Owls need a spacious aviary in which they can fly. These are
the minimum dimensions:
Species Dimensions (length x width x height)
small species:
little owl, little owl, little owl, rough legged owl 300 x
200 x 200 cm
mediocre species:
barn owl, tawny owl,
striped mask owl, long-eared owl, short-toed owl, small owl, small eagle owl
species 400 x 250 x 200 cm
medium species:
spectacled owl, Little owl, Laplan owl, Malaysian tawny owl,
Bengal eagle owl, African eagle owl 400 x 300 x 225 cm
large species: eagle owl, snowy owl 500 x 300 x 250 cm
Of course a larger aviary is better, because the animal can
fly more and there are more possibilities for an interesting decoration for the
animal. It is strongly discouraged to tie an owl to its leg in its enclosure.
An aviary with an elongated or rectangular shape is preferable, because the owl
can then fly a bit.
Tawny OwlDay it should be quiet around the aviary. Owls are
nocturnal animals and should therefore be able to rest in a sheltered place
during the day. The aviary should be covered and protected from weather
influences such as wind, sun and rain. You don't have to make a very large
aviary completely water- and windproof. The back and sides are sealed with
smooth material. With gauze you keep one side, preferably the east side, open.
The corners that are closed, give the owl a safe feeling.
Prevent overheating in summer. Provide more shade,
ventilation or irrigation when the owl sits with its beak open. For snow owls
there is already a risk of overheating from 18 ° C. Make sure they can sit
sheltered in the highest point of the aviary.
Use strong gauze so that the animals cannot escape. It is
also advisable to use a double door at the entrance. If the owl escapes, it is
very harmful to the local flora and fauna, and potentially lethal for the
animal itself. Always make sure that this cannot happen.
The following must be present in the aviary:
- A dense nest box, adapted to the size of the owl, as a
hiding and sleeping place;
- several perches, at least one of which is in a sheltered
upper corner, and with different thicknesses and structures to keep the nails
and legs healthy;
- a coarse stone on the bottom for the large owl species;
sufficient flight space;
- a drinking trough;
- a feeding area, where you can easily clean up the remains;
- a place to bathe where no manure can fall in;
- an easy to clean ground cover, such as tiles with corn
kernels or sand on top;
- various branches as nesting and enrichment material.
Ground cover and furnishings
eagle owlIt should be easy to clean the soil. For example,
choose stone or gravel with a layer of sand and possibly a section of grass.
Wood sawdust or chippings are less suitable unless you replace them regularly.
If the wood gets wet and dirty, it is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Owls need a high, sheltered seat. Hang a shelter or nest
high up in the aviary so that the animal can retreat. If necessary, provide a
corner shelf in the cage so that the bird can sit out of sight. By attaching a
good perch in an upper corner and putting some branches around it, the animal
feels safe and sheltered. Make sure there are several perches present with
different thicknesses. This is important for the health of the owl's legs.
Society
Owls are best kept alone or in a pair with a female and a
male animal. Keep only the same species together to prevent crossbreeding.
To form a pair, put two aviaries next to each other with
gauze in the middle. This way they can see each other, but not injure each
other. Make sure they can choose to sit close together on a perch, or out of
each other's sight. If the animals often sit next to each other against the
dividing wire netting, you can try to pair them during the mating season. If
they form a pair, these birds often stay together for several seasons.
Enrichment