Make a Wire Birdcage
Datetime:2013-11-01 Hits:
Making a wire bird cage can offer pet birds a comfortable home, while providing personal satisfaction to the builder. Although all-wire cages look beautiful, it can become time-consuming in terms of building. Alternatively, making a wire bird cage with a wooden base and supportive framing makes the task far easier. With the right components, a little patience and some basic carpentry skills, almost anyone can build an attractive and functional bird cage.
Instructions
1
Cut 1-by-1s into 16 pieces. Each piece should be 24 inches from end to end. Sand edges to remove splinters.
2
Take four cut 1-by-1-inch boards and place each one on top of a 24-by-24-inch board along a different edge. Strips should form a raised frame shape on top of the board. Secure in place with wood screws.
3
Stand a 1-by-1 strip upright at each corner, flush with the edge of horizontal strips. Secure it in place with brackets, screwing the top of each bracket to the upright strip and the bottom of the bracket to the horizontal strip.
4
Secure a 1-by-1 strip horizontally to the top of each upright strip. Top strips should be parallel to bottom strips and secured with wood screws. Like the bottom strips, top strips should be on the interior side of uprights.
5
Wrap the wooden frame with welded wire mesh and pull it snug. Staple each corner to the upright strips. Staple the top and bottom edges of the wire mesh to the top and bottom horizontal strips. Trim any exposed wire edges.
6
Use the remaining four 1-by-1 strips to make a frame, independent of the cage. Use the remaining flat brackets to secure the corners.
7
Cut sections of wire mesh into triangles with 24 inch bottoms. Staple the bottom of each triangle to one side of the independent wood frame.
8
Bend the triangles inward toward the center of the wood frame. Secure the seams with wire ties. At the point of the now-3D triangle, wrap all wire ends around a metal ring. Secure it with additional wire ties, if needed. Trim or wrap all exposed wire ends so no bare pieces protrude inward.
9
Attach the lid to the base with hinges. Install the hook and eye latch to the opposite side of the lid from the hinges. Line the interior of the cage with bedding and attach feeders and water bottles before introducing birds.
