How to Make a Budgie Aviary From an Old Bookcase

Make your budgie a one-of-a-kind home.

Creating a custom budgie aviary is a rewarding way to house your beloved birds and complement the décor of your home. The aviary can be customized to your budgie's needs, and can be less expensive than a store-bought model.

Things You'll Need

• Hand saw
• Sandpaper
• Timber batten
• Staple gun
• 1/2-inch wire mesh
• Wire cutters
• Two hinges
• Screwdriver
• Two door latches

Instructions

1. Remove the interior shelves of the bookcase. These may lift out, or may need to be cut out with a hand saw.

2. Sand the inside of the bookcase to remove any varnish or paint that could harm your budgies. Pay particular attention to the places where the interior shelves were attached, as these may be rough and might require extra sanding to bring them level with the rest of the bookcase.

3. Cut four pieces of timber batten. Two need to be the same height as the bookcase, while the other two need to be the same width as the bookcase minus the thickness of batten.

4. Arrange the four pieces of batten into a frame the same size as the dimensions of the front of the bookcase. An easy way to do this is to place each piece on the ground. Staple the joints together using a staple gun. Use two staples at each corner for strength.

5. Place a sheet wire mesh onto the frame and staple it in place using the staple gun. Staple at regular intervals for a tight fit. Trim the edges of the mesh with wire cutters or pliers.

6. Cut a hole in the wire mesh big enough to put your hand through. This will be the opening for a small door. Fold the cut ends of mesh back on themselves and press flat.

7. Cut a piece of wire mesh slightly larger than the door opening and fold the cut edges back on two sides so that the door is now roughly the same size as the opening. Place the door into the opening and loop the edges of one of the uncut door sides around the edge of the hole to create hinge. Flatten the looped wire in place. Fold the remaining cut edge of the door back on itself, leaving one loop of wire to fold up as a hook for the door fastening.

8. Fit hinges to the left side of the frame using a screwdriver. Screw one side of the hinge plate to the frame and the other side to the left side of the bookcase to create an opening door. One hinge should be at the bottom and one at the top.

9. Fit two door latches to the right side of the bookcase to hold the front panel in place. Attach the hooked part of the door latches to the wood panel and the eyelet part of the door latches to the bookcase. Put one at the top and one at the bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• Add natural wood branches or store-bought perches to the inside of the new aviary.

• The timber frame door can be painted or varnished to match the outside of the bookcase.

• Place the frame staple side toward the bookcase so the staples and mesh edges are hidden.

References

• Budgie Place: Bookshelf Aviary
• Tailfeathers: Housing Birds
• iloveindia.com: How To Build A Bird Cage