According to Wikipedia and other dictionary sources, an aviary is a large enclosure for keeping birds yet it is large enough to allow people to walk inside of it and to allow the birds to fly. Also aviaries are normally planted.
Here at the Bamboo Peacock, I like to create an interesting environment for my peafowl and me. I use many different plants in the aviary to achieve a natural, tropical feeling. The plants also create shade for the peafowl which they love to relax in during the mid-day heat of summertime.
Currently I only have one aviary with a small pen attached to it for separating and catching peafowl. The main aviary is 40 ft. by 50 ft. (12 meters by 15 meters) and around 15ft. (5 meters) near the posts that hold it up. The fencing is 6 ft. tall (2 meters). In total I am not sure how large the aviary really is when I take into account the small pen they almost always have open access to and also their tin shed.
(currently my only aviary)
Peafowl in Aviary 1: Alto, Frosty, Peep, Ice, Damsel, Shyanne, Raptor, Flip-Flop
Aviary 1 back in 2010 when it was brand new and a blank canvas. Click the photos or hover over them with the mouse for more of a description.
Aviary 1 is always changing whether it be from adding new plants, fixing roosts, adding new forms of enrichment such as logs or a rock, etc. Aviary 1 has become my garden and my getaway. I believe that a backyard aviary doesn't have to be boring. You don't have to be a zoo to have a nice aviary that is visually pleasing for you and your birds. Here are some panoramic photos taken of Aviary 1 in 2014:
In late 2013 or early 2014 I started throwing out rye grass seed in the aviary because the original grass was no longer coming back in the summer like it used to when the aviary was newer. The above photos show how much success the grass was. Here are some more photos of Aviary 1. On the left side it shows the aviary without grass and on the right it shows the aviary with grass for an interesting comparison.
Thank you for looking at my aviary! I will consider making an article about the Do's and Don'ts of aviary building considering I seem to be figuring it out right now what works and what doesn't. I am working on making 2 new aviaries that will hopefully be more secure and long lasting compared to Aviary 1.
