Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 8/11/2007

Question
Hi me again. This time I have a question about plants. I'm am going to build a big indoor aviary after this brood of babies have left the nesting box. It is going to be 42"x20"x16". Since it is going to be this big I am going to put some potted vines in the cage to make my Budgies an indoor Bird Tree, but I need to know what kind of vines and plants are safe to use. I'm also thinking about saving up to get a pair of lovebirds and putting them in with the Parakeets since the cage is so big. Are Lovebirds and Parakeets compatible?

Thanks in Advance!

Answer
Hi again, Erika.

42x20x16 isn't really that big of an aviary to be honest, Erika.  You'll need to be careful how many birds you house in this size area (particularly with all their other "stuff" that needs to go inside).  There are many websites on the internet that can tell you what plants are safe/unsafe for birds.  Google using the search string "safe plants for aves" or "safe plants for parrots" or something similar.  

Whether keets and lovies will get along depends on the personalities of the individual birds involved.  However, I would not house these 2 species in the same aviary, especially if you are breeding them.  Breeding birds need to have their own, separate breeding cages, not be housed in a big aviary.  If a pair of lovies bond and start to mate, they will most likely become very aggressive toward the keets.  With the lovies being bigger, this could be disasterous, especially with this small of an aviary.

Chry