How to Build an Indoor Flight Bird Cage

When trying to give their pets a healthy, large area to fly in, bird owners can find cages of the desired dimensions not only expensive but also hard to come by. Most of the time, pet bird owners will have to special order such cages from a manufacturer. One way to overcome these obstacles is to make the cage at home. The simple process will allow for a personalized feel that will enable the bird owner to decorate the cage with live plants, creative perches and bird toys.

Things You'll Need

• Construction stapler
• Nail gun
• Wire mesh
• 4 2-by-4 boards
• 2 4-by-4 pieces of warp resistant plywood
• Polyurethane sealer
• Paint brush
• Wire cutters
• Wire ties

Instructions

1. Take one two-by-four and place one of its ends against one of the corners of a plywood square. This should create a 90-degree angle, with the two-by-four laying on the ground and the plywood square standing on its end. Attach the two-by-four to the plywood by nailing through the bottom of the plywood up into the two-by-four. Attach the other two-by-fours to each of the plywood board's remaining corners. This will give you what looks like an extra-long-legged table.

2. Place the other plywood board against the ends of the two-by-fours that are not attached to anything. Attach this piece of plywood to the boards the same way that the other piece was attached earlier.

3. Cover the entire structure with polyurethane, using the paint brush. This will create a seal that keeps water and waste from penetrating the wood. For maximum efficiency, two coats should be applied to the structure. Allow the polyurethane to dry before proceeding.

4. Wrap the entire structure in wire mesh. Make sure that there is a small overlap of mesh at both the top and bottom of the structure. Staple the mesh to each of the wooden beams. Fold the overlapping mesh onto the plywood top and bottom, then staple it into place. The structure should look like a large cage.

5. Cut away any excess mesh from the cage structure to prevent injury to any birds that will be placed inside.

6. Cut an entrance hole into one side of the cage using the wire cutters. Secure the opening closed with wire ties. These can be undone and retied for easy access to the cage's interior.

Tips & Warnings

• Before placing live birds in the cage, make sure there are no sharp edges protruding from the wood where the birds would have access to it. Remove any such edges with wire cutters.

References

• Finch World: Building Finch Cages and Flights