cut two sides, the bottom and the roof the same size, for example, 18 inches long by 12 inches wide. Cut the front piece square. In this example, it would measure 12 by 12 inches.

    • 3

      Cut the Plexiglas 1/2 inch larger on all sides than the front piece. The back of the birdhouse will be clear so the breeder can watch for eggs and monitor the progress of the baby birds. Draw the lines where the Plexiglas will be cut with a pencil, use a ruler and run the scoring knife along the edge over the drawn line. Score it again, pressing harder, to penetrate the Plexiglas. Line up the cut along the edge of a table, and bend it back and forth to break it at the cut.

    • 4

      Size the opening to fit the type of bird. The hole needs to be just large enough for the bird to get through. For the Amazon parrot, a 4-inch hole is needed. Insert the circular saw into the drill, and cut the hole in the middle of the piece of wood. File the edges to make it smooth.

    • 5

      Provide nest material. Birds are natural nest builders and want to gather their own twigs, straw, grass or shredded newspaper. Place the materials on the floor of the aviary to allow the birds to pick what they want and move it to the birdhouse.

    • 6

      Put the house together. Place the cut pieces together on a table to form the finished product so you know what piece will go where. Put nontoxic glue along the bottom of both side pieces and place them on the bottom piece, lining up the edges. Let it dry. Nail the bottom to the sides by turning the house upside down and pounding the nails through the bottom into the side pieces. The nails reinforce the glue. Place the front piece, with the cut hole, on the bottom and between the sides. Secure it the same way the sides were secured to the bottom. Place the roof on the house using the same method above. Drill four holes on each corner of the Plexiglas, 3/4 of an inch from the sides. Place the Plexiglas on the back and screw it in to the wood. It will be wider than the back but you need it to hang over to allow for the screw holes. To remove it for cleaning out the box, take the screws out.

    • 7

      Mount the house in the aviary. Depending on its size and weight, you may hang the house from the roof of the aviary or secure it to a wall or pole attached to the floor.