So you’ve decided to buy a new bird aviary but you don’t know where to begin. Maybe you have just one pigeon, maybe you have a flock of finches or maybe you even have a couple of oversized parrots! No matter what it is, you’ve come to the right place to help you decide the right aviary for you and your birds.
Anyone that owns a bird will definitely need an aviary or bird cage (what’sp the difference?) of some kind or another. But the aviary that you need will depend upon many factors such as what type of birds you have, the number of birds, whether it’s indoors or outdoors etc. So read on to find out more.
Comparison of Bird Aviaries
| Name | Image | Price | Size | Weight (lbs) |  Our Rating | Our Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paney Walk-In Aviary |  | Check Price | 87” x 61” x 81” | 202 lbs | 4.5/5 | Best Value |
| Trixie Pet Products Aviary |  | Check Price | 31" x 31" x 71" | 67 lbs | 4/5 | Good for Finches |
| A and E Cage Co. Walk-In Aviary |  | Check Price | 86" x 62" x 79" | 385 lbs | 5/5 | Best Overall |
| Jaxpety Hexagonal Aviary |  | Check Price | 48" x 92" | 91 lbs | 4/5 | Good for Conures |
| Magshion Circular Aviary |  | Check Price | 70" x 30" | 63 lbs | 3.5/5 | Good for Parakeets |
| Pawhut Aviary |  | Check Price | 41.75" x 37" x 71" | 68 lbs | 3.5/5 | Good for Cockatiels |
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What Is An Aviary?
People often use the terms bird aviary and bird cage to mean the same thing. But there are many differences between the types of bird buildings available:
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Bird Aviary
This is a type of large enclosure for birds that provides your birds more space to fly around. It’s better for your birds’ health and happiness but it can be more expensive.
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Bird Cage
These are a smaller and less expensive type of enclosure that your birds will live in. Larger versions of bird cages are sometimes called flight cages but even these tend to be smaller than aviaries.
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Bird Atrium
A large enclosure for birds that is typically encased on all sides, except it has an open top roof that is covered in wire or glass allowing the light to enter. Very similar to an aviary and often a term that is used interchangeably.
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Bird Enclosure
An umbrella term used to cover many different types of avian buildings. Bird enclosures can take many different formats such as an aviary, cage, atrium, pigeon loft, pheasant pen and more.
Note: to confuse matters, companies often list products as both an aviary and a bird cage even when they aren’t so that they cover the keywords for which people are searching online.
Requirements for Bird Aviaries
Design
First, think about how the bird aviary will function with its design. For example, does the aviary come with a floor? Is it easy to change the food and water inside the aviary? Is there a safety door? Will the spacing on the wires be small enough to prevent birds from fitting through? So make sure the aviary you choose matches all of your functional requirements.
Second, look at the dimensions of the aviary and then take a tape measure and place it in your home or garden to see if you have enough space.
Third, you also want to think about how it looks aesthetically: is the aviary the right color? Will the aviary match it’s surroundings? etc.
Finally, do you want it to be a walk-in aviary design so you can enter and interact with your birds? A walk-in aviary might come with a double safety door entrance to prevent escapes.
According to Poultry Science, there’s even evidence to suggest that with the correct aviary design, the bone strength of your birds will improve.
Budget
When setting your budget you want to shop around to for price ranges so you have an idea of what you can expect. Also, the aviary is not the only thing you need to consider as you’ll need other equipment as well such as feeding trays, perches etc. So factor this amount in when deciding upon your budget.
Aviary Prices
- Smaller sized aviaries start at around $150 to $200 and are typically used with parakeets, cockatiels and finches.
- Medium sized aviaries for parrots such as conures, caiques and larger size parakeets range from $200 to $500.
- Large sized aviaries for large parrots such as macaws and cockatoos start at around $500 on the lower end but are more likely to cost you $1000 or even $2000.
Indoor vs Outdoor
If you’re going for an outdoor aviary then you need to consider the climate that you’re living in. How hot and cold will the aviary be at different times of the day and at different times of the year as well? Also, will the aviary have any shade for the birds or will they be in direct sunlight all day long?
On the other hand, an indoor aviary doesn’t need to be as strong or resistant. The need for a safety door to prevent escapes also isn’t as necessary because escaped birds will still be in the house if the windows are closed. However, if you have an indoor bird aviary then you need to consider how the aviary will be cleaned so that mess doesn’t spread in your house and you might need to consider an air purifier.
Build Quality
The material that the bird aviary is made from is of the utmost importance and will decide how long the aviary will last. Metal is better than hardwood and hardwood generally tends to be better than softwood. When it comes to wood, a lot can depend upon the type of wood that you’re buying and what finish or protective paint has been applied to the wood.
You also need to consider if your birds are chewers or not – birds that chew will need stronger wiring to prevent escapes.
Build quality is especially important for outdoor aviaries as you’ll want materials that are water, wind and snow resistant depending upon your environment.
According to Pheasant.org.uk, you also need to think about how strong the aviary is to prevent any intruders such as foxes, raccoons, mice etc. and take the appropriate precautions depending upon your location.
Ease of setup
A bird aviary can usually be built within a couple of hours. But you might want to check if the aviary can be put together by a single person or if 2 people are needed to fit the parts together.
The bigger the aviary is, the harder it tends to be to set up. Bigger aviaries also tend to be harder to move around once set up. Metal aviaries are generally heavier and so are harder to put together. Also, see what people are saying about the instructions in terms of how clear and detailed they are.
Types of Bird Aviaries
Different types of bird have varying aviary requirements. Below we’ve listed what each species needs in its aviary:
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Finch Aviary
Finches are very small birds that only need relatively small sized aviaries. Their weak beaks mean that the aviary can be built using most materials since they are unlikely to be able to chew or break anything. The bar or wire spacing should be kept fairly small at 1/2″ so they can’t escape through the gaps. Plus, the thickness for this wire also doesn’t have to be very large and can be as small as 2mm in diameter. All of these rules hold rule for a Canary aviary as well. They also only need perches that are relatively small in diameter for their feet.
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Parrot Aviary
Parrots are suited to living in large aviaries more so than small bird cages. Different parrots come in a range of sizes, so we’ve broken the requirements needed for your parrot aviary depending upon the species that you own:
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Parakeet Aviary
This type of enclosure is typically built for the budgerigar species and so also gets called a budgie aviary. These birds are one of the smaller species of parrot and so only need their wire spacing to be maximum 1/2″ and their bar thickness to be at a minimum 2mm. You’ll want a number of differently sized perches for your budgies to rest on so that you promote good foot health. Plus a number of bird toys should be included to keep them entertained.
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Cockatiel Aviary
The cockatiel is a small species of the cockatoo family that is quite easy to look after. With a cockatiel aviary, you need bar spacing that is at a maximum of 5/8″ to 3/4″ and has a bar thickness of 2.5mm in diameter. To prevent diseases such as bumblefoot you’ll want perches that vary in size and some that have coarse textures. Several cockatiels in an aviary work well together.
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Macaw Aviary
Macaw parrots are medium to large sized pet birds and they come with very powerful beaks. When buying a Macaw Aviary it needs to be very large in size. Because of this, you can keep their bar spacing fairly large at 1″ to 1-1/4″ in size. The bar thickness should be fairly wide at a minimum of 5mm and sometimes thicker for the much larger sized macaws. Plus the materials you want these bars to be made from would be wrought iron or stainless steel. Weaker woods and plastics will be easily chewed away. Macaws are smart creatures that will need a number of toys to keep them happy in their aviary. You’ll also need a number of thick wooden perches of varying sizes.
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Pigeon Aviary
Whilst people might search for a pigeon aviary, what these buildings are typically called is either a pigeon loft or a dovecote. A pigeon loft is used by pigeon fanciers that breed and display their pigeons or by people that are into pigeon racing. A dovecote on the other hand is typically kept as a garden in a large home and is used to keep a small flock of doves.
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Quail Aviary
You’ll want a fair amount of room for your quail aviary as these birds like to roam and are often kept by amateur poultry keepers for the eggs they produce. A quail aviary doesn’t need all of the extra features that are needed in a chicken coop, however they will still appreciate some well built shelter that provides rain cover.
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Pheasant Aviary
This aviary normally goes by the name of the pheasant pen and is used to keep these game birds sheltered during the cold winter months. Because pheasants are fairly large birds they typically use aviary netting instead of wiring or bars to keep the birds contained.
6 Best Bird Aviary Reviews
1. Paney Walk-In Aviary
- Lot’s of space allowing for short flight for even larger birds.
- Walk-in door allows you to easily enter, clean and change you aviary plus interact with your birds.
- Uses aluminum wire which is bird safe and non-toxic.
- Offers similar functionality to higher end aviaries for people on a tighter budget.
- Poor instructions for putting it together.
- An active chewer with a large beak such as a Macaw might be able to break through.
Who this aviary is for?
Since this aviary offers a lot of space it works well with owners of medium and larger sized birds such as Macaws. You’ll need plenty of room in your home or backyard to contain the size of this aviary.
Bottom line
The is the aviary for bird owners that need a lot of room but are working on a tight budget. It comes with the standard features of a large access door, perch and x2 feeding/watering trays, but you’ll still want to furnish the inside with extra accessories. The additional aviary covers that are available are recommended if you’re keeping your outdoors.
The workmanship and quality of the materials used in this aviary are not as great as those available in the Walk-In aviary by A & E, but you’re getting the aviary at a much cheaper rate so it is to be expected.
However, in terms of value for money this is one of the best aviaries available.
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5
^ Return to comparisons at the top
2. Trixie Pet Products Aviary
- Fantastic, beautiful design – looks brilliant.
- Many built-in features for birds to play with: trays, frames, bowls, ladders etc.
- Easy to access with 3 doors of different sizes, stops birds flying out.
- Long warranty
- Badly packaged so there is a small chance of damage appearing on arrival (so prepare for minor fixes or making use of the one year warranty)
- Made of glazed pine which is better for indoor use and not outdoors.
- Feeding trays could be better positioned.
Who this aviary is for?
People that like spacious, aesthetically pleasing aviaries. However, this isn’t really for use as an outdoor aviary unless you’re prepared to modify the aviary or you live in a mild climate.
Bottom line
This Trixie Pet aviary is a lot more spacious than it appears in the photos and it’s design really is very pleasing to the eye. What’s more, I’ve yet to see another aviary with as many built-in features.
The main drawback is that there are reports of people having packaging issues with damaged parts arriving. Fortunately, this only appears in a small number of cases and the one year warranty will cover you with a replacement if this is the case.
Our Rating
4 out of 5
Good for Finches
^ Return to comparisons at the top
3. A and E Cage Co. Walk-In Aviary
- Very high quality materials, incredibly sturdy and able to withstand the toughest weather conditions.
- Very large and spacious for many birds.
- Durable and worth investing in if you want an aviary that will last you many years to come.
- Highly priced.
- Will need to install your own additional perches, ladders, internal decorations etc. as they’re not included.
- Heavy to move around and install.
Who this aviary is for?
You want the best for your birds, you need extra space, you want quality. However, if you’re on a budget then this obviously isn’t for you and your birds.
Bottom line
This aviary is built to last even longer than you will! Made of powder coated wrought iron, it has the strongest durability and build quality of any aviary on the market. It’s very spacious and will cater to almost all birds plus it comes with a strong warranty.
It’s not without its drawbacks though. Firstly, it’s very highly priced so only the most dedicated bird owners will consider this option. Second, it’s straightforward to set up but many users are reporting no assembly instructions being included. Thirdly, you’ll still need to furnish the inside of the aviary for your birds with perches, feeding stations etc.
However, when it comes to quality, these are only minor inconveniences for this aviary. You can easily look past this if you want to own one of the best aviaries on the market.
Our Rating
5 out of 5
^ Return to comparisons at the top
4. Jaxpety Hexagonal Aviary
- Plenty of room for a number of smaller sized birds.
- Built using aluminum.
- Large access door.
- Straightforward to put together.
- Attractive hexagonal design.
- Sharp aviary wiring which may need to be sanded down (which is why gloves are provided). Some injuries have been reported by users that don’t.
Who this aviary is for?
Anyone that wants an affordable outdoor avairy that provides plenty of space for medium sized birds. Suited for caiques and conures.
Bottom line
Whilst people with bigger sized birds that have powerful beaks might opt for the A&E or Paney aviary, this aviary is ideal for people with medium sized birds.
On the plus side, the aviary wire is made from aluminum which is bird safe and weather resistant. However, you may need to sand down the edges since this netting is sharp.
Looks wise, it’s an attractive design for those wanting a backyard aviary and are on a medium range budget.
Our Rating
4 out of 5
Good for Conures
^ Return to comparisons at the top
5. Magshion Hexagonal Aviary
- Easy to use thanks to the removable trays and large access doors.
- Plenty of space for smaller sized birds, perches, toys etc.
- Mess protection is provided by the bottom wooden panels of the aviary.
- Good quality wiring.
- The assembly instructions are not entirely straightforward with users reporting alignment issues.
- Some users report wood quality issues.
Who this aviary is for?
Aimed at owners of smaller sized birds such as parakeets, will be able to provide space for a number of these. Works well both indoors and outdoors.
Bottom line
If you own a budgie or smaller sized parakeet then this is one of the more affordable aviary options to consider.
The hexagon design is placed on stilts, lifting it off the ground giving an extra layer of protection if kept outdoors.
It’s also built with a felt roof and treated timber, making it last for longer than untreated wood.
Unsuited for larger sized birds such as macaws.
Our Rating
3.5 out of 5
Good for Parakeets
^ Return to comparisons at the top
6. Pawhut Aviary
- Multiple access doors for the aviary allowing ease of use to any area.
- Easy to assemble and put together.
- Has a built in nest box and feeding platform.
- Built with a roof for shade/water protection.
- May need to install better quality locks to prevent them from opening.
- Other users have reported poor quality materials.
Who this aviary is for?
This is for smaller sized birds such as budgie, finch and canary owners. Can be kept indoors or outside.
Bottom line
If you’re looking to upgrade the amount of space that you’re providing for your smaller sized birds then this might be the choice to go for.
Being lightweight makes this aviary easy to move and the access door on the front makes peering into the nesting box easy to do.
You get a roof, nesting box and x3 large access doors to this aviary, making it easy to use and giving your birds protection from the elements.
Well suited for the beginner small bird owner but more experienced owners might want to expand their budget and aim for higher quality.
Our Rating
3.5 out of 5
Good for Cockatiels
^ Return to comparisons at the top
Build Your Own Aviary
Perhaps you’ve looked through the list of above aviaries on offer and have decided that you’d like to have a go at building your own aviary instead. Well if that’s the case then check out our guide to building an aviary which is available here. Samples images of what’s inside the guide can be seen in the images below:
Accessories for Bird Aviaries
Safe Plants for a Bird Aviary
You can’t just place any plant in your aviary because some plants are actually unsafe and poisonous to pet birds. Discover the full list of plants that are safe for bird and ones that should be avoided, available here.
Mesh Screen Door
A simple mesh screen on the door of your aviary will help to prevent a bird from flying out. Birds simply don’t like flying into dangling objects. Whilst it’s not escape proof and a determined bird could still fly through the doorway, this will reduce the chances of it happening. Click on the image of the mesh screen to find out more.
Aviary Covers
Your birds will need shelter from the sweltering heat and cold rain. Some aviaries have an open top or don’t provide much protection on the sides, which is why we recommend an aviary cover for this extra layer of protection. Click on the image of the aviary cover to discover more.
Aviary Lighting
If a bird is kept in an indoor aviary then there’s a good chance that is not receiving full spectrum lighting (something required for the health of birds). An aviary light can provide proper lighting and fix this health issue. Either click on the image to see aviary lighting on offer or see our full guide to it available here.
Conclusion
Buying an aviary requires you to look at a number of different criteria. We considered the design, ease of setup, price and whether you want an indoor or outdoor aviary when making our reviews. After reviewing all of this criteria, overall we concluded that the A and E Cage Co. Walk-In Aviary was the best choice.
Here are the Top 6 Best Bird Aviary choices again:
- Paney Walk-In Aviary
- Trixie Pet Products Aviary
- A and E Cage Co. Walk-In Aviary
- Jaxpety Hexagonal Aviary
- Magshion Circular Aviary
- Pawhut Aviary
As a runner up, the best value for money is the Paney Walk-In Aviary.
Post Updated: 2019-04-24
