Inspiration & Advice
Bird mesh: Build awesome aviaries and protect your garden
When it comes to birds in our yards, we have a bit of a love/hate relationship.
On the one hand, we love spotting and watching certain species, especially colourful varieties like lorikeets and silvereyes.
Some of us find birds so fascinating we like to keep them as pets in aviaries and cages to watch, breed or protect. Did you know around 11% of Aussies and 6% of New Zealanders own birds?
On the other hand, we moan when magpies, pigeons and mynas eat our fruit and vegies and poop on our homes and property. Not to mention when we get swooped on in nesting season!
Whether they fluff or ruffle your feathers, or both, bird mesh and netting are products you might have an interest in. And Jack’s here to tell you all about them.
Bird mesh, barriers and netting
- Bird mesh – This includes aviary mesh for building outdoor observatories and anti-bird mesh and barriers that help protect your garden and home. It’s typically made from rigid materials like stainless steel or galvanised steel and has small, uniform openings.
- Bird netting – There are different types of bird netting for different purposes, from your vegie garden to your fruit trees. It’s often made from flexible materials like polyethylene, polypropylene or wire and has larger, stretchy openings.
I’m a keen birdkeeper
If you love our feathered friends and are keen to build a backyard aviary or birdcage, great! Building one is easy with our specialist range of bird mesh.
When building a bird aviary or cage, make sure you pick the right mesh size and product to keep it safe and comfy for its inhabitants.
- Small birds (budgies, finches, canaries) – Use fine mesh with small gaps to prevent escape and keep out predators.
Best products: Aviary Mesh – Small Birds - Medium/large birds (cockatiels, lorikeets, rosellas/galahs, love birds, Australian parrots) – Opt for a sturdy mesh with slightly larger openings for airflow while ensuring safety.
Best products: Aviary Mesh – Medium Birds, Aviary Mesh – Med-Large Birds, Aviary Mesh Large Birds - Large birds (cockatoos, macaws) – Grab yourself some heavy-duty mesh with strong, bite-resistant material to withstand beaks and claws.
Best products: Handy Mesh Panels
All of our bird mesh products are made from hot-dip galvanised wire to stop them from corroding, so they’ll last for years.
Handy Jack tips for building your aviary or cage
- Remove excess zinc from your bird mesh before using as zinc can be harmful to our feathered friends. To make it non-toxic, simply scrub with a mild solution of water and vinegar (2 cups of vinegar in a bucket of water), then rinse.
- Make your aviary or cage as large as possible so your birds can spread their wings and move around freely. Go wide, not tall and thin, if you’re building a smaller birdcage. Our feathered friend’s welfare is important.
- Make sure your outdoor aviary is protected from the weather (including access to shade at all times of the day) and provides a dark area for sleep.
- Include perches of different materials and widths to keep your birds’ feet happy and healthy.
Cover the floor of your bird cages with a material that can be removed daily like newspaper, sandpaper and wood shavings. And clean the whole cage once a week to stop disease.
See also: Build a Bird Cage with Aviary Mesh
I want to keep birds at bay
Are birds pecking at your vegies, plants or fruit trees, pooping on your home or fences, and clogging up and nesting in your gutters? They don’t mean to be annoying. They’re just birds being birds, so be kind.
Anti-bird mesh and netting will help you solve the problem without resorting to the garden hose or something worse. Many of our native Aussie and NZ birds are actually protected by local and national laws, so be super careful.
Common backyard bird pests
- Indian Myna – Known to raid gardens, dig in lawns, damage plants and disturb our outdoor peace and quiet.
- Common Starling – These birds often raid fruit trees and flower gardens, and their large flocks can be noisy and messy.
- House Sparrow – Small but problematic, sparrows can damage plants and gardens and nest in sheds or eaves, leaving behind droppings and debris.
- Rainbow Lorikeet – Known for their colourful plumage, they love feasting on fruit, especially citrus, mangoes, and figs—and have sticky poop to boot!
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – These large birds can strip fruit from trees quickly, and they’re particularly fond of almonds, apples, and peaches.
- Pigeon (Rock Dove) – Pigeons cause damage by roosting on roofs or fences, leaving poops that stain and cause damage. They also forage in vegie gardens.
- Australian Magpie – Although they prefer a diet of insects, they also raid fruit trees like plums, figs, and berries when they spot them.
- Silver Gull – These birds can scavenge food from backyards, gardens or BBQs, and create a mess with their droppings, especially in coastal areas.
- European Starling – Commonly found in large flocks, they can raid your garden, damage plants, and cause issues with nesting.
- Gull (Southern Black-backed Gull) – A nuisance around coastal backyards, these cheeky birds scavenge food and leave a mess behind.
What’s your bird problem?
Whatever birds are causing you grief, and whatever grief they’re causing, you can use Jack bird mesh or netting to solve the issue!
Perching, pooping and nesting
- House roof – Install anti-bird mesh along the edges of your roof, solar panels, eaves or gutters to prevent them from landing (and pooping!) or roosting. Opt for a mesh with small openings to stop even smaller birds. Our Gutter Guards are a great option for your gutters as their super fine size stops birds and bushfire embers.
- Balcony – Stretch anti-bird netting or mesh across your balcony railings and around the perimeter. This stops birds from landing and roosting. Ensure the mesh is taut and secured properly to avoid gaps where birds might slip through.
- Air con unit – Use bird mesh around your air con unit to cover vents or any entry points. This prevents birds from entering to nest while still allowing airflow. Use a finer mesh to ensure no birds can squeeze through.
- Water tank – Install mesh over the opening of the tank or the surrounding structure. This stops birds from accessing the tank and keeps the water clean from their mess. Again, keep it fine to prevent even small birds from getting in.
Fruit and vegie destruction
- Vegie gardens – Drape bird mesh or bird netting over your veggie garden to prevent birds from getting to your plants. Ensure the mesh is tall enough to protect taller crops like tomatoes, corn, or beans. For delicate vegies like lettuce or herbs, use a small 12mm mesh to stop small birds from getting through. Alternatively, create a frame or structure over your beds.
- Fruits trees – Use bird mesh or netting to cover your fruit trees. For small trees, simply wrap the mesh around the trunk or create a barrier around the base to keep birds away. For large trees, drape it over the top. If bigger birds are a problem, use bigger mesh (around 25mm) to stop them getting trapped.
See also: Pet mesh: keep your critters safe and garden intact
As well as using bird mesh and netting, you can also use other types of physical and sound deterrents to scare the birds away.
Check out our range of Plant Protection products, including our Pest Spikes and Garden Owls, which scare all sorts of pests away, from birds to mice and possums.
Are you ready to get meshy?
Bird mesh and netting might seem simple, but they’re a game-changer when it comes to keeping our feathered friends in check!
Whether you want to build that perfect bird enclosure or ward off those flying pests, head to your local store to pick up your Jack supplies today.
Built a bird mesh cage or aviary or using our mesh or netting to stop your bird stress? Why not take some snaps and share them on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? You might get some kudos or a share from us!