Keeping a mixed collection of Birds in an Aviary

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Keeping many different species of birds in one aviary is not always as easy as it seems. You can often mix quite diverse species, but this is normally more straightforward out of the breeding season or with single birds. The breeding season is an important factor to consider. Once it begins, the different species of birds that once lived so happily together can suddenly turn on each other as they fight for territory and protect their nest sites. Quite literally, warfare can break out.

Keeping one single bird in an aviary with several other pairs should present no problems, but if you decide to pair it up, keep a close eye on it in case trouble starts. Because the individual characters of each species vary so much, it is very difficult to give detailed advice on what species of bird you can safely keep together
The majority of birds usually moult just after the breeding season. Do not be alarmed that during the moulting period, they may not be able to fly quite as well as they usually do; this is quite normal.

During the warm summer months that follow, the new birds can familiarize themselves with the garden, the aviary, the diet, their fellow occupants, etc., so that by the time winter approaches, they should be fully acclimatized. Many birds can cope with cold conditions, but it all depends on how fast the winter materializes. If freezing conditions arrive suddenly, you may lose all your birds in one go, but if winter approaches gradually and you keep your birds in a well- sheltered aviary, in general and depending on the species involved, they should be able to cope. It is not low temperatures that normally kill birds, it is the combination of wetness and wind. If your birds become wet and are in a draught, they will rapidly lose heat and die.

Allowing your birds to bathe occasionally is a good way to keep it healthy. It is not sensible to provide a permanent dish for bathing unless you are prepared to change the water every day. It is essential to change the water because your bird will not be able to distinguish between drinking and bathing water and will end up drinking from the water it has just bathed in. A good method is to introduce a large, shallow container full of water into the cage or enclosure once a week and remove it after a couple of hours.