Step Six
Now we're going to finish the front. Take a new sheet of 7/16th OSB and rip a 6" slice off it, do this again, so you have two pieces 6 X 96 inches. From the outside, screw one of the pieces on to the front at the top along the roof line. Screw the OSB into the 2X4 once again about every 6".
Now measure the distance between the front full sheet at the bottom to the 6" strip you just installed at the top. This should be about 28". Cut three pieces of OSB 6X28 inches, or what your measurement was. Attach one to the left side of the loft by screwing into the 2X2, and one to the right side. You now have a big picture window, like this.
Now take a 1X4 and cut it 81" long. Mark the center of your loft on the outside top and bottom and install this 1X4 centered on the outside running up and down. This piece is 1 inch shorter than the front to allow room for roofing so when you install it place it even with the bottom of the loft. Now take your third piece of 6X28" OSB and install it centered on the inside of the 1X4 you just installed. Your big picture window just became two windows. Like this.
For Window material you can use screen like 1/2 by 1/2 which we will be using for the Aviary. Or I like soft heavy duty vinyl, like what is used for storm windows. This flexible material will not hurt your birds if they fly into it like glass would. Or for a widowhood loft you can use translucent roofing that allows light to come in but the birds can't see out. If you use a solid material you will need to cut vents in the front of your loft. If you want to cut vents just measure and draw on the outside where you want them and cut them out. I make mine 6 by 40 inches about 4" above the floor, like this.
Cover your vents with 1/2 by 1/2 screen. This will keep mice out. OK, here's a neat trick. Cut a couple of pieces of 7/16th OSB some what bigger than your vents. In my case that would be 10 by 44 inches. Attach these vent doors with hinges from the top so you can open or close them as much as you want. I use a rope from the vent door up to the front of the aviary to open and close these doors. Now for a Young Bird loft you can pinch the doors down when you darken the loft if your raising your YBs on the darkening system. For a widowhood loft maintaining a stable temperature is important so you can open the vent doors durning the day and close them at night. How bout that? Pretty neat! uh? Don't worry bout me, I'm just getting tired.