One issue that occurs to me is that I've heard too many stories of cats and weasels killing birds, and I know that rats like to eat eggs and chicks. I haven't heard stories about mice, but I wouldn't be surprised if they eat the eggs and chicks of smaller birds, though mice are so small I'm not sure how I'd keep them out.
So I'm wondering if anybody has strategies for building fully predator-proof aviaries? My intuition would be to build an aviary as follows:
- Remove grass from a flat area slightly larger than I want the aviary to be, a few inches deep.
- Plant metal or wooden posts. Measure between where doors will go and plant two posts on either side, attach door between them.
- Lay out metal posts along the top to connect posts and nail or sauter them together.
- Wrap chain-ling fence around the entire outside enclosure. Attach to posts.
- Pour concrete around posts until it comes up to the bottom of the door frame and covers the bottom parts of the fence.
- When concrete is dry, build roof and put chainlink fence or a solid roof depending on whether it's a field or woodland species.
- Cover the inside with aviary mesh.
Anyone have experience building predator-proof aviaries?