Mixed Aviary Concept

Going mixed-aviary:

Dilemmas and Problems

Although my love of birds started with cockatiels, it has expanded over the past four years to other genre’s including several New World and African psittacines and African finches.   I have always been concerned with the intermixing of aviaries and have done extensive research with breeders and veterinarians alike.  Most share a very common belief system which I have employed in my aviary

Because different types of birds handle virus and bacteria differently, it is important that if you are keeping birds besides cockatiels, that these birds do not share the incubator with cockatiels.  Nursery management has less to do with cleaning and disinfecting and more to do with cross contamination.  Cockatiels may be able to handle a specific bacteria and live with it in their system.  Thus, they can be considered a “host” for that bacteria.  No good germ would kill the bird it intends to duplicate in.  If it did, it could not proliferate itself.  This is the case in Candida.  According to most researchers, Candida (or “yeast”) is not in itself a problem for the healthy cockatiel.  Its only in otherwise compromised birds, that I have seen Candida run out of control.  It is thus called a “secondary problem”.  Thus, the primary purpose must be also addressed; whether it be an overstretched crop, over-medication, or stressful environment.  Without addressing the primary problem, you cannot properly treat the bird.

 
Thus, as folks add birds to their flock, its important to look at the special needs of that particular species.  Cockatiels are very communal and do well flocking and breeding in the midst of their species.  Other birds, such as parrotlets, are protective and private and would rather not see others of their species while they are in a nesting situation. Cockatiels can have crop issues as their crop hangs differently than some of the New World parrots.  Finches can carry mites and require careful placement of pairs so that species do not fight in a communal setting.  I would suggest the following before folks decide to bring in a new genre of birds into their aviary

1. Consider working just in one continent:  Birds of the same continent often handle germs, temperature, noise, etc.  in the same manner.  If you are working with New World, you may concentrate on birds found in areas like Peru which would include Macaws and Amazons.  For Africa, maybe the Poicephalus family would do the trick.
2. If you choose multiple continents, make sure you have separate airspace and, even more important, separate nursery areas for the different species.  Keep syringes separated and definitely do not mix clutches.
3. Clean your different areas on different days and have a lab coat in each area to help with cross contamination.  There is no reason to think your birds have disease, but why cross contaminate and give birds in one area flora that they can’t handle.
4. Wash all your dishes from each aviary separately.  This is easy to do if you clean your aviaries on different days.  This is the best way to prevent cross contamination. 

The best idea is to choose wisely as you pick different species to raise.  Do research and find out the noise level, prominent diseases, and aviary conditions necessary to keep the species.  You will notice that many successful breeders will concentrate on one continent or even just one species.  Its always more prudent to specialize and succeed than it is to run in different directions and succeed.