DIY - Aviary - Basis of Design

So my girlfriend has about a dozen birds. I think it's a healthy, but time consuming obsession. Anyhow at her request and to help her save time caring for these babies, I'm designing an aviary. I think here would be a good place to document the process. The aviary hasn't been completed yet, but with enough funding, time and commitment hopefully we will see a final project.

So lets jump in. First, I'm starting with the design requirements. These are basically goals and restraints that myself and girlfriend have agreed to.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:

1. Need lighting - Sometimes it gets dark early and the bird chores aren't complete yet.

2. Poop Trays - I recommended laying out newpaper at the bottom, but she says it's unsanitary. So I'm going to incorporate an elevated floor with trays below.

3. Replaceable/modifiable panels - This is in case I botch a panel, or decide to modify something.

4. Storage Drawers - Need places to keep all the finch, canary, and parakeet food, toys, hay, etc.

5. Paper Towel Rack - This is a timesaver. Saves her from running back and forth looking for paper towels.

6. Can be disassembled and reassembled in case we move.

7. Viewing Glass -I view the birds through their cage bars, and sometimes I like to take photos. Bars just get annoying. (DELETED this goal. Birds have problems flying into glass.)

8. Cover for cages - Another time saver, since it should be easier to cover just one cage instead of a number of them.

9. Be able to hang water dishes, bowls, treat dishes, cuttle bones, toys, bird nests.

10. Be able to hold/maintain a plant. This will act as a "visible barrier" for birds that tend to be aggressive.

Restraints:

Budget: I'm estimating $500 on materials, but I could be wrong.

Size: 12' long. 6'6' tall. At least 2 feet depth, but less than 3' my arm probably couldn't reach the back of the aviary.

Types of wood: I read that redwood, exposed galvanized mesh, lead, zinc, copper and pressure treated wood should not be used.
Bars: Bars spacing, or mesh, needs to be roughly 1/2" spacing. If it's too small - birds will get their claws caught, or too big - their head gets caught.

Now to introduce the birds.

Cordon Bleu Finches (Male on the left)

Male Lady Gouldian Finch

Female Lady Gouldian Finch

Zebra Finches (Male is red-cheek)

Society Finches

The infamous bathing Canary

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