Mary Allen
In order for the keeping of birds to be satisfactory for the owner in the long term and also for the birds, considerations in advance are crucial. Some aspects that matter.
Birds are among the animals that can be kept well in the home. Large species are ruled out, but finches, canaries, diamond doves, budgerigars, lovebirds, and grass parakeets can be kept in the living area without any problems. Living in an apartment has several advantages: It is warm even in winter, there is always hot water in the kitchen and bathroom and you can always be with your birds quickly.
If you would like to breed, you should reserve a room. It can be ideally designed with breeding boxes and indoor aviaries. Aviary builders construct cages and aviaries to measure. It is ideal if boxes are long and deep and can be separated by sliders. Birds fly horizontally, the depth gives them a good sense of security, and separation from incompatible individuals or young birds has to be carried out again and again. The floors of indoor aviaries and boxes can be sprinkled with newspapers, hemp straw, or beech wood granules. The material must be changed regularly.
It is important to know that birds also need unfiltered ultraviolet light. Some can only break down certain vitamins when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Leg distress is less common in birds that have adequate exposure to UV light. But glass filters it out. Either the sunlight reaches the aviaries and boxes through the open window of the bird room, or special lamps with ultraviolet light should be used. They are available from pet stores and are common in reptile keeping. As a precaution, the window to the bird room should be barred so that no birds can escape. Air quality is important.
If numerous small birds are kept and bred, feather dust develops when the quills break open. Birds fly and flap and kick up the dust. Especially during the warm season, the window should be open so that the birds can benefit from constant fresh air. In addition, air-cleaning devices can be used with filters that have to be cleaned weekly or even several times a week.
A Heated Birdhouse
Anyone who keeps a pair of finches in a display case in the living area has no problem with the air being contaminated with dust. But the two magnificent finches or canaries also need fresh air and light. Showcases and boxes should also be illuminated with LED lights. But darker angles are also an advantage.
Grain feed should not be bought in excess and should be stored in a cool and dark place, i.e. in the basement. Smaller portions for daily feeding can be kept in the kitchen in well-closable containers.
A separate aviary in the garden with combined indoor and outdoor aviaries is ideal. It is easier to use a room in a house as the interior. Only an outdoor aviary needs to be attached to the house. However, a building permit is required for this. Because of mice and rats, feeding should only be done in the indoor aviaries. No branch may lead from the outside to the inside aviary, otherwise, mice will climb in. A water connection with warm water in the heatable birdhouse is important.
In order to achieve good air quality, doors leading from the indoor to the outdoor aviaries are ideal. In the cold season, the birds can get into the outdoor aviaries through small excursions, in the warmer season, the doors can be opened. This increases the flight space for the birds – the air quality is so ideal. However, the outdoor aviaries must be protected from cats, martens, and foxes with electric wires. If you leave the floors of the outdoor aviaries natural, you have to check your birds more often for diseases and worm infestation. Parasites such as mites must also be checked, especially in the warm season.
Whether inboxes and indoor aviaries or the interior of a birdhouse, it is always better if the walls are kept in the colors green, brown, yellow, and blue that are dominant in nature instead of white. This makes the birds feel safer.