From the late 70s until 2004 the only aviaries at Chenoa Waterfowl were those constructed of chain link fencing. The major waterfowl inhabitants were true geese, shelducks, and mature ducks that could not escape through chain link fencing.

One option for the creation of an aviary of this type is simply to take an existing body of water. Visualize the enclosure to be constructed as a four sided figure surrounding the body of water in such a way that the sides of the figure would be at least 100 feet from the waters edge. If a four sided figure is less appropriate than a five or six sided figure to artistically and feasibly surround the body of water make the change to more sides.

Now mentally place posts which are 6" x 6" and 8 feet long buried three feet into the ground at the corners of the figure you visualized encompassing the body of water. The number of posts needed will be determined by the number of corners. An additional post will be placed next to one of the corner posts to make a gate of sufficient width to allow mowers, tractors, trucks, etc. to enter.

At this point a 15.5 gauge high tensile strength barbed wire should be tightly stretched from post to post around the perimeter and directly on the surface of the ground. If the land is sufficiently rolling additional posts may be needed to keep the barbed wire close to the ground. This design calls for the use of 5.5' farm "t" posts placed every ten feet along the barbed wire with about 55 inches out of the ground. Literally drive them in to the top of the flange.

Chain link fence 2.25" in size and 48" tall of economy quality is then stretched between the wood posts until the average height of the wire is 47.5". The chain link fence will finally be connected to each of the "T" posts using the wire clips supplied with/for the posts. The chain link fence will then be connected to the barbed wire by bending down every third knuckle (approximately 8" apart) and hooking it around the barbed wire before bending the knuckle back into the original position. Finally the chain link fence will be topped with an electric fence wire placed on insulators about two inches above the fence. The gate should preferably be a welded pipe gate covered with chain link fence with an electric fence strand across the top. It is a good idea to place a four by six treated wood threshold under the gate.

A walk around the perimeter fence on a regular basis is a necessity. To make observation easier the fence should be mowed to "yard" height at least six feet on each side of the fence and the fence should be weed whacked. A good routine is to mow the fence on both sides blowing the grass away from the fence, then weed whack it. Complete the job by blowing two more rounds on each side of the fence toward the fence. This process helps to prevent digging by predators. The inside of the enclosure needs to be maintained with open areas and bushes or trees, but should not become dense enough to hamper movement of the pinioned waterfowl and possibly their offspring or to provide a hideout for a predator that somehow beat the predator proofing. In the photographs which follow of the example enclosure a theme of islands of weeds and grasses with bushes and trees planted in the islands will be noted.

When the enclosure is constructed in a climate with significant periods of cold weather, attention needs to be paid to keeping open water. This feat can be accomplished by the use of a small air compressor connected to half inch black plastic roll water pipe. The pipe should pass through the deepest part of the body of water with the open end being placed out of the water on the bank where it is accessible. A water faucet is connected to the end to be opened when flushing the pipe at the beginning of operation and closed when the compressor is operating. The pipe occupying the deepest water should have about five "pin" holes placed seven feet apart in that section of pipe. Pieces of metal or concrete should be strapped onto the pipe with copper or aluminum wire to weight the pipe to the bottom of the body of water. The air compressor can be equipped with a thermostat to start the compressor at a point prior to freezing such as 34 degrees. The compressor should normally be set at about 10 pounds pressure or where the compressor will continue to blow air for about twice as long as it pumps. In extreme cold the pressure may need to be increased.

Examples of this type enclosure with photographs related to its peculiarities follow:

Three Acre Lake In An Enclosure of Six Acres Three Smaller Enclosures With Ponds Of Approximately 20' By 30' Shown On The Right

Photograph Of the Left Bank Showing Islands Of Weeds and Tall Grasses

Just To The Right Of The Last Photograph - A Hole In The Grass Island Shows A Bench Placed In The Water Supporting Wood Duck Type Boxes With Ramps Reaching Land

Lake Of Approximately 3/4s Acre In An Enclosure Of Four Acres

Recently Renovated Lake Of Approximately 1.5 Acres In An Enclosure of Five Acres

Photograph Of The Southwest Corner Of The Enclosure Showing Islands of Weeds And Grasses, Bushes, and Trees

Photograph Of The Southeast Corner Of The Enclosure Showing Islands of Weeds And Grasses, Bushes, and Trees

Nest Boxes Mounted On A Bench For Use By Pinioned Ducks Bench and Ramps Are Placed On Land

Chain Link Fence Constructed As Described Earlier Note Length Of Stretch And Uneven Terrain

Close-up Of Chain Link Line Fence Utilizing "T" Posts

Chain Link Fence Secured To The Ground With Barbed Wire

Chain Link Fence Connected To Barbed Wire

A Second View Of Chain Link Fence Connected To Barbed Wire

Pipe Gate Covered With Chain Link Fence

Heavier Pipe Gate Covered With Chain Link Fence

A major benefit of this type enclosure is the relatively low expense of materials and labor. In addition, easy adaptation to existing landscapes and irregular shaped bodies of water is a plus.

Problems with the aforementioned enclosure are protection from Great Horned Owls and an occasional Red-Tailed Hawk that can fly into the enclosure. Mink can go through the chain link, but opossum, raccoon, fox, and coyote will be repelled except for an occasional "dig under" by a raccoon or opossum. One remedy is to not patch the hole, but place an altered Hav-a-hart trap in front of the opening, so the varmint can be caught and removed from the enclosure. Feed that is available 24/7 placed close to the water tends to keep the birds full and also near the water particularly at night, thus making an invading predator less likely to be successful.

Earlier the concept of blowing the mowed grass against the wire to deter dig unders was mentioned. This mowing process tends to encourage the growth particularly of Burmuda grass at the bottom of the chain link. Some areas however have a slow growing grass or grass that does not respond well to having the clippings placed on it. Other areas don't grow enough grass or there are waterfowl on both sides of the fence and they eat or tromp the grass until this mowing concept is not workable. These areas are vulnerable to dig unders.

The T posts at Chenoa are placed 10 feet apart. The grass at the base of the fence can be weed whacked very close to the ground. Welded wire panels of 1" by 2" size can be cut 10" 6" long in strips that are 24" wide. One end can be placed against a fence post while the other end is cut down the middle to make a fork to go around the next fence post in line. With a new strip of wire cover the fork from the last strip and cut a fork for the next post in line, etc. The grass should then be allowed to grow through the wire and lock it to the ground. If need be the barbed wire can be attached to the welded wire panels.

Cost of this type enclosure can be estimated using an example size such as a land area that is 300' on each side and contains a pond that is approximately 100' by 100'. Approximately $75.00 is saved for each ten feet eliminated from the width or the length and by like token a similar amount is added for each ten additional feet added.

This file was placed in service 09/06/2004.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

Last Modified Saturday, 26-Apr-2008 13:04:12 CDT