The establishment of pheasants is possible only if there is an aviary for them. These birds are demanding of living conditions, so immediately determine the territory and plan the corral. It is possible to build it with your own hands, making some efforts and applying the knowledge contained in this article.
Aviary requirements for pheasants
Pheasants, when kept in artificial conditions, need a fairly large area of accommodation. They can’t just be let out for a walk. Such birds must always be in a fenced area.
In order to make pheasants comfortable, the conditions of detention must be brought closer to the natural ones at the highest possible level. To do this, when building an aviary, consider the following requirements for it:
- Choose a dry, flat place for the house. You should not place them in the lowlands because of their humidity and on the hillocks because of the openness to the winds.
- The composition of the soil is preferably sandy. With a different composition, the floor of the enclosure must be covered with 30 cm of fine gravel and sand.
- Be sure to sew the ceiling of the aviary with a net. It is preferable to choose it from soft materials such as rope, nylon or plastic) so that the birds do not hurt themselves about it.
- For the pheasant breed “Diamond” or “Golden” a house is required in the fence. The rest do without it.
- The enclosure should contain driftwood, trees, bushes, stairs and other types of perches.
- The size of the fencing for the wards should have a sufficient area.
Types of Aviaries
Aviaries for pheasants can be of the most diverse type and design, built of wood, metal or in a combined way. They are built by land or mounted.
Varieties of houses:
- Of metal. The most common and simple is a corral made entirely from a frame sheathed with a metal mesh. An improved modification of such an enclosure is a one-house poultry house made from a continuous set of boards. It is more comfortable for birds to be in such obstacles, as there is an opportunity to take shelter along a blank wall from the wind.
- Made of metal using wooden materials. Construction using wood for the base and metal mesh for fencing. This option is characterized by lower construction costs, but the operational life of an aviary depends on the quality of the wood and its processing with special compounds.
- From polycarbonate.An example of a house is the use of a polycarbonate greenhouse where the front and rear walls are sheathed in mesh. In such an enclosure there is always enough light and the birds are sheltered from the weather.
Fencing can have a roof of any roofing material, or a mesh is stretched instead. Give preference to slate roofing or tiled. With a roofless structure, it is necessary to build a canopy so that birds can hide during the weather with precipitation and shelter from the sun.
Build or not a house for the birds, each breeder decides for himself. Remember that not all pheasant breeds need it. Such a building can serve as an interior item.
Selection of materials for the aviary
The choice of materials for the construction of the fence is determined by the idea of the breeder and his financial situation. You can purchase the necessary equipment better and more expensive, and save on the construction of an aviary - build it yourself. The design is not complicated, so even a beginner can cope with the list of works.
Galvanized wire mesh fencing
The territory of the enclosure must have a closed view, that is, it is fenced from all sides. It should be noted that a mesh with a cell size of more than 20 mm will not work. Through it, the chicks have the opportunity to slip into the wild. In addition, the small-meshed fence is an obstacle to rodents and predators.
Give preference to a grid covered with a layer of varnish, which prevents the spread of rust on the metal and maintains an aesthetic appearance.
Canopy nylon mesh
In case of danger and fright, a pheasant instantly flies vertically upward. In this regard, to organize a ceiling canopy, use a mesh of soft material to prevent damage to birds. Kapron or rope weaving with a cell up to 2.5-2.7 cm and a thread thickness of about 2 mm is perfect.
If the aviary is quite high, then you should not focus on this. Even a metal chain link will do. The only drawback of this canopy is the possible difficulties in clearing snow in the winter.
Construction Materials
In order not to make a mistake with the choice of building materials, their size and quantity, it is advisable to draw up a drawing of the proposed aviary. Flip it as close as possible to the planned building. Using the scheme is easier to see and take into account all the nuances. In addition, it is very convenient to immediately sign the list of necessary goods and tools.
The standard set of building materials for the construction of an aviary for pheasants include:
- wooden beam for the construction of the main frame and roof;
- board in order to sew up the back wall of the aviary;
- cement and sand, or screening to form the foundation;
- fencing net;
- roofing materials when planning a roof;
- fixing materials;
- paintwork and antiseptic compounds;
- river sand or fine gravel for flooring.
Building a house inside an enclosure will require an additional list of materials.
Instruments
In order not to be distracted by the search for the necessary tools in the construction of a bird fence, prepare them in advance:
- jigsaw or hand saw;
- screwdriver or screwdriver;
- a hammer;
- side cutters or mites.
Calculation of the desired size
Calculate the size of the enclosure based on the knowledge that one individual needs at least 2 square meters. m of space, and a couple needs 9-10 square meters. m square. When breeding young animals in the amount of 300 individuals, the fence should have at least 2 acres of area.
Aviary construction
In the construction of an aviary for pheasants, there are two ways to go:
- hire professionals for the construction and arrangement of the area;
- do it yourself.
In both of these cases, you should not rely on low costs, because such birds are quite demanding in the conditions of detention. But still, self-construction will help reduce the cost of paying for the construction work itself.
Planning and preparatory work
The first stage of construction includes preparatory work. Decide on a site under construction, level and clean out the territory. Think immediately about the internal arrangement, perhaps a tree growing on the site and a shrub can become a ready-made interior part of the aviary. Purchase all building materials according to the drawings and prepare a list of tools.
It is recommended to organize a small vestibule at the entrance so that pheasants do not have the opportunity to jump out into the wild when the breeder opens the front door.
If the enclosure will have a hinged type of structure or it is planned to build a house for pheasants, then it is necessary to carry out work on the construction of the foundation. It is performed by pouring concrete base columns or laying them out of a concrete block. The composition of the pouring concrete mixture for the foundation includes:
- cement - 1 part;
- sand - 4 parts;
- water.
To form the base, mark the perimeter of the enclosure and dig a ditch with a depth of half a meter and a width of at least 25 cm. On the internal area, dig out foundation pits at least 50 cm deep every 1.3-1.5. Put the formwork and fill it with concrete so that it rises above the surface land not less than 25-30 cm.
It is recommended inside the foundation when pouring it with concrete, to fortify and increase the bonding properties of the mixture, lay a reinforced layer of reinforcement with a diameter of 9 mm or more.
A terrestrial aviary requires only the construction of a strip foundation. But in this case, it is advisable to prepare for the floor embankment to remove the turf layer of the earth and sprinkle it with a layer of 2 cm of slaked lime.
After hardening the foundation, lay on it a layer of waterproofing - roofing material.
Frame mounting
High performance has a metal frame. But such a design justifies itself when containing a large number of pheasant individuals. If you are a beginner breeder, then it is easier and more profitable to make a bird aviary from a tree.
Install the support posts on the foundation. To regulate the slope of the roof, if it is planned, the front supports should be higher than those installed on the rear wall. Connect the vertical beam transverse in the middle plane and under the roof. The middle cross member is necessary for structural stability and to prevent sagging of the metal mesh.
Cover the frame with a mesh, securing it with a special bracket mechanism. Provide doors.
Upon completion of the work, check that the inner surface of the aviary does not have protruding and sharp ends of the wire and fasteners, otherwise pheasants can get hurt about them. Therefore, if such dangers are found, eliminate them.
Crate
If there is a slate roof for the aviary, then lay the crate to install it. It is made of timber, which is laid longitudinally with a pitch of 0.75 m, and then cross members are formed with the same pitch.
Another way of lathing is to lay the lattice from a beam, opposite the main vertical supports, as if continuing them in the horizontal plane. Top them with a board, keeping between them a step of 0.5-0.75 m.
Lay the slate on the crate, using slate nails for fastening.
Protecting wood parts from rotting
Wood, as a building material, has many undeniable advantages, but there is one, but a significant drawback - it is subject to decay. The operational life of such a structure does not exceed 3-5 years, depending on the region of location. Therefore, prepare the wood before construction, impregnating it with a mixture of heated bitumen and diesel fuel.
To prepare such an antiseptic, place a container with bitumen on the fire, and when it begins to boil, add as much diesel fuel so that the mixture becomes liquid. To conduct antiseptic work, this composition is used while it is hot, to ensure its deep penetration into the tree.
After processing, leave the wood materials to dry for a couple of days, then primer and paint with oil. An exception to antiseptic processing is only perches and “decorative” trees and driftwood - the wood with which pheasants have direct contact.
Arrangement of an aviary
The arrangement of the aviary is directly dependent on the type and breed of pheasants. Conventional and hunting birds require food installation of containers for food and water, as well as a crate of ash. Decorative pheasants are very whimsical, so go to the interior of their aviary responsibly and carefully.
Landscaping of an aviary is a natural stimulation of birds to breed.
Place roosts and driftwood inside, plant shrubs, plant part of the enclosure with grass and cereals. All this is necessary for a comfortable bird life. For females you need to build a green fence where they can hide from males and lay eggs. Such measures make it possible to concentrate eggs in nests, rather than scattering them throughout the pen.
The author of the video shows and tells how he built an aviary for pheasants in three sections (wild stone, wooden timber and boards, mesh and slate were used):
Experienced breeders advise not to make the roof out of the net so that the bird does not see the sky and does not try to fly up. And the floor should not be made concrete, since it is very cold for winter maintenance.
House Hygiene
Sanitary processing of the enclosure and cleaning inside are a prerequisite for the comfortable living of pheasants. Birds are under constant threat of infection with various diseases, the source of which can be seemingly harmless things.
So, if hygiene is not observed, pathogenic microflora accumulate in drinking bowls and feeders, sandy flooring from bird droppings, rodents when they enter the fence can become disease transmitters.
Therefore, do not neglect the work related to maintaining the health of the wards. Indeed, violations in hygiene and sanitation can lead to a complete mortality of birds.
Aviary Care Rules
Cleanliness in an aviary with pheasants is very important for a comfortable and healthy bird life. Therefore, do not neglect the care of the territory of the wards, and consider the following rules:
- Daily remove food left in the feeders, which, when rotted, can cause poisoning and intoxication of pheasants. Wash and disinfect the containers used for feeding weekly.
- Once a quarter, disinfect the inside of the enclosure with lime or sodium hydroxide to prevent infection and spread among birds.
- Replace sand flooring every 8-10 weeks. If this is not done, then pathogens from the feces of pheasants can cause serious harm to pets.
- Make sure that rodents do not get into the barriers to the birds. It is impossible to influence them with chemistry, therefore it is recommended to simply catch and destroy them manually.
- Every year, a maximum of once every 2 years, fully sterilize the aviary.
Calculation of financial costs
If you build an aviary for pheasants with your own hands, then spending will be required only on building materials. We calculate the financial costs of the construction of a 3 × 3 × 2.5 m poultry house with a single-pitch slate roof:
- 8-wave slate - 10 sheets × 230 rubles. = 2300 rub.;
- timber with a square section of 50 mm - 24 pcs. × 75 rub. = 1800 rubles .;
- board 6 m long, 100 mm wide - 20 pcs. × 450 rub. = 9000 rubles .;
- cement brand M-500 - 4-5 bags × 300 rubles. = 1500 rubles .;
- sand - 4 bags × 900 rubles. = 3200 rub.;
- netting 20 * 20 mm - 30 square meters. m × 47 rubles = 1410 rubles .;
- fasteners - 700 rubles.
Thus, the construction of a shelter for pheasants requires an amount of approximately 19910 rubles, taking into account average prices for materials.
Open-air cages
Open-air cages are actively used by British and Dutch pheasant breeders. This content involves fencing the site with a 1.2-1.5 m high dug 20 cm into the ground, and inside the perimeter there are open bird houses. A necessary condition for this type of breeding and keeping pheasants is their safety, i.e. the absence of night and day predators.
In such conditions, it is necessary to periodically prune the pheasants' wings or tie them up so that they cannot take off. It is advisable to place the aviary in a quiet place protected by shrubs from the outside world. In order for the females to begin to lay eggs, in a convenient part of the enclosure, make indentations in the ground and cover them with needles, hay or straw. Lay an artificial egg inside the nest.
To equip an open corral for wards, consider that for 20 individuals, about 100 square meters are required. m of territory.
There are many options for the construction, placement and arrangement of aviaries for pheasants. The main thing is that the pen for birds takes into account their requirements and provides conditions of comfort. Therefore, the most suitable aviary for pheasants will be able to build with their own hands only one who knows these birds. And they, in turn, will thank the owner, living peacefully and actively multiplying.