How to Build a Bird Crate for Shipping
Bird crates are designed to keep birds safe and comfortable during transport. Such crates can vary greatly in size and detail. Here's a way to build your own bird crate that is sturdy enough to hold your feathered friend for a trip.
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Things You'll Need
- Skill saw
- Jigsaw
- ¾-inch plywood
- Nails
- Staple gun with staples
- Wood glue
- chicken wire
- 1-inch by 2-inch pine board
- Electric drill with large bit
- Dowel
Instructions
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1
Cut six pieces of plywood with your skill saw. Make sure they are all the same height and width and at least double the height and breadth of your bird.
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2
Cut 8 pieces of pine board. These will form the top and bottom framework for your crate. They should be as long as the plywood pieces are wide.
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3
Cut each piece of plywood in half. Cut an inch out of each board lengthwise straight down the middle.
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4
Make the crate frames. Glue and screw the pine boards together to make two squares.
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5
Add sides to your bird crate. You will use the plywood pieces to make the slats in the crate. Nail two pieces to each side of the squares. One pine square will be the top, and one the bottom. Use at least 4 nails for each plywood slat on each end. There will be small spaces in the middle of each side.
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6
The the drill and jigsaw to carve out an opening for the bird. Drill a large hole where you want one corner of the opening to be. Use the jigsaw to finish cutting it out.
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7
Provide a perch for the bird by inserting the dowel rod. The dowel needs to be slightly longer than the width of the cage. Drill one hole on each side of the cage directly across from one another so that you can slide the dowel all the way through and secure it with glue.
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8
Staple the chicken wire over the door once your bird is inside. This will give the bird plenty of air, but will not allow it to escape.
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Tips & Warnings
Work with a veterinarian before shipping any bird to make sure that you have accounted for as much comfort as possible but also made sure that the animal will be safe.
