STEP 1 – MAKE YOUR BIRD CAGE PLANS
There are a large variety of shapes, sizes and styles that you can choose for your bird cage. However, the most important part is that you plan out your bird cage prior to building it. Will it be hanging from a stand? Will it extend all the way to the floor? Will it have a feature that makes it easy to clean? How many birds will you be keeping? All of these are extremely important questions to consider when building your cage.
STEP 2 – GATHER YOUR TOOLS AND MATERIALS
Once you have a general plan about your bird cage, it’s time to begin collecting the tools and materials that you will need for the job. An important thing to remember is that you need to choose un-treated wood that has not been subjected to any chemicals. This wood should not be painted, as the components in many paints can be harmful to your bird’s health. When choosing the wire mesh part of the cage (or glass, if you are adventurous), avoid metals such as brass, zinc or copper, since they can be toxic to your bird’s health.
STEP 3 – START WITH THE FRAME
The best way to start building your cage is to get the basic frame constructed. Be sure to sand down the pieces of wood that you are using, in order to prevent hazards from splinters. You can either choose to assemble the cage with screws and nails (remember, avoid certain metals!) or you can use a durable waterproof glue. However, glue is best used in smaller cages, since it does not tend to be as sturdy as a cage constructed with nails or screws.
STEP 4 – ADD THE WIRE
Once you have the basic frame for your cage assembled, it’s time to add the wire. Make sure that the wire is cut evenly so that it fits snugly around your frame, with no gaps or exposed wire ends. It’s best to attach the wire mesh to the outside of the cage’s frame, as opposed to the inside. This reduces the chance that there are any sharp ends that could possibly harm your bird. The wire is best attached by using a staple gun, though you can use nails or screws if you wish.
STEP 5 – DON’T FORGET THE DOOR!
It’s more common than you might think to forget to build a door! The door should be wide enough so that you are able to replace any components inside the cage, without any gaps that could allow your birds to escape. The best way to build a door is to attach hinges to one of the wooden frame pieces on the side of your cage, and cut a wire piece out for a door. Make a wooden frame that will be the same size as the door, and staple the wire mesh over the frame. Once this is done, you can attach this framed wire piece to the hinges placed on the main frame of your bird cage.