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Bird cages come in many sizes and styles. The most important consideration is to build one that is the correct size for the bird or birds who will live in it. Several different types of parakeets are kept as pet birds, with the Budgerigar being one of the more popular. These parakeets are small birds, 7 to 9 inches in length, and can live in a small wooden cage.
Things You'll Need
- ¼ inch plywood
- 1-by-2 inch untreated wood
- 1/8-by-36 inch long dowels
- Circular saw
- Measuring tape
- Corner braces
- ¼-inch wood screws
- Nontoxic adhesive
- Wire cutters
- 19-gauge stainless steel wire
Instructions
- Determine the cage's size. For one to two parakeets, a cage 18-by-18-by-24 inches high is adequate.
- Cut two pieces of wood for the top and bottom. Cut a square of ¼-inch plywood 18-by-18 inches with a circular saw.
- Cut out frame for the bottom and top using 1-by-2 inch untreated wood, which is commonly used for woodwork trim. Cut four pieces 18-inches long and four pieces 14-inches long to be used for the top and bottom of the cage. The boards are 2 inches wide. In order to make an 18-inch square frame, you must trim the cross pieces of the frame. When laid out in the next step, the total width and length will be 18 inches on each side.
- Screw the frame together. Using corner braces, screw the four pieces together at the corners. Lay the 18 inch pieces flat on the plywood and opposite each other. Lay the 14 inch pieces flat between the two long pieces. For example, the 18 inch pieces will be the on the right and left, the 14-inch pieces the top and bottom and between the longer pieces. Repeat the process for the top frame.
- Glue the frame onto the plywood. Use nontoxic adhesive
- Cut the dowels in half. You will need approximately 36 per side, spaced ½ inch apart.
- Drill holes for the dowels. Measure in ¾ of an inch from the edge of each side of the frame and make a mark. Measure the middle of the each board and make a mark. Draw a line from the ¾ inch mark to the middle mark across each board. You should have a line horizontally across each side of the frame. Place another mark at ½ inch intervals along the line. Using a 3/16-inch drill bit, drill a hole at each ½-inch mark. Mark the top frame the same and drill the holes.
- Glue the dowels into the holes on the bottom. Allow to dry. Flip the bottom over and glue the dowels into the holes on the other frame. Allow to dry.Place the frame with the dowels on top of the plywood and secure the bottom to the frame from the underside using ½-inch wood screws. Put the top piece of plywood onto the top frame and secure using ½-inch wood screws.
- Cut the wire. Using 19-gauge stainless-steel wire cut eight pieces 20 inches long each. Starting on one of the sides 6 inches up, wrap one end of the wire on the first dowel and stretch the wire across the inside of the dowels to the other corner, stopping to wrap once around dowels every 4 inches. Do the same with the next piece around the cage. When the wire has encircled the cage at 6 inches, do the same 12 inches up each side of the cage. This wire will hold the perches and feed cups.
- Cut out the door. On one of the sides, between the 6- and 12-inch wires, cut out a 5-inch span of the dowels using the wire cutter. You will now have a hole in the bars 5-by-6 inches.
- Make the door. Cut two 7-inch-long pieces of the wire and cut 8-inch-long pieces of wire to string vertically to the 7-inch pieces. Wrap each end of the vertical bars around the 7-inch piece.
- Place the door in the opening. Secure each end of the 7-inch horizontal pieces to the dowels by wrapping it loosely around to allow the door to slide up and down.
Tips & Warnings
- Make sure the door opening is large enough to get your hand in to place paper on the bottom and change the food and water in the dishes.
- If the cage is used as a decorative item, you can paint it.
- Do not use galvanized wire. It is toxic.
- If you place birds in the cage, watch for signs of chewing on the wood. If they chew the dowels, they could make an opening and escape. If you have chewers, move them to a stainless steel cage.
