GiffsFarm - Cold frame aviary

Cold Frame Aviary

I started with a 12' x 14' x 7' tall aviary built off the back of my garage. The second year I added an additional 12' x 14' then decided to add a cold frame off the north side of my never ending aviary. The photos below are the slow progress I am making.

I have been slowly working on expanding my outdoor avairy. Off the north side will be a 14 X 32 X 7 ft. high cold frame. I am planning on covering it with wire and probably plastic for the winter months.

The cold-frame kit I had ordered took over four weeks to recieve and when I got it they forgot to send the hardware. I did start installing the ground posts, they are in the ground about 20 inches and will have two 2x6's for base board. I was able to pick up some 6 ft. x 1 in. rod that I am going to drive down next to the base to anchor it better. Put some wire on the front and door is ready to go on.

When the wire gets put on I will take the wall down on the current aviary opening it up to the entire enclosure, should end up being around 750+ sq. ft. of space. It will house the pair of Green-wing Teal, pair of Wood ducks, and two pairs of Mandarins. Still planning on the small pond inside, have a couple ideas I am working on.

The wire I am using is 1" pvc coated hex wire, attached with alot of cage clips, zip ties, and poultry staples. End framing will have a 30" wide entrance screen door. Stumps are the ones pictured in the pens page 2 section that I cut some holes in. Tops will go on and hopefully entice either the Wood ducks or Mandarins into using them.

Another nest box is up, should have three raised nest boxes, the two stumps for nesting, and two ground boxes when complete.

End wall with door is complete, just a little more wire to go on along with wire around base to keep critters from digging under.

Work begins on the garden pond, when finished it will be about 6ft. in diameter and a little over a foot deep. After the hole was dug, a tarp was used as a pre-liner and then the 45mil EPDM liner was put down. As the water went in I tried to get as many of the creases out as possible. Slab field stone will go around the sides, also a ribbed stair runner will go in making two easy entrances into the pond. Round beach stone will also be put on the exposed liner.

I have replaced two of the nest boxes with larger ones that could accomidate some small nest box cameras. The information along with photos of the cameras can be found in the nest box photo blog section.