Cage fronts? UK only?

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:56 pm

I have been thinking about making my own attractive flight cage, and finding nice wire fronts is the big problem.

I almost think the cheapest way to go would be to buy a couple of breeder cages 30x18x18 (around $30), dismantle them, and use the pieces with a homemade cabinet. But this would mean having to stick with bars that are 1/2 inch apart, instead of 3/8, which I would prefer, if I want to get waxbills later.

However I also found cage fronts in the uk, http://www.wadescagefronts.co.uk/ for example, and I was wondering if anyone has seen similar in North America?
I have googled a lot but not found any other than in the UK.

Post by **Sally** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:29 pm

This site offers cage fronts that you can add to a cabinet. I don't know what the bar spacing is, but you could check it out.

www.orchidtreeexotics.net

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:27 am

Lynn try calling some bird breeders in your area and ask them where they source their cage fronts

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:47 am

mickp wrote:Lynn try calling some bird breeders in your area and ask them where they source their cage fronts

Good point! Thank you.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:48 am

Sally wrote:This site offers cage fronts that you can add to a cabinet. I don't know what the bar spacing is, but you could check it out.

www.orchidtreeexotics.net

Thank you Sally - at least one that is in North America - a start to a search!

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Fri May 02, 2008 1:20 pm

What a shame we are thousands of miles apart...Wades cage fronts UK is only 5 miles up the road from me....typical.
Hope you find some in your neck of the woods.
Paul.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:25 pm

poohbear wrote:What a shame we are thousands of miles apart...Wades cage fronts UK is only 5 miles up the road from me....typical.
Hope you find some in your neck of the woods.
Paul.

Well Paul I may have to make a trip to the UK, just to get some cage fronts! lol

I have a girlfriend on the west coast, near Morecambe Bay, and I plan to visit her next year. If I have to I will order some cage fronts sent to her, and bring them home with me!

Post by **Sally** » Sat May 03, 2008 1:14 am

I have noticed that Europeans use cabinet-style cages a lot. Americans tend to use wire cages. There just isn't the availability of cabinet-style cages here, so you go with what you can find.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sat May 03, 2008 3:10 am

Yeah....strange that,because the cabinet style cage as you call them are much better for breeding.The birds have security from all that is going on around them with only the fronts being of wire.And I would imagine the mess of seed and droppings from all wire cages is 10 times worse than in a solid cage.
It seems to me from other US forums that the obsession in the States is for parrotlike, and the manufacturers seem to reflect this in the design of their cages.It's as if the manufacturers think it all important that the birds can be seen clearly from all directions.While this is the point of keeping birds....the pleasure of watching them.It is not what is needed for successful breeding,where the birds need privacy to get on with looking after their chicks without some towering hulk of a human peering in at their every move.
If any of you are inclined to build your own cages and require cage fronts I'll contact the local manufacturers Wades Cage Fronts just up the road from me, and see what it would cost for me to get what you want,pack 'em up and send to the States.There must be a way this can be done economically.What the tax situation would be at the point of entry in the States would be something for you to check up on.
I use all metal breeding cages now, but over the years have made many plywood cages....If anyone wants any tips on the construction of these and how to avoid the pitfalls and common mistakes I'll be glad to help.

http://www.wadescagefronts.co.uk/cagefronts.htm

Price wise just double the pounds and thats roughly the price in US dollars.

Paul.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:31 am

those cage fronts are excellent, better than any I have seen available here.
Paul could you also find out what it would cost to send some down under.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sat May 03, 2008 6:56 am

There's a schooner leaving Liverpool next week Mick with Great Great Uncle Albert the sheep stealer on the way to your place...I'll try and get some on it...should be with you in about 3 months...

Sorry Mick... couldn't resist it...I'll make enquiries mate.
G'day....Paul.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Sat May 03, 2008 7:05 am

Paul for pricing, it is double the GB pounds to get US or Cdn dollars.

This has been rattling around in my head.

I'd like to build something about 3-4 feet wide and 18inches to 3 feet tall.

I'd like the bar spacing to be narrower than 1/2inch, I guess 3/8 would be best. Although I could also NOT get the tiny waxbills and then 1/2 would be ok.

I'd like to be able to slide a divider down the middle, so I shoo the birds to one side and slide the divider in. Open the side door and clean the empty side and then do the reverse to clean the other side.

For this, the cage fronts would need to be minimum 18" long by 18, two front panels. For the taller cabinet, then 18"long by .... 24" tall? That could make a 36"L x 24" H cage.

The other possible is to put cage fronts on the ends, and have a glass front for viewing. This might actually be more feasible, and less expensive in the long run.

Check these http://www.avianaccents.com/index.aspx?page=15

I've got a coffee table with fancy legs I could use as the base, the rest I could build (ok my dh would make) - the top is just molding and a bit of pre-made fancy trim.

I would line the inside with coroplast (corugated plastic) which is easy to clean and cheap to replace every few years if need be.

I just need to design it well - and this includes figuring out how many slider doors, or doors for bath/nest box I need.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:16 am

Hiya Kiko,
I've altered the dollar bit now...got it the wrong way round didn't I?

I notice on your link as usual the manufacturers make nearly everything tall,whereas finches need long for excercise.
The 'finch' fronts Wades make are the ones for waxbills...narrow bar spaces.You will see the height of the largest is 15" height.When the cage is made with a cleaning tray in place this will give a cage height of around 18"
Two of these at 24" side by side with a central gap for a slider will give a length of approx 50"
If you go on the Wades link and click 'illustrations' you will see nest box doors.What you do is snip off some of the bars on the front wherever you want to leave a gap for a nestbox or a clip on bath.When not in use one of these clip on doors fill the gap.A higher cage could of course be made using 4 fronts this would give around 50" long by 35" high.
I know glass fronted cages are popular over there but not in the UK ...panicking birds can easily break necks with clear glass cages...but that's your choice.

Here's a link to show you how cages are made over here for breeding.

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:ef ... cd=1&gl=uk

Plus another link showing Wades fronts.

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:jY ... cd=1&gl=uk

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:16 am

That second link has very good pics, that is just perfect.
Really, like you said 15x24 (x2) is only $20, plus the shipping which would likely be as much or more than just the cage fronts.

Extra fronts would probably be worth buying, might only be a bit more shipping rather than double.

I would also rather (if possible) have the bars snipped before the front was powdercoated so as to seal the cut parts.
OR - make little doors on the wood sides where the baths and nest boxes could be hung.

I really really like my see hoppers, which are made to hang in a normal 3.25x4ish opening, like you see on many cages here.
I would want that ability on whatever cage fronts I get - Or - gee whiz, I could hang it inside the cage!

See, lots of thinking yet to do, but it really sounds like a possible project!

Thanks for the links and comments Paul!

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:56 am

No probs....anytime
Paul.