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MAILBAG
A backyard aviary
Thanks for publishing this great article (A backyard aviary, Winter 2001-2002). I've been looking for ideas on how to create an outdoor flight, and this gives some valuable suggestions.
--Virama, SchmittVA1@aol.com
I loved your story about your outdoor aviary! It made me smile to know there are owners out there going to great lengths to make their parrots happy. They deserve it, because we humans ripped them from their homes. Keep up the good work. Your birds sound like they have it made!
--Melody Barry, Kellyville, Okla.
I found the story very informative, as well as funny. You obviously have a very warm sense of humor, and love your birds very much. I think you just might have inspired me to try my hand at building an aviary as well..
--Adam, adaml@ihug.com.au
Great story....has some great ideas. We had a screen porch built for our two bird kids, an African grey and a cockatiel. I just had bouncy things for them. This spring I am going to look for trees to get branches from and give it a little more life. Thanks for the story. This is my first look at ParrotChronicles.com. Great!
--Patricia Morris and kids, patlmorris@earthlink.net
Just finished reading your article on outdoor aviaries and wanted to share a little research with you. Check out this link: Corners Limited. I requested a catalog from these people and found out that these octagon cages are very affordable and already made. They range from about $800 to $1500 and from about 6 feet to 14 feet in diameter, which is really quite large. They also custom build them. Please share.
--Dixie L. Green, dixie.green@hickam.af.mil
I wanted to take a minute to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this story and how much I appreciate other parrot slaves sharing their ideas, experiences, thoughts and feelings. It has been very helpful to me, and what I learn helps my fids. And my fids are most important to me. I am thrilled to have been sent this site to join. I look forward to each and every issue I receive. Thank you again.
God bless.
Liz Olson, L.J.(blue-and-gold macaw) Fred (umbrella cockatoo) Aloe (pearl cockatiel) Scully & Muldar (cockatiel couple) and Flutter Bugs (parrotlet), jonojmk@rica.net
I was wondering if a chain link fence is non-toxic, the cyclone fence
type. How would I know or find out for sure? What about a cement floor so
you can just hose it off and use potted plants?
--The Schmitts, clareomni@aol.com
Cement floors and potted plants are both fine ideas for aviaries. As you mention, this makes it easier to clean the aviary of droppings and food. Be sure plants are non-toxic. As far as we know, all chain link fencing material, even the poly vinyl-coated type, is galvanized with zinc and not suitable for chewing aviary birds. --Editor
After finishing your article about the outside aviary, a dream of mine, I have one question. Aren't you worried about the West Nile virus and mosquitoes? I'd really prefer netting in a small-size opening like screening to prevent flying insects from getting in. Just wondered, great info.
--Millie & Don, weare@cplx.net
When we built our aviary, the West Nile virus wasn't the national concern that it is now. It's still unknown on the West coast. However, the day will probably come when we'll have to worry about it like other parrot owners do. We asked a couple of companies that build outdoor aviaries how they're dealing with the problem. They told us no commercial enterprise builds aviaries with netting fine enough to keep mosquitos from entering. They suggested enclosing aviaries with door screen. For more on the virus, see this issue's update article, The West Nile Virus and your parrot. --Editor
Where to send feathers
We save feathers from our green-wing macaw and yellow-nape Amazon. I heard there was an organization that collected them for use in ceremonies. Have you heard about this?
--Karen Lindquist, karen.lindquist@worldnet.att.net
We know of two organizations that can use your birds’ molted feathers. One is the Mohegans, who weave feathers into baskets, dolls, headpieces and other crafts. Send feathers to The Mohegan Tribe, Cultural Programs Department, 5 Crow Hill Road, Uncasville, CT 06382. Mickaboo Cockatiel Rescue Mickaboo supports itself in part by supplying a local artist who pays per feather. Mail your “almost perfect feathers” of any size in a plastic bag or envelope to Mickaboo, P.O. Box 1631, Pacifica, CA 94044. --Editor
Parents supported bird lover
I wanted to share how I became a bird owner - or is it the other way around? When I was young, I was very attached to all animals, especially birds who had been caught by our family cats. I would take the bird to my mom and dad
who set up a shoebox with bread and water and when it was time for bed, they
would place the box on top of our clothesline so the bird could fly away
when it was ready. The next morning, my mom or dad would run out with me to
peer into the box and happily see it had flown away. It wasn't until about 7
years ago I was informed that each bird had died and my parents would
remove it before morning. It had never dawned on me!
I also rescued birds that had fallen out of nests. For one bird, we climbed the tree but were not able to reach the nest so we borrowed a neighbor's ladder. My dad wasn't able to reach the nest
from the ladder and I began to cry. He sat with me for awhile while I
watched the bird play in its shoebox until he had to leave for his weekly
volunteer fireman's meeting.
As I sat with my little buddy on the couch, I heard a loud sound outside. My
dad and his fire crew had driven the fire truck onto the lawn and were
hoisting up the ladder. He yelled for me to bring out the bird and he and
his friends handed the bird to each other all the way up the ladder and
placed it in its nest.
I think I was the happiest girl in town that day,
especially having a dad (and mom) who were animal lovers and seemed to care
as much as I did.
It took a couple of years for me to research and confirm I was serious
about owning a parrot as I knew the responsibility was great. I finally made
the leap almost three years ago and became the proud owner of two Senegal
parrots, Guido and Luigi. There hasn't been a dull moment since.
Thank you for letting me share my story.
--Kendra, twofeatheredfriends@hotmail.com
Beware self-cleaning ovens
I would just like to add another hazard to your hazards page. We lost our nanday six years ago. For the many years we had her, we never knew that there was a danger right under our noses. We had never used it before, but out of the blue there we were, turning it on. Two hours later, our bird was showing signs of being affected - by the fumes of our self-cleaning oven.
I would very much appreciate it if you could alert your visitors to this danger. After this incident, I went back to some bird magazines and found this warning. I felt horrible that this could have been prevented if I had only read this before. Some self-cleaning ovens emit a smell, but ours wasn't that strong. We had no idea that would be the last time we'd see our cherished bird.
Thank you for a very informative website! I've added it to myparentime.com's petspot category pages of informative sites.
--Joi M. Lasnick, My ParenTime's Family Community
Praise for ParrotChronicles.com
This has got to be one of the best sites for parrot people I have viewed. I'm tired of sites from every person who raises birds with sketchy and incorrect information. People need to hear the truth, good or bad, and I think this site is very informative. Thanks!
--Patricia Serock, pserock@burpee.com
Thank you for the great and informative articles in ParrotChronicles.com. I have just spent hours that I really did not have reading everything! Wow!
--Sallie Shepherd
I just finished reading this issue and I am so glad you have
this site and thank you for the wonderful articles. I am president of the New
Mexico Bird Club and I operate (when I'm not working as a banker) a
retirement home for birds. I tell everyone to check out your publication as it
is always informative and has timely topics. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
--Candy Dunlap, candy.dunlap@charterco.com
ParrotChronicles.com welcomes your comments and suggestions.
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Mailbag or ParrotChronicles.com, P. O. Box 3026, Alameda, CA 94501. Please include your city, state and e-mail address.
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