Diy cages

Gungnir

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Jan 16, 2016
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I have been looking online and found a few options but it seems to be generally frowned on and was just curious why and what everyones opinion here.
I know buying them is generally cheaper, but im more of a diy kinda guy. So if people could give me some tips, possible pictures of what have made. General guide lines and what not to do.
I keep watching my parakeets bite the bars of there cage and it bugs be, I was hopeing to make a natural looking cage, possibly with natural "stick" style bars, this would give them someing to chew on and I could replace individual bars as they get chewed. My parakeets pretty much only spend sleepy time in there cage.
Im open to all options and ideas and materials but will be less receptive to "just buy one" lol. I built my grandmas house, I built my jeep in my driveway, most our furniture is home made, its just how I prefer to do things :)
 
Dec 14, 2014
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R.I.P Kiwiberry, GCC.
Just out of curiosity, do you have any pics of some of the things you've made? :)
 

Flboy

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Dec 28, 2014
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JoJo, 'Special' GCC, Bongo, Cinnamon GCC(wife's)
A thought, a 1x1 hardwood, drilled out every half inch, then hardwood dowels? Using this as a framework for walls, floor, roof, should work well. Check out the trim and molding areas of Lowes. Very good selection of wood stock and pvc, both easy to work with. The door and devising a good cleaning method would be the biggest challenges, from what I see.

Just thought, use the base of an existing cage for floor and cleaning.
 
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Gungnir

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Just buy one!

thats almost always the cheaper easiest way, but pretty much my entire life is "built, not bought"

Just out of curiosity, do you have any pics of some of the things you've made? :)

Lots, but thats more the non bird related section, i'll have a post up soon enough. Im working on a futon right now that im gonna be dieing to show off lol. We were given a free one that was really destroyed so we turned it into fire wood, but it got me started on a project one being built from raw "logs" i say logs but in reality there just larger sticks. going for the rustic log cabin look. This summer me and the boy are also gonna build a rock fort instead of a tree fort! I also do alot of antler, bone and leather work usually in the spring after i go "grocery" shopping.

A thought, a 1x1 hardwood, drilled out every half inch, then hardwood dowels? Using this as a framework for walls, floor, roof, should work well. Check out the trim and molding areas of Lowes. Very good selection of wood stock and pvc, both easy to work with. The door and devising a good cleaning method would be the biggest challenges, from what I see.

Just thought, use the base of an existing cage for floor and cleaning.


This is pretty much what i was thinking except i was gonna use sticks instead of dowels (or try to) I will never pass up an excuse to head into the wood with my kids!! I have a small pile of marine lumber left from boat restoration i did about a year ago i was thinking on using, just need to see if its safe for birdies. i like the idea of marine lumber because it can handle the abuse of liquids and i could finish it with food grade oils. If not i could easily trade it for twice as much regular lumber. Would pvc be safe? i was thinking in useing it to make water lines and food troughs. I made a few hundred feet of lines for our chickens, would budgies take to water from a nipple or would a dish be better?
 

Mallory

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Jul 31, 2015
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YNA hen "Greenleaf", Black Capped x Green Cheek Hybrid "Eva", CAG (hatched 1/1/2016), European Starling "Koda"
Instead of building their cage from scratch, why not work on bowls, foraging areas, perches and hanging/foot toys? You can use safe types of natural wood, antlers and even cleaned bone for perches and toy parts and pine cones make good foraging toys too if you want a natural look. Your parakeets would definitely appreciate all of these things!

The problem with homemade cages is a wood cage just isn't going to be practical compared to a commercial metal cage. The metal bars have better visibility, ventilation, are easier to clean and disinfect properly and will hold up longer. The finishes you will have to use in order to make the wood hold up to bird poop and water will likely be toxic. If the cage is not finished properly, the wood will be porous and virtually impossible to clean in the long term. You could build a wooden frame and attach wire, but sourcing the zinc-free (non-galvanized) wire will be expensive and those welds won't hold up compared to the bars on a commercial cage. The cage also won't look that great. For parakeets, you can get a massive flight cage for maybe $150 or less online, why not look into those and work on making the inside beautiful with natural perches, toys and safe foliage?

I respect that homemade wood furniture is beautiful and long-lasting and I have friends that have made some beautiful handmade furniture. Unfortunately bird cages just aren't one of those things that look beautiful handmade unless you are talking a large outdoor aviary project or the like. Even then the price and skills needed are unrealistic for most people.

Edit: Also, if you can make it light enough the parakeets can depress the nipple, they can use a water bottle system, but they will still need an open source of water for bathing. This does not have to be offered constantly but I would say at least once a day for a few hours so they get the option to bathe.
 
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Gungnir

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Instead of building their cage from scratch, why not work on bowls, foraging areas, perches and hanging/foot toys? You can use safe types of natural wood, antlers and even cleaned bone for perches and toy parts and pine cones make good foraging toys too if you want a natural look. Your parakeets would definitely appreciate all of these things!

The problem with homemade cages is a wood cage just isn't going to be practical compared to a commercial metal cage.

were making all those to!!! do to medical conditions i have recently found my self with alot of free time, so its not about saving money, its about filling up my time. Now that i know its not practical i defenetly want to do it :p (i use a 1990 jeep yj as a family vehicle and daily driver that gets 9 mps lol.

we have a more then adequate cage already, im just looking for time killing projects that me and the boys can work on together and at the same time provide something functional and visually pleasing. :)
 

Mallory

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YNA hen "Greenleaf", Black Capped x Green Cheek Hybrid "Eva", CAG (hatched 1/1/2016), European Starling "Koda"
Have you looked into play stands as well? I have made some homemade PVC play stands that my birds love, but since you have carpentry skills you could make some awesome wood play stands. The "full tree" stands, like the java and grape wood stands, are very expensive and I bet you could source and prepare your own with safe local wood instead. I don't know how much your parakeets have out of cage time, but I bet they'd love to have some fun stands to explore!
 

LaurieC

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Oct 24, 2014
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Meyer's Parrot (Maverick),
Cockatiel (Tweak),
Sun Conure (Jack)
As someone who has built their fair share of cages (mostly for reptiles, but a few for birds as well) I have a few suggestions to offer:

First, don't use plywood, partucularly marine ply; the adhesives used typically contain formaldehyde as well as other chemicals that would be toxic to your birds if they chewed it. Be sure to consult a list of "bird safe" woods for any solid wood portions of the enclosure.

To seal the wood, I would use an environmentally friendly water based urethane sealer. Once cured it is non-toxic. I like to use the finishes from Target Coatings, specifically the Emtech 9300.


If I were building what you describe, I would use anodized aluminum tubing for the frame. This is available from Esto Connectors, EZ Tube, and 80/20 Inc. I would use the tubing with the flange, then build a removeable panel to house the dowels/sticks, and attach that to the flange in the framed panels. You could then replace any chewed bars as needed.

I prefer stainless steel mesh for bird cages, though it is spendy. The lock-crimp woven mesh is best since it has no welds, but welded mesh is fine, particularly for smaller birds. You could use it for some areas of the cage, such as the floor. A good place to purchase it is TWP Inc. There is also a seller on eBay that is currently selling it at a excellent price.

You also might like to take a look at the information on cage building located at the website NaturalBird.com: NaturalBird.com Indoor and Outdoor Bird Enclosure FAQ

I hope some of this proves useful. Good luck!
 

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