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Starting a Bird/Aviary company

jh81

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so, i am not sure if this is in the right forum, but i am just wondering if anyone here has any experience with this?

I am planning to start a company which builds and maintains aviary’s with tropical birds for offices. The idea is to bring some nature back in the grey world of concrete and simulated lights.

There’s allready a trend where people take their dogs to work, but i feel an aviary can be just as great and has many benefits!

So... anyone with idea’s? I would surely welcome them :)
 

Zara

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A great idea :)

You could even pair up with some shelters to fill the aviarys with.

Make the most of social media for getting exposure and reaching new customers.

Good luck!
 

janicedyh

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I'm leaning against such an idea right now, that is unless someone enlightens me. Of course if I were at work it would de-stress me to watch birds but that is I view it from my own selfish need. How would something like that work? Left alone all weekend/ holidays with exception to someone feeding them. It reminds me a little of a zoo display. It would probably work in a small way just like the companies that manage large salt water aquariums for businesses. The first time a bird dies and is found at the bottom of the aviary or a sick bird where the aviary has to be sanitized and birds replaced because of health issues would be the end of it for that company. Just thinking out loud here
 

Zara

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Left alone all weekend/ holidays with exception to someone feeding them.
Usually someone is contracted to care for animals when they are in business.

It would probably work in a small way just like the companies that manage large salt water aquariums for businesses.
Interesting thoughts.
I was imagining large aviarys of finches or canaries etc. As long as they have the space and someone feeds and cleans them, they will be ok with their own flock. I couldn´t imagine it working for larger birds.
 

jh81

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Thank you @janicedyh and @Zara

Ofcourse bird health is at the first place, and i am planning onproviding options where the costumer can feed the birds daily, and i will come in once a week for the “big” care, or they can leave it all up to me.. thats just a matter of price :)

And yes, it would be finches and the likes, the biggest birds would probably be budgies or cockatiels, they can be left to their own in a flock, but no larger birds and parrots, they are too much work for in the office :)

I would offer nice planted aviary’s in a few different sizes, with a few bird selections, based on the location and the space :)

Its nice to be working with birds, so i would imagine there’s always someone willing to do the daily feeding, with me doing the cleaning and checkups etc :)

With regards to the shelter, i havent seen many birds in our shelters, but i was researching that for my “dogs for office” idea. I’m also planning on teaming up with local dogwalk services, so dogs that spend the day alone besides beeing taken for a walk, could then spend an afternoon at some office, receiving lots of atention, and the service could offer a reduction to their costumer in return :)
 

simon777

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Another thought. What about the general office noise. Machines making startling noises, people dropping things on the floor, scraping of chairs, buzzers, alarm sounds, phones ringing. The mental health of the birds would be as important as the physical. And what would happen to the birds if there was an emergency in the building like a fire. All these things should be given some very serious thought to.
 

Karen

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I'm leaning against such an idea right now, that is unless someone enlightens me. Of course if I were at work it would de-stress me to watch birds but that is I view it from my own selfish need. How would something like that work? Left alone all weekend/ holidays with exception to someone feeding them. It reminds me a little of a zoo display. It would probably work in a small way just like the companies that manage large salt water aquariums for businesses. The first time a bird dies and is found at the bottom of the aviary or a sick bird where the aviary has to be sanitized and birds replaced because of health issues would be the end of it for that company. Just thinking out loud here
I share your concerns Janice. I would enjoy watching the birds and their antics also, but the minute something wasn't right or clean, or a sick bird and no one responding, I would be stressed to the max and stepping in. Seems self-serving to me and I don't like that where animals are concerned. I would be worried the birds would be stressed in an ever changing environment and then sick.

Would an experienced person being giving the care, feeding and cleanup? This would need to be a daily occurrence. Depending on species, twice a day. What about lighting? What about the cleaning crew and their supplies? What about the employees with cologne, after shave, lysol spray. What about the heat, the air? So many 'what about' questions.
 

tka

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Adding to what @Karen, @Mizzely and @janicedyh have written, I'd be concerned about the office lighting. Many offices have fluorescent lighting that flickers at a rate that birds can see and are distressed by.

But yeah, I'd be worried about who actually would take care of the birds on a daily basis, what happens if a bird gets sick and needs vet care or medication, what happens over (long) weekends when the office is closed.
 

Lady Jane

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AS a retired nurse I have seen many small closed aviaries in nursing homes and senior care facilities. The lovebirds even built nest and raised the chicks for the residents to watch and enjoy. A bird care person came every day to do the feeding, cleaning and checking on the birds and the lighting system. It worked well. In a business situation it could be different depending on the boss. Some companies do things like that and some do not.
 

fashionfobie

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A retirement community or nursing home seems like a very good fit. What a wonderful pass time for people. In a long term care facility people will always be around.

Serenity Aviary Services

I would question an office setting because of everything people mentioned above. Printer chemicals, cleaning chemicals, poor lighting, perfumes, etc. The birds may be left alone most weekends or long holidays.
 

jh81

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Thanks all :)

These are all valid questions, some i have considered allready, some not yet :)

I will try to make a longer reply somewhere the next days to answer all your questions with my idea’s, but ofcourse bird health is paramount, to me as well :)
 

Dona

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My mother was in a hospice during the last months of her life. Everyday I took her in a wheelchair to another floor that had a large cage with 2 lovebirds. It was a wonderful thing to do each afternoon. It certainly served as a welcome distraction to the sadness we both felt.

My sister lives in a retirement community and they have a cockatiel that is in the music room. He sings along with all the music programs and is super friendly. He must go home with someone because sometimes he is not there.

So, I understand that there might be some obstacles to overcome, but it seems like a great idea.
 

JLcribber

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I would hate to be put on display just to make someone's office look pretty. Birds need relationships, families and lots of interaction. And a lot of space.

Now if you're talking about creating a real environment/habitat that has all the things an un/less complicated species would need to live/thrive there and is well maintained, then there's a great opportunity to educate and provide a place for birds. Not a "display" for humans.
 

taxidermynerd

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I think an office would not be an ideal environment. Birds are loud and messy. There is a lot of movement and noise in an office that may scare birds. They would not get the attention they need (interaction and socializing). An environment like a retirement community or a nursing home would be better, although it would have to be tightly controlled, as I would worry patients with dementia or similar may try to give the birds things they aren't supposed to have, not realizing it's bad. But it could be done.

Now if you're talking about creating a real environment/habitat that has all the things an un/less complicated species would need to live/thrive there and is well maintained, then there's a great opportunity to educate and provide a place for birds. Not a "display" for humans.
This makes me think of a zoo near me. All of the animals are either rescues, wildlife rehabs that can't be released, or pets taken from the illegal pet trade. They have a large aviary, with over 100 budgies and a few cockatiels, all of them are rescues. The budgies came from a hoarding situation. Fresh air, tons of space to fly, plants/grass to forage in. Plus they have access to a heated room filled with food and toys and perching spots. Humans can walk through and feed the birds, but the staff make it clear the birds come first. I enjoy sitting and watching the birds perform their natural behaviors.

I have seen other aviaries that are not anywhere as good. One I've been to is indoors, concrete, no windows or outside space. No toys. There are small trees, but no leaves. All they can do is fly back and forth. It makes me quite sad to see. The zoo takes excellent care of the other birds (of which they have many kinds) but the budgies get the short end of the stick there.
 

jh81

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I am not talking of parrots, more of finches and those small tropical birds :)

Ofcourse space would be a thing, but thats something that can be regulated, no indoor aviary if its smaller then XX

As for the odors and such, the aviary itself could be encased with glas, with a small to medium air filter on top if it. Much like with aquariums i guess :)

Again, we’re not talking parrots... parrots need socialisation and human companionship etc. We’re talking birds that do not need human interaction. Im not sure about other country’s, but here in the Netherlands there are standards that need to be met with regards to air polution, noise reduction etc. it seems i have a lot less to worry about then other countrys :)
 

Hjarta5

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When I first saw this thread, I was thinking it would be me being able to bring Wally and Luna to my office during the work day and I was very excited about the idea!

For me, I feel like it would be difficult to manage this idea in reality without having dedicated staff to look into the birds' well-being. Like how would it be different than pet stores that sell small parakeets? I always feel so bad for them.

If offices would foster small birds from local rescues, that seems like it would be awesome so as to not promote more captive breeding and abandonment. Though again I feel like that would only be feasible if theres avian education...

Also, I saw this video earlier and loved how people are starting to appreciate the benefits of bird companionship: SBS Australia - These chickens are transforming the lives... | Facebook
 

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I like the idea.
But if I had done it I would have only kept rescue birds. And only accept rental for minimum 1 year.
And don't allow any other then your company to look after them. IMO it is very important that the aviary don't have any sick birds and therefore someone with avian experience must look after them daily. If several others look after them they can spread some disease to the birds.

And placed a sign on the aviary that says:
We used to live in terrible condition and inviroment.
But thanks to you, not anymore. (Or something like that)
 

jh81

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I like the idea.
But if I had done it I would have only kept rescue birds. And only accept rental for minimum 1 year.
And don't allow any other then your company to look after them. IMO it is very important that the aviary don't have any sick birds and therefore someone with avian experience must look after them daily. If several others look after them they can spread some disease to the birds.

And placed a sign on the aviary that says:
We used to live in terrible condition and inviroment.
But thanks to you, not anymore. (Or something like that)
I plan a 3 year minimum, because most aviarys will be custom made :)
And yeah, care will be done only by myself or, in case it grows big, my staff :)

I dont know many small rescue birds honestly.. most rescues here are parrots and parkeets :)
But ya, thats an idea to look into :)
 

HolliDaze

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I second the nursing home idea another member mentioned. when I worked at one, I took Dexter in on my days off occasionally. I know he isn't a small bird by any means, nor was he behind glass. But the excitement they had when seeing a unique animal (besides the occasional dog and cat they saw almost no animals) was incredible. They asked about him ever y time they saw me, rumors went around that I had a $2000 white dog (not quite), even the ones that knew he was a parrot were blown away that I paid so much fo r him.

a resident who didn't know he belonged to me (couldn't remember my face) remembered Dexter, and every time her family came to visit they'd remind her I was the girl who owned Dexter. Whenever I was set to bring him in again, I'd tell one or two residents "Dexters coming back" and by the next meal everyone knew.

I took him to memory care and a man there knew to offer him his arm and say 'step up', say there and held him for a good twenty minutes. He didn't speak to me, just dex, but I assume he had parrots before.
 
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