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From: AChamove@massey.ac.nz (A.S. Chamove)
Newsgroups: rec.birds,rec.pets
Subject: Re: INDOOR: Looking for a newsgroup focused more on pet birds
Keywords: liberty
Message-ID: <1007@massey.ac.nz>
Date: 24 Sep 90 22:55:03 GMT
References: <3029@legs.UUCP> <1052@helens.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Lines: 22
X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2.2

In the UK it is called Liberty Birds.  I am interested in having a group
of birds which can be kept in an open avairy, at liberty but given food
so as to encourage them to remain nearby and to get them through
food-scarce times. Can I get some information on this practice. 
The birds I am thinking of getting are budgies and/or canaries.

How long do I have to house them together or feed them from an aviary
before I can open the doors and have them return regularly for food?
Do I have to have a large meshed aviary so that they can see the surround
before they are released, or can I house them in an attic loft?
If I use an attic loft, can I just have a small (1 m. sq.) outside area
for them to see out?
Is there a preferable time of year to release?
The bird-news articles I have read on the subject only use the technique
on a pair of birds, and they release them with chicks in the nest; is
this necessary?
Any other advice?

I would like to have some pet birds but dont like the idea of keeping
them in cages for all or even most of the time, and a "good" aviary seems
an expensive thing judging by what I have seen in zoos and in magazines,
that is they deterioriate quickly and dont challenge the birds.
arnold