I am converted ! 11th April 2014

The zoo's Head Keeper asked me the other week if I thought the new mesh should be painted black and I replied I thought viewing would be fine as it was. The mesh has now been painted and I cannot believe how good it looks and how much better is the viewing!

Parrotsandrew said:

The zoo's Head Keeper asked me the other week if I thought the new mesh should be painted black and I replied I thought viewing would be fine as it was. The mesh has now been painted and I cannot believe how good it looks and how much better is the viewing!

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I think everyone who has tried to take photos through mesh would agree 100%

Alan

I have wondered about this same thing for a while, how did they paint it PA? I once watched them spray paint a mesh front at Toronga zoo, but that enclosure was empty.

I'd like to paint mine when it is finished, but wonderd how I do it and what with, any ideas?

I don't know I'm afraid Dean. I'll have to try to remember to ask on Friday. I'd have said it was done with brushes though as there's no sign of spray paint on the woodwork. It was the contractors that did it. It must have been fairly fast-drying paint so that the lemurs did not have to spend too long in their shelter.

Black fencing is invariably easier to photograph through than any lighter color.

dean said:

I have wondered about this same thing for a while, how did they paint it PA? I once watched them spray paint a mesh front at Toronga zoo, but that enclosure was empty.

I'd like to paint mine when it is finished, but wonderd how I do it and what with, any ideas?

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Phew, I'd forgotten all about asking but I remembered when the zoo's Senior Assistant Keeper and I were admiring the latest mesh to be painted. It was painted using a small roller and the paint is No Nonsense Trade UK Metal Paint Quick Drying (I think that is what I have scribbled down when I was shown the tin - my writing of "metal" and "paint" is not very legible).

many Thanks PA I will look it up o line screwfix etc usually do a lot of these sort of paints.
I have now ordered the mesh 30 meters at 44 inches tall 1/2 by 1 inch for £49.50 delivered I didn't' think that was a bad price.

What enclosure are you building Dean?

I'm building a flight extension to my clear plastic topped shed, so far I only have 2 blue headed parrot finches, but I may get some other birds in due course, the flight will be 10 by 12 feet near enough coupled with the shed of 9 1/2 by 10 feet.
I have bodged a small flight up already, to allow the birds out of the large indoor cage they had in the summer house, but definitely want to paint the bigger version. Screwfix do the paint PA recommended so hopefully the aviary will be done by June, time and weather permitting.

The problem is it has to be secured across the floor as well as the roof and sides as we have a rural rat problem who can dig into and out of everything, and that will take longer than Just putting up a flight. I also plan to allow my european green toads and Salamanda to live in it too, so it has to be grass snake proof as well.

Bet you wish you hadn't asked now eh Stubeanz?

dean said:

many Thanks PA I will look it up o line screwfix etc usually do a lot of these sort of paints.
I have now ordered the mesh 30 meters at 44 inches tall 1/2 by 1 inch for £49.50 delivered I didn't' think that was a bad price.

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here's a tip: paint the mesh before erecting the aviary! It is much easier simply rolling it on when it is pinned flat on the ground. Then when it's dry flip it over and do the other side.