How to build an aviary for chickens and pheasants?

Many people ask how to make it as easy, cheapest and best as possible to construct a backyard aviary. The inhabitants of the aviary will be mainly ornamental birds: chickens, duck pheasants or more sophisticated exotic birds. In this short article we will present a ready-made recipe. Of course, there are many solutions, but we will focus on the most popular solution, relatively cheap and most often chosen by breeders throughout Poland. For burrowing birds (chickens, pheasants) and waterfowl, we do not need sophisticated components, but it is important that the materials used are durable and resistant to corrosion. The current technology allows the production of aviary nets and structural elements with a durability in the open air of about 15 years - this applies to both plastic meshes and welded metal meshes.

What dimension of the aviary

The most indicated size of a small backyard aviary is a rectangle of 4x6 meters with an area of 24 square meters. In such a room, we can calmly plant about 10-15 pieces of chickens, 5-10 pheasants or a mixture of species in different configurations. The height of the walls is best 2 meters not counting the foundation, it is a standard size that we can easily and without unnecessary waste build with any mesh.

Aviary construction

The frame of the aviary is best made of steel profiles, preferably galvanized. Closed profiles 40x30mm work well. For people who are not very good at welding and processing steel, it remains to make a structure of wood. Vertical posts should be arranged at least every 2 meters. From the surface of the earth it is best to dig concrete slabs or ready-made curbs. They should be dug in such a way that at least half the height of the plate is underground. The most common heights of prefabricated elements are 20, 25 and 30 cm. Concrete elements are completely resistant to corrosion, stabilize the mesh and additionally increase the aviary by 10-15cm.

Mesh for the walls of the aviary

The most frequently purchased (aviary nets) by breeders are nets with a hexagonal eyelet coated with PVC plastic. The most popular is the hexagonal mesh with a 20mm eyelet, mainly due to the fact that sparrows do not pass through the hex 20mm eyelet. However, if we care about 100% tightness of the aviary so that even young sparrows, mazurkas, and other the smallest birds do not get inside, we must use a hex mesh with an eye of 16 or a net with a 13mm eyelet. If we do not mind wild birds and do not plan to let several-day-old chicks into the aviary, we can clean a coated net with a hexagonal eyelet with a size of 25mm. If we are sure that our aviary is not threatened by predators - wild cats, martens, dogs, we can use a special net made of polyethylene-based plastic. It is offered in large rolls - 200 meters long and very affordable price.

Aviary mesh on top

On top, polyethylene mesh works best. It is made by our company from special resistant polyethylene fibers reinforced and resistant to weather conditions and, what is very important, 100% resistant to UV radiation. We completely advise against the use of nets of unknown origin made on the basis of stylon or polyamide. Only our mesh gives a guarantee for external use for a period of 15 years. Polyethylene nets even cover multi-hectare aviaries For the safety of pheasants, the polyethylene mesh must have adequate elasticity. In addition, the polyethylene mesh is very resilient, durable. In case of damage, it does not wash. It provides safety to pheasants and other skittish birds, which, frightened, hit aviary nets limply.