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Work
has now started on the second phase of this project
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The flight
construction will not be fast because of the dark nights plus
the weather is not good this time of the year, so some weeks there will
be no updates
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| Weekend
15th & 16th November 2003 |
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I
have now removed the black shed to enable me to start on the flights,
the flight will be 12 foot wide by 10 foot long, the flight will
be split-up into three separate flights, so each will be 4 foot
wide by 10 foot long, these flights will be linked to my three
internal flights, again keeping the two sexes separate, plus a
flight for the young to go in. I have dug out a trench along the
back by the hedge so I can sink in some paving slabs to keep the
earth back, making a gap between the hedge and the flight.
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| Weekend
03rd & 04th April 2004 |
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I go again, digging more trenches for footings, I need to build
a retaining wall to hold up next doors garden bank and to stop the
earth falling back onto my aviary, also in the corner of this project
I have a small tree to build around which will make one of the flights
a bit smaller, this flight will be used to house the baby Java's
in, along the back of the flights I have a row of small tree's with
a raised bank I need to keep back, so all of my outdoor flights
will be built off a wall, because I am digging down to put footings
in this will stop any rodents from digging into my flights, also
it will keep the wooden frame work of the aviary from getting damp
from the wet earth. Each flight will be 10 foot long by 4 foot wide;
I am not sure what height it will be yet! What I want to do is make
the roof sloping back so any rainwater will run off into the guttering
on the shed, I intend to cover a third of the roof with corrugated
clear plastic sheeting to give the birds some protection from the
rain, but they will have access to the indoor flights as well. I
need to make a good start and get this project finished because
(A) my birds need to get outdoors for the summer and (B) my wife
has just ordered a new kitchen to be fitted. |
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This
is where I am up to, the trench has been dug and filled with
concert, to forum a good footing for the block work. You can
see on the photo to your left, the tree roots I need to build
around. The photo on the right is letting you see how many
blocks I need for the base, 45 in total, the small wall will
be three blocks height. I could not get anything done on Saturday
because of the rain. |
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| Weekend
17th & 18th April 2004 |
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I
have just had a week off work and again the weather has been very
good to me, as you can see the aviary is now complete, I have
been working on it none stop all week.
The first photos are showing how I make the dividing walls inside
the aviary, first I set a fixed rail in the ground using metal
strips, attach the strips to the rail then dig out some holes
for the extra length to go down, using blocks of scrap wood to
support the rail so it is level, when it's level fill the holes
with concrete. This makes a soiled rail to build off; the gap
at the bottom of the rail is filled in with mesh. Nail the mesh
to the rail and sink some in the ground all the way along, this
stops the Java's from getting under into the next aviary.
When
all the woodwork has been done I started leveling out the ground,
I dug three small trenches leading from the shed to sink in the
three water pipes I need to top up their bathing water containers.
I then filled in the trenches and laid down some black membrane
to stop the weeds pushing up and to stop the gravel from been
crushed into the mud. What I have done to make my life easier
I have put three separate water valves inside my bird room, so
I can top up from there, I now don't have to go out in the flights
a much. Each bowl I used is a plastic plant pot dish 17"
across, with the water pipe set next to the bowl at an angel,
when the water is turned on it creates a whirl pool cleaning out
the bowls for me. (I know! I am getting lazy)
I
have cut the pop holes in the shed ready for the big day next
Saturday, the holes are 4" x 4". I have just put some
mesh over them for now, so the Java's can come and look out
On
the roof of the aviary I have put some corrugated plastic on to
give the birds some protection from the weather, you can see on
the photo it has been raining a bit, can you see the two shades
of the gravel on the floor, the white being the dry area from
the roof.
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And
finely my finished dream a bird room with flights, if you look
back on this project from the very beginning you will see the
first sketch I did of this project on paper, it took a while to
build all this, but I can honestly say I have enjoyed every bit
of it, and I am sure my Java's will get the maximum benefit out
of it. See you next week for the liberation of my Java's.
<------- Click
the Photo
for a bigger Image
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_________________________www.javafinch.com_________________________
2004
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