This aviary for ducks, geese and shelducks provides a home for 350 to 400 birds as they are growing out prior to the beginning of shipping on November 1. The facility is structurally made of treated wood, 1" by 2" welded wire that is six feet tall, and topped with 2 inch Toprite III netting. The example structure is 75 feet wide and 100 feet long which is in part determined by the width of the net. Included in this aviary is a concrete pond which is approximately 25 feet by 50 feet. A 2" x 6" kick board has been placed around the aviary at ground level. Stapled to the bottom of the kick board is a piece of 1" x 2" welded wire 16" in width and 10' 6" in length. The extra 6" allows for overlap from one 2" x 6" x 10' to another. Prior to securing the kick board with the welded wire attached, a trench was dug which was sloped from the bottom of the aviary to about two feet from the aviary and ended with a depth of about 6 inches. After placement of the kick board the wire was bent down into the trench and covered with earth. This action was done to deter entry into the aviary by predators. The aviary will be assumed to minimally provide water for swimming; prepared feed to insure the desired nutritional level; wind breaks for sun and wind protection; and a selected level of predator protection.

This presentation will center on the construction and intended use of the concrete pond. The aviary proper is constructed using the same design and techniques as those employed in the construction of the Breeder Duck Aviary.

Grow Out Aviary

The corner stone of the aviary was to be the concrete pond around which the aviary was to be built. The photographs of the pond in the presentation below were taken during the construction of the concrete pond in an attempt to show the various stages of the construction process.

Backhoe Preparation Of The Pond Site

The intent was to construct a concrete pond with an approximate 24 inch depth in the middle with sloping sides. The aviary was to be 75 feet by 100 feet. The pond size selected was 25 feet by 50 feet with placement in the center of the aviary leaving 25 feet of ground space on all sides of the pond. Thus the pond was built and the aviary was built around it.

The pond was laid out using electric fence posts to mark the four corners. A Backhoe was employed to do the excavation work. This turned out to be harder than expected as demonstrated by a sloped side on the right and a steeper side on the left. Finally, it seemed prudent to say that is enough backhoe work. We will finish it with a shovel. That process was complicated by the rains plus a rather long time before a concrete crew could be lined up. Thus a shovel was used several times during the waiting period.

Pond To Be Is Formed And Ready

Setting up the 2 by 4 form was no small task even with the use of levels and a transit. Finally the plan came together with a dry spell followed by a concrete truck and crew. The concrete contained fibers used in the making of swimming pools, but knowing what I know now some form of metal such as wire or rebar should have been included. Some cracking took place shortly after hardening of the concrete. Although not a detriment to the project, the cracks have been an unnecessary nuisance.

Progress Is Being Made

Once begun the project moved rapidly. The standpipe was left in place to mark the drain and to keep concrete from plugging it up. It was removable to allow for smoothing around the drain. It will be left unsealed permanently to allow for draining and cleaning of the pond.

Almost Completed

Some 30 yards of concrete later the project is almost at a point of closure. This work was started at 4:00 PM and was completed by 7:00 PM.

Time For Water

The finished pond is ready for water although the 2 x 4 forms have not been removed. The slope inconsistencies of the left and right banks are still evident in the finished product. These have not been a factor in the use of the pond and may have been a benefit producing a greater water depth on the left with the sharper slope.

It Is Level, Isn't It?

To my surprise and certainly with a great feeling of satisfaction was the fact the pond sides were as level as they turned out to be. The water level is higher than normal just to check the levelness of the pond sides. The white fill pipe at the far end is now underground. The standpipe at this point has not been cut to establish water height. This process did allow for determining where the pipe should be cut to allow for the most desirable height.

From The Other End

If this aviary 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 five to 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.

Due to the relatively small size of the body of water incorporated into this aviary it is possible that a garden hose could be used to keep open water. However this pond is equipped with a one inch pipe to bring a flow of water approximately eight hours a day during normal weather and 24 hours per day during periods below 32 degrees. Excesss water from this pond goes into a series of lakes and ponds before leaving Chenoa. About once per year the standpipe is lifted to let out the water and the collected debris is washed off the pond bottom.

Grow Out Aviary

Construction of this aviary is fairly straight forward except for the concrete pond as is shown by the accompanying photographs. You are reminded that a more complete discussion of the aviary construction can be found at Breeder Duck Aviary. The aviary is virtually predator proof from the air by way of the top net. The same is true by the ground with an electric fence placed at a height of about five feet on the wire walls of the aviary plus the dig wire discussed earlier.

The greatest concern is with ice and snow on the top net, thus the apparent "over" bracing and the use of cables to aid in supporting the top net under unusual weather conditions. If the very young are to be reared in this aviary a foot wide piece of aluminum flashing will need to be placed at the level of and above the kick board to keep the young from getting out of the aviary and possibly not being able to get back into the aviary. You will also note that a ten foot wide sheet of greenhouse sunscreen has been placed across the top net to provide shade. This sunscreen material is removed before cold weather and the resulting ice and snow.

This file was placed in service 01/31/2008.

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

Last Modified Saturday, 26-Apr-2008 13:03:00 CDT