How to Create an Animal Cage Out of Wood
Owners of small animals can create an attractive animal cage that fits in well with their furnishings. In a wooden cage, the animal can live comfortably, the family can enjoy having the animal with them in their home and the cage can blend into the home's decor. A good cage allows the animal clean space to eat, room to move, a quiet corner to sleep and an easily cleaned area for the animal to relieve itself. The measurements in the instructions fit a medium-sized cage (rabbit-sized). Builders may adjust the measurements to fit their animals. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Wooden stakes (approximately 2 inches in diameter and 4 inches in height)
- Wooden fence posts (as high as the planned animal cage's height; approximately 2 inches in diameter)
- Plywood
- Wire mesh
- Staplegun
- Staples
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Door hinges
- Hinge assembly
- Screw gun
- Screws
- Saw
- Jigsaw
Instructions
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1
Plan the animal cage to include two compartments. An open area (enclosed by wire) will have air and light while a second area will be enclosed, giving the animal a space to hide when it does not want to be seen.
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2
Use a good quality AA- or AC-grade half-inch-thick plywood. Treat the wood by varnishing it so that it will look nice inside a home.
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3
Prepare two pieces of 30-inch-wide by 36-inch-long plywood. These will form the floor and roof of the animal cage. Lay one of the sheets of plywood on the floor.
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4
Cut a third plywood board 18 inches high by 36 inches long. This will serve as the the animal cage's backboard.
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5
Cut a fourth plywood board 18 inches long by 18 inches high, and a fifth board 18 inches high by 30 inches long. These two boards serve as the side and end boards of the animal cage's closed area.
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6
Cut out two 12-inch by 12-inch squares from the 36- by 18-inch (backboard) board. These openings will become the openings to the animal cage doors. The animal cage needs a door for each of the two cage areas to facilitate cleaning.
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7
Attach two hinges to the pieces of wood that were cut out from the backboard opening. Attach the matching hinge assemblies to the openings. Attach the hinges and hinge assemblies with wood screws using a screw gun. These become the doors of the animal cage. Slide the doors onto the hinge assemblies.
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8
Attach a hook and eye latch to each of the doors/door frames. The doors will latch shut with these latches.
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9
Attach the bottoms of the side board edges to the floor board. Use wood glue. Clamp the floor board to the side boards with carpenter's clamps. Let the structure dry with the clamps attached for several hours.
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10
Attach a wooden post, 2 inches wide by 18 inches high, to the remaining corner of the floor board with wood glue. Clamp it and let it dry.
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11
Wind a piece of 18-inch-high by 55-inch-long wire mesh around the second part of the animal cage. Attach the mesh to the backboard by stapling it with a staple gun. Wind the mesh around the post and staple it to the remaining 18-inch side board of the animal cage. Use heavy staples to attach the mesh to all edges, including the floor board and side walls.
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12
Place waterproof self-adhesive vinyl film on the floorboard. This will allow easy cleaning when the animal relieves itself.
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13
Place some wood glue on the top edge of the sideboards and some wood glue on the top of the post. Place the roof board on the glued boards. Use clamps to clamp the roof board. Allow the boards to dry for several hours.
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14
Staple the wire mesh to the roof board.
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