Parrot Housing Solutions – Our Own Aviaries and Bird Houses

In the spring of 2017, I began building a bird house specifically designed for larger parrot species. The structure includes five indoor aviaries, each connected to its own outdoor flight area. Four of them are identical in size, and one is larger — meeting even the zoo-level minimum requirements for keeping macaws and cockatoos (4 m × 2 m outdoor space, 3 m in height, and a 12 m³ indoor section). The lighting system is fully automated, gradually dimming in three stages before switching to a soft night light that remains on until morning. This setup is especially useful during winter feeding, when it’s already dark outside but the birds still have two to three hours of gentle light, simulating a natural sunset. During the colder months, ceramic heat lamps maintain the appropriate temperature. In another building, a central heating system ensures a stable climate for the more sensitive birds, where they spend the winter comfortably.

During the summer months, our young parrots are housed in spacious, nature-inspired outdoor aviaries, where ample space and natural sunlight promote their healthy development. In autumn, they return to the birdhouse, where central heating maintains a stable, species-appropriate temperature throughout the colder season. Hand-reared chicks are also kept here until they become fully independent. Afterwards, to support proper socialization, the juveniles are introduced into communal aviaries with adult birds, allowing them to learn natural behavioral patterns and species-specific forms of communication.

The breeding of Pyrrhuras also takes place in the garden. Here, there is a row of aviaries connected by a sheltered service corridor, allowing the birds to be fed directly from the walkway. More than half of each aviary is covered, so the parrots can bathe in the rain if they wish to cool off, or retreat to the sheltered inner section for protection. Each aviary measures 2 meters in length, 2 meters in height, and 80 centimeters in width.

The aviaries are surrounded by bamboo and tall plants, creating a more sheltered and natural environment for the parrots. The hanging leaves and seed pods provide both cover and enrichment, as the birds can nibble on them whenever they wish.

Among my future plans is the creation of aviaries designed to provide separated, non-breeding birds with a comfortable and natural environment where they can feel at ease.

Protecting Parrots from Pests

Unfortunately, many people don’t pay enough attention to this issue. In older forums and publications, it was often advised to build at least a 60 cm deep foundation to prevent foxes from digging under the aviaries. While foxes are relatively rare visitors, they’re not the main concern. Much more commonly, a cat wandering between the aviaries can pose a threat to the parrots. Even if the cat has no intention of harming them, its mere presence can cause panic among the birds. At night, a curious cat might climb onto the cages; in the dark, the frightened parrots may fly around in panic and injure themselves. Birds that sleep on the wire mesh are also at risk, as their feet can be reached from the outside by pests such as rats or martens.

At first, we focused on protecting the aviaries against three common unwanted “guests.” Rats can dig extensive tunnel systems underground, and even deep foundations don’t always provide full protection. By the time a rat burrow becomes noticeable, it’s usually too late for effective prevention. To avoid this, we covered the bottoms of the aviaries with spot-welded wire mesh and spread a layer of sand on top. Fully concreting the base was not an option, as we aim to maintain as natural an environment as possible for the parrots.

There are several ways to protect birds that sleep on the wire mesh. Some people install a double-layer mesh on the outer sides of the aviaries. Our goal, however, was to prevent predators from climbing the mesh altogether. We installed an electric fence along the lower sections of the aviaries, ensuring that the birds cannot reach it from the inside. The conductor wire is made entirely of metal, making it barely noticeable. Based on our experience, the system works very effectively — once a cat or marten comes into contact with it, they tend to avoid the area completely afterward. For anyone keeping birds outdoors, I highly recommend this solution. Even if no rats are seen during the day, they can still pose a serious threat to the birds at night.

To control mice attracted by spilled food, we use live traps. This is perhaps the most humane method, and there are trap designs that can catch multiple mice at once.

We’ve also had encounters with birds of prey in the past — they mainly targeted the smaller parrot species. Since then, the trees growing between the aviaries have matured, providing plenty of cover and shade for the enclosures. Thanks to this natural protection, we haven’t seen any kestrels or sparrowhawks attacking the parrots for years.