U.S.
There are many shapes and sizes of aviaries. There really are few constraints except the legal ones, your own living situation, and the bird's needs. Many aviary designs can appear very unattractive, but are actually much more sensitive to the bird's needs then you’d think. While we would design an aviary for ourselves that had many open windows, many birds become nervous when they cannot hide. Dark corners which, to us, look spooky, become preferred perching places.
There are generally two well-defined entities - a weathering yard and a mews. A weathering yard is an open area where the bird may safely spend her days during good weather. A mews is where she will live and is traditionally a stand-alone building completely enclosed. However, there are many structures that are hybrids or are only one or the other, and many situations where birds are kept in other ways. There are a zillion ways to keep birds of prey healthy and in excellent condition but more than a zillion ways she will find to damage a feather or injure herself. A good falconer will look for many options, try something out, and observe how it works for him and the bird, ready to make changes as necessary.
There are generally two well-defined entities - a weathering yard and a mews. A weathering yard is an open area where the bird may safely spend her days during good weather. A mews is where she will live and is traditionally a stand-alone building completely enclosed. However, there are many structures that are hybrids or are only one or the other, and many situations where birds are kept in other ways. There are a zillion ways to keep birds of prey healthy and in excellent condition but more than a zillion ways she will find to damage a feather or injure herself. A good falconer will look for many options, try something out, and observe how it works for him and the bird, ready to make changes as necessary.
The US law doesn’t state any minimum standard dimensions for enclosures but I will provide you with the minimum requirements for every species to ensure both their mental and physical wellbeing.
Before I give you the minimum standard dimensions, here’s what the US law says about the housing of falconry raptors: State, tribal, or territorial laws may be more restrictive than these Federal standards but may not be less restrictive:
(d)Facilities and care requirements -
(1)Facilities you must have and maintain. You must keep all raptors you hold under your falconry permit in humane and healthful conditions.
(i) Whether they are indoors (a “mews”) or outdoors (a “weathering area”), your raptor facilities must protect raptors in them from the environment, predators, and domestic animals. You are responsible for the maintenance and security (protection from predators) of raptors you possess under your permit.
(ii) You must have raptor housing facilities approved by your State, tribe, or territory before you may obtain a bird to use in falconry. Your State, tribe, or territory may require that you have both indoor and outdoor facilities. A representative of your agency that regulates falconry, or its designee, must certify that your facilities and equipment meet the following standards:
(A) For housing raptors indoors or outdoors, the facility must protect raptors from predators and domestic animals.
(1) The facility must have a suitable perch for each raptor, at least one opening for sunlight, and must provide a healthy environment for raptors inside.
(2) You may house untethered raptors together if they are compatible with each other.
(3) Each raptor must have an area large enough to allow it to fly if it is untethered or, if tethered, to fully extend its wings or bate (attempt to fly while tethered) without damaging its feathers or contacting other raptors.
(4) Each falconry bird must have access to a pan of clean water unless weather conditions, the perch type used, or some other factor makes access to a water pan unsafe for the raptor.
(B) An indoor facility must be large enough to allow easy access for the care and feeding of raptors kept there.
(1) If raptors you house in this indoor facility are not tethered, all walls that are not solid must be protected on the inside. Suitable materials may include vertical bars spaced narrower than the width of the body of the smallest raptor you house in the enclosure. However, heavy-duty netting or other such materials may be used to cover the walls or roof of the enclosure.
(1) If raptors you house in this indoor facility are not tethered, all walls that are not solid must be protected on the inside. Suitable materials may include vertical bars spaced narrower than the width of the body of the smallest raptor you house in the enclosure. However, heavy-duty netting or other such materials may be used to cover the walls or roof of the enclosure.
(2) Acceptable indoor facilities include shelf perch enclosures where raptors are tethered side by side. Other innovative housing systems are acceptable if they provide the enclosed raptors with protection and allow them to maintain healthy feathers.
(3) An eyas raptor may be kept in any suitable container or enclosure until it is capable of flight.
(C) You may keep a falconry raptor or raptors inside your place of residence if you provide a suitable perch or perches. If you house your raptor(s) inside your home, you do not need to modify windows or other openings of the structure. Raptors kept in your home must be tethered when they are not being moved into or out of the location in which they are kept.
(D) An outdoor facility must be totally enclosed, and may be made of heavy-gauge wire, heavy-duty plastic mesh, slats, pipe, wood, or other suitable material.
(1) The facility must be covered and have at least a covered perch to protect a raptor held in it from predators and weather.
(2) The facility must be large enough to insure that the birds cannot strike the enclosure when flying from the perch.
(3) New types of housing facilities and/or husbandry practices may be used if they satisfy the requirements above and are approved by the State, tribal, or territorial authority regulating falconry.
(iii) You may keep falconry raptors outside in the open if they are under watch, such as by you or a family member at any location or, for example, by a designated individual in a weathering yard at a falconry meet.
(iv) You must inform your State, tribal, or territorial agency within 5 business days if you change the location of your facilities.
(2)Falconry facilities on property you do not own - (i) Your falconry facilities may be on property owned by another person where you reside, or at a different location. Regardless of location, the facilities must meet the standards in paragraph (d)(1) of this section and those of the State, tribe, or territory from which you have a falconry permit.
(ii) You must submit to your State, tribal, or territorial agency that regulates falconry a signed and dated statement showing that you agree that the falconry facilities and raptors may be inspected without advance notice by State, tribal (if applicable), or territorial authorities at any reasonable time of day, but you must be present. If your facilities are not on property that you own, you must submit a signed and dated statement showing that the property owner agrees that the falconry facilities and raptors may be inspected by State, tribal (if applicable), or territorial authorities at any reasonable time of day in the presence of the property owner; except that the authorities may not enter the facilities or disturb the raptors unless you are present.
(3)Equipment you must have and maintain. You must have jesses or the materials and equipment to make them, leash and swivel, bath container, and appropriate scales or balances for weighing raptor(s) you possess.
(4)Facilities you must have for a raptor when you are transporting it, using it for hunting, or are away from your home with it. You must be sure that the bird has a suitable perch and is protected from extreme temperatures, wind, and excessive disturbance. A “giant hood” or similar container is acceptable for transporting or housing a raptor when you are away from the permanent facility where it is housed.
(5) Temporarily housing a raptor outside of your permanent facilities when you are not transporting it or using it for hunting. You may house a raptor in temporary facilities for no more than 120 consecutive calendar days if the bird has a suitable perch and is protected from predators, domestic animals, extreme temperatures, wind, and excessive disturbance.
(5) Temporarily housing a raptor outside of your permanent facilities when you are not transporting it or using it for hunting. You may house a raptor in temporary facilities for no more than 120 consecutive calendar days if the bird has a suitable perch and is protected from predators, domestic animals, extreme temperatures, wind, and excessive disturbance.
Please keep in mind that, depending on what state you live in, your state may or may not require a double-door system.
Dimensions
Many factors influence the minimum space required for an individual, a pair or a group of birds of prey, including, but not limited to: species, group size and composition, and enclosure complexity.
The following are minimum requirements. Facilities provide as much space as is possible and/or practical.
If the enclosure only meets the minimum requirements for enclosure space, the falconer should provide additional environmental enrichment, focusing on physical and mental exercise rather than food, to compensate for reduced space and complexity.
General
Enclosures are a minimum of:
- 215 sq. ft. (20 sq. m) for per large vulture or eagle.
- 107 sq. ft. (10 sq. m.) per small buzzard, eagle or vulture.
- 97 sq. ft. (9 sq. m) per falcon or large accipiter.
- 65 sq. ft. (6 sq. m) per kite, harrier and small accipiter.
- 43 sq. ft. (4 sq. m) per kestrel or small owl.
Minimum vertical dimension
- 10 ft. (3 m) for all species.
- Ideally secretary birds, large eagles and vultures have taller enclosures.
- Secretary birds also have sufficient space for running.
- Where possible, consideration is given to soft netting enclosure ceilings to reduce risk of
- injury.
Indoor shelter, which includes a heat source as indicated by species and climate, is a
minimum of 22 sq. ft. (2 sq. m) per healthy, flighted bird with a minimum height of 6 ft. (3 m).
- 8 ft. (2.5 m) for secretarybirds.
- When health conditions indicate, a smaller space may be appropriate.
- Justification for smaller space includes veterinary approval.
- For non cold adapted species, which must be housed in heated facilities long term, larger spaces are recommended.
Mixed species enclosures
Meet minimum space requirements for all species sharing an enclosure.
What about the materials?
Raptors can be housed and properly cared for in a variety of enclosures. Building a solid wood mew is not the only alternative. The following are general descriptions of adequate facilities; final judgments rest with those conducting inspections.
Raptors can be housed and properly cared for in a variety of enclosures. Building a solid wood mew is not the only alternative. The following are general descriptions of adequate facilities; final judgments rest with those conducting inspections.
Walls: Wall can be wood or fiberglass. If chain link is used, it should be covered entirely with wood lath, fiberglass screening, netting, etc. Take care not to leave nails, screws, wood splinters, etc., exposed. Partially bury walls or lay chicken wire horizontally along the exterior base of the wall to prevent predator (wild and domestic) digging.
Windows: Use vertical lathing or dowels (mounted on the inside). Chicken wire is unacceptable.
Flooring: Wood shavings (not sawdust). Natural flooring may be used (dirt, sand, etc.) , but it must be periodically turned and disinfected. Pea gravel also works. Concrete will suffice, but it is hard on feet and talons. Concrete also tends to stay damp when washed down. In another article, we’ll discuss all of the possible floorings and their pros and cons. So stay tuned for that.
Perches: Provide one or more at different heights, with one by a window. Use wood dowelings, platforms and or block perches that are covered with artificial turf, hemp rope or indooor/outdoor carpeting. Also use covered bow, block and/or ring perches depending on the species held.
- Acciptiters: Goshawks, Cooper's Hawks, and Sharp-shinned Hawks do best on round perches (covered doweling).
- Falcons: Prairie Falcons, Gyr Falcons and Peregrine Falcons do best on covered dowelings and round perches.
- Buteos: Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks and Swainson's Hawk do best on covered dowelings and block perches.
A double-door system works great, but not required. A key lock or combination lock is also recommended.
So, now that you know the legal standards and what materials to use, HOW ON EARTH do you start building that thing? The following guide will explain and show you everything, from the very beginning, step by step. It’s aimed at absolute beginners. You only need the most basic of tools and no existing carpentry skills. It has easy plans and instructions: Clear, colored, step-by-step designs provide you with all the measurements and instructions you need – it’s idiot proof. This guide also allows you to cut costs! Building an aviary can save you up to 80% over buying a new one. This can amount to hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars saved. It’s provided in a downloadable format so you can print as many copies as you wish. If your copy gets damaged or you lose it, you’re allowed to make a new one. You get plans & and designs for building both indoor and outdoor aviaries and bird rooms, so take your pick. It doesn’t only teach you how to build the aviary itself but also how to build proper ventilation, to prevent the build-up of harmful gases and every other techniqual requirement for your aviary. Here’s the link to the guide:
http://1eb272rfja1n6p3zytnrr5tka7.hop.clickbank.net/
Other useful resources about building falconry aviaries:
How to Build Your Own Aviary, Cages, Nestboxes, Etc. and $ave a Bundle: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Build Your Own Aviary: A Birdkeeper's Guide to Design and Construction
http://amzn.to/2oZFpiu
Aviary Design and Construction (A Blandford pet handbook)
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