Unlike other types of birds that are small, easily subdued and can be housed in a regular aviary, falconry birds require an aviary that could meet their specialised needs.
Since falconry aviaries are set up different, the following tips can help you build the most suitable for your falconry birds.
Enclosed Area
Instead of a full aviary, falconry birds are best when placed in an enclosed aviary that is built with non-transparent material. According to the International Association of Falconry or IAF, some very tame and calm birds can be kept in an aviary that is completely made of mesh wire. But for most raptors, the wire mesh must be shielded or covered by a shade cloth or protecting net to prevent damage to their beak and the primaries.
The enclosed aviary should have a window where you can easily check on your birds. This window should also be covered by a mesh wire to ensure that they could not escape.
Safety and Security
Your falconry aviary should be built with the security and safety of your birds in mind. Even domestic cats and rats can endanger your birds so they should be kept away from them at all times. More attention should be given to small birds because they are the easiest and most vulnerable target or predators.
When choosing a mesh material, make sure to check its quality and reliability. It should be capable of protecting birds against rodents and larger predators such as cats and foxes.
A falconry aviary should be partially open to make way for sun and rain, but also partially closed to protect the birds from bad weather.
Good Lighting
The bird’s eyes are very sensitive to light and they have colour vision. Some owners have found that the use of coloured bulbs can help protect the vision of their falconry birds.
Garden and Animal Structures
Looking to build a bespoke aviary for your falconry birds? Get in touch with the expert team of builders at Garden and Animal Structures. We sell handmade-to-order wooden aviaries that are high-quality and meet the specific needs of clients.
We like to think we know a thing or two about Garden and Animal Structures, after all – we think our name says it all. So, we thought it would be a good idea to produce a handy little guide about our top selling products and try and answer some of your questions.
What kind of space do you have available outside? If you have a larger garden or a farm your options will only be constrained by budget really. If your garden, outside space or budget, is smaller you need to look at the size of your dog (or dogs). Larger breeds will need a larger kennel but the kennel doesn’t need to be like a cave! A smaller kennel can help keep your dog (or dogs) nice and cosy, especially in the winter. A helpful tip here is to measure the size of the crate or bed your dog currently sleeps in, and go from there.
2). What kind of style do you want?
The location of your kennel will always be a consideration here. Again, if space is not an issue you have carte blanche. If you don’t you’ll need to consider your choice a little more. Kennels with an apex roof provide extra space in the middle. A kennel with a sloping roof is usually lower and thus takes up less space in the outside area. These types of structure are usually suitable as a single dog kennel.
3.) Kennel Insulation
Wherever you are in our fair isles you may have noticed it can get a little cold, especially in the winter. Insulating your dog kennel can seem like an unnecessary expense but you don’t want your pet or working dog to be cold! Insulating your kennel will mean that you won’t need to invest in extra heat lamps. A lining for your kennel will also prevent the wooden interior being exposed and, potentially, getting chewed. Please contact us for prices.
Dog and Kennel Runs and your dog
First of all, it’s worth checking out if your dog can sleep outside. All breeds of dog are different and some will be more suited than others to sleeping outside of the home. And, if your dog is sleeping outside it is essential they have a good dog and kennel run which will shelter then from the elements. Here are the essentials facts you need to know about investing in a dog and kennel run for your pet or working dog, and these are true for single and double dog kennels.
Dogs require protection from the elements so heat is not drawn away from their bodies.
It’s really important to make sure that your dog’s kennel is always warm and dry.
If your dog is small or has a thin coat, you may need to invest in a coat to keep them warmer, especially in the winter.
Monitor temperature daily, ideally your dog and kennel run should be above 10° and below 26°.
Double Dog Kennels
Dogs are social creatures and love human company, but they also love the company of other dogs. A double dog kennel is a perfect way for your dog to sleep outside but not feel isolated because they have a kennel companion.
Garden Dog Kennels
If space is a consideration in your outside space or you want extra storage for your kennel you may want to check out a dog kennel with a shed. Coming with either an apex or a sloping roof these buildings will tick both the garden equipment and the kennel box — we also offer a completely bespoke service too, please contact us for more details.
There are many considerations when choosing a new aviary and this will predominantly be dictated by the type of bird you are looking to house. If you are looking to house some finches, for instance, you will need to leave at least you need to plan for 12cm of aviary length per finch, with a width measuring at least 6cm. When looking to house a falcon, you will require a space the size of a small bedroom. However, there are certain things you will need to look at, regardless of the type of bird you are looking to provide a home for:
Type of bird: What is the full wingspan and are they an active breed? Will their wings be clipped and, if so how will they get around? These will be a big consideration for the type of aviary you need.
Location and weather: The location of your aviary should, above all else, keep them safe from the elements. You will need to choose a location that will keep your avian friend sheltered from direct sunlight, harsh winds and heavy rain.
Insulation: What temperatures can your area get to? Can it become very hot or cold at different times of the year? The location you chose will impact the temperature of the aviary. Will it get direct sunlight during summer or none during the winter – is your garden, or where the aviary is located south or north-facing?
Security: When you have your aviary installed to make sure it is properly secured. Padlocks are a must, as is to make sure it is secured to the ground.
It took a while from originally quoting for this job to eventually erecting on site – but we got there! We travelled to a country estate in Surrey to install this two bay falconry mews with central corridor. The building had bespoke sizes as well as front bar windows with drop down shutters. Inside the aviaries, the walls were lined with insulation and white PVC sheets to allow a stable temperature and wipe clevan walls. The flights had no flooring while the central security had a wipe clean floor and a double door entry system into the aviaries.
Features
Insulation to the aviaries allow the inside temperature to stay more constant – it stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The polystyrene insulation board is then lined with white PVC sheets providing an easy clean surface that can be sprayed with disinfectant and wiped over.
Our customer laid paving slabs on the footprint of the aviary building, digging out the ground in the flight area and back filling with gravel. This is a preferred choice for aviaries as any mess can be hosed down and the gravel can be replaced if needed. The central security entrance had a wipe clean floor – again allowing easy maintenance and providing a handy storage area for freezers, jesses & tethers and any other falconry essentials.
To the front of the mews, we added large bar windows. Bars can be considered safer for birds of prey, as they can sometimes try and fly through mesh and damage feathers in the process. Our bars are spaced 5cm between bars which makes them ideal for larger raptors. The windows also had a solid wooden shutter than can be closed from the outside – perfect for retaining heat at night and/or creating darkness for during moult.
The build was finished with our Onduline roofing upgrade, which is corrugated bitumen sheets. This option is ideal for larger buildings which are located in exposed areas.
Inside the security entrance
Inside the mews with shutter closed
Looking out from mews
Doors open into mews
Inside mews with shutter open
Upgraded Onduline roof
Shutter closed over bar window
Browse our standard range of bird aviaries and falconry mews here
Polypropylene feet on all of our kennel floors, aviary panels and dog sleeping benches.
New for 2020! Our dog kennels will now be supplied with FREE polypropylene feet to the sleeping area floor. Our kennel flooring in the bedding area will have greater airflow underneath. The plastic spacer will also prevent damp from sneaking up through the timber. Sometimes a concrete or slab base can hold rainwater, and these plastic feet will stop direct contact between the wood and the floor. The spacers will also be added to the underside of all of our aviary panels, and to the framework on our raised dog sleeping benches.
Dog Kennel Flooring
We have always designed the flooring in our dog kennels for sale to have space underneath for airflow. However, the timber framework has always had direct contact with the base underneath. If, for example, rainwater should settle on your base, it would eventually be absorbed by the flooring’s framework.
Our solution to this is the plastic feet. The spacers are fixed to the underside of the bed flooring, leaving a 20mm gap between the framework and the base. Therefore reducing the risk of water and cold being soaked into the kennel floor. The result is a longer lasting and more comfortable kennel for your dog.
What About The Rest of the Kennel?
The dog kennel walls and sides sit on small pieces of framework- known as blocks. They are spaced around the base of the kennel panels to stop the kennel sitting directly on the base. The blocks allow space for airflow and for water to flow underneath, as well as keeping the timber away from direct contact with standing water. We also recommend a water repellant be painted on to all of our kennels and animal housing to prevent water ingress and to prolong the lifespan of your dog kennel or aviary.
Custom Built Falconry Mews for Housing Birds of Prey
Based on our Chapman aviary, this bespoke falconry mews had a security entrance and large birdhouse. Our customer wanted a secure mews for their bird of prey, but they didn’t want any mesh on the building. With this in mind, we swapped the mesh front for galvanised bars which is considered by many falconers to be safer for birds of prey.
The aviary needed to be fit for purpose – safe, easy to clean and usable. The security entrance provided a two-door entry to prevent the bird from escaping, and we lined it with wipe-clean PVC. The entrance also had a phenolic coated floor, which is hard-wearing and easy to clean with disinfectant. As well as security, the entrance area also provided space to store feed, tethers and other raptor essentials.
The large flight area had no flooring to allow our customer to add gravel after installation. To keep the aviary cool in summer and warm in winter, we insulated the entire structure. We lined the insulation with white PVC, therefore creating a space that is wipable and easy to clean.
Falconry Housing and Bird Aviaries
View our range of aviaries and raptor housing. We also off a bespoke service. Aviaries For Sale
Enclosed Area 
Your falconry aviary should be built with the security and safety of your birds in mind. Even domestic cats and rats can endanger your birds so they should be kept away from them at all times. More attention should be given to small birds because they are the easiest and most vulnerable target or predators. 
