Building my first cage.

For questions about finch enclosures (cages & aviaries).
Post Reply
User avatar
DanteD716
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8084
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:16 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY
Contact:

Building my first cage.

Post by DanteD716 » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:14 pm

Well, it would 27 length, 16 deep and 24 high, is it even worth it? I have all the materials. Just a few adjustments to an old shelf thing
Dante

User avatar
cindy
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 18754
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: west central Florida

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by cindy » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:17 pm

Personally I would make it longer and deeper

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


~ My Facebook groups ~

*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments

*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only

User avatar
finchmix22
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 6258
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:25 pm
Location: DFW TX

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by finchmix22 » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:20 pm

If you're going to build your own cage, then I agree with Cindy. Make it one the finches will really like. One that is very wide, about 5-6 ft and maybe 2-3 feet deep and 3-5 feet high.
DEBORAH

Image

User avatar
DanteD716
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8084
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:16 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY
Contact:

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by DanteD716 » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:33 pm

The problem is I'm using an old desk thing so I can't modify it. I have everything so money won't need to be spent. Just as a test drive. But this summer, my dad has a giant storage closet in his basement, about the size of a small bedroom, he said he'll turn it into my own walk-in aviary! So the cage I'm building now, (if I do) would be for a pair of spice finches. But when/if my dad really does it, the pair will be moved into the aviary, along with maybe a society pair, my orange cheeked waxbills, and whatever else I can get my hand on. This room is atleast 10ft by 10ft, if not larger. So if I get my birds breeding now, I'll have more to stock the aviary
Dante

User avatar
CandoAviary
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8554
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
Contact:

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by CandoAviary » Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:10 pm

What is sold as "breeder cages"in the US are either 24" wide x 16" deep x 16" high or 30" wide x 18" deep x 18" high
So this would put you right there in the breeding cage size.
I breed gouldians in both of the above size cages and they do great... I do seperated the breeders afterwards to larger facilities so they don't live forever in them. But as long as you don't overcrowd them they will do great! Many people keep there birds like this full time without problems. Have frun and get building...Pictures of the process as you go along please :D

User avatar
cindy
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 18754
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: west central Florida

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by cindy » Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:15 pm

I am sure you will have plenty of birds to fill such a large aviary!

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


~ My Facebook groups ~

*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments

*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only

ac12
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6421
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Location: California, SF Bay Area

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by ac12 » Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:29 pm

Few things to think about FIRST
- where are the perches going
- where are the water and food dishes going
- where is the door going

These things affect each other, and it is best that you think about it and lay it out BEFORE you cut wire mesh. It is a PIA to try to fix it afterwards.
Gary

gouldians (GB,YB,BB), blackbelly firefinches (trying to breed), societies (foster parents).
red factor canary

debbie276
Bird Brain
Bird Brain
Posts: 14789
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
Location: WV

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by debbie276 » Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:20 pm

Well, it would 27 length, 16 deep and 24 high, is it even worth it? I have all the materials. Just a few adjustments to an old shelf thing
Sounds like a very good start! Be sure to post pictures when your done so we can see. :wink:
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

User avatar
LuxandLolita
Brooding
Brooding
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:05 pm
Location: Brookfeild/LaGrange Illinois

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by LuxandLolita » Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:33 pm

ohh if i had the money! it sounds a good size for a breeder cage and such :) i have ALWAYS wanted to build an aviary or even a large cage for my finches, my mother says that it is to much of a hassle..
Kaite
Image
Mother to Two Zebra Finches, Lux Interior and Sheena Is. Fly Free Ivy, Lolita, and Tahny Bird. 2 Cockatiels, Ian Curtis and Singerboy("Beo"), 2 Cats, Betty and Buddy, and 5 Ferrets, Lydia Lunch, Leia("Kitten"), Coda, Tubesock and Stiv Bators
Lux Interior is six years old!

User avatar
DanteD716
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8084
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:16 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY
Contact:

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by DanteD716 » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:37 pm

cindy wrote:I am sure you will have plenty of birds to fill such a large aviary!
I waswrong, did the measurements and it's 12ft x 12ft, II cannot wait until the summer! :D
CandoAviary wrote:What is sold as "breeder cages"in the US are either 24" wide x 16" deep x 16" high or 30" wide x 18" deep x 18" high
So this would put you right there in the breeding cage size.
I breed gouldians in both of the above size cages and they do great... I do seperated the breeders afterwards to larger facilities so they don't live forever in them. But as long as you don't overcrowd them they will do great! Many people keep there birds like this full time without problems. Have frun and get building...Pictures of the process as you go along please :D

Candace, I would've tookictures, but it was an ugly old desk, and All I had to do was put on the mesh. Plus, I didn't read this comment until now. Sorry! #-o

ac12 wrote:Few things to think about FIRST
- where are the perches going
- where are the water and food dishes going
- where is the door going

These things affect each other, and it is best that you think about it and lay it out BEFORE you cut wire mesh. It is a PIA to try to fix it afterwards.
It had two small cabinet doors on the back, I have a food and water ground dish, and it was a PIA trying to figure out perches, but I got it to work. :D

debbie276 wrote:
Well, it would 27 length, 16 deep and 24 high, is it even worth it? I have all the materials. Just a few adjustments to an old shelf thing
Sounds like a very good start! Be sure to post pictures when your done so we can see. :wink:

Thanks! I like the way it came out, I always forget about pictures so I'll take some now and post them later tonight.

LuxandLolita wrote:ohh if i had the money! it sounds a good size for a breeder cage and such :) i have ALWAYS wanted to build an aviary or even a large cage for my finches, my mother says that it is to much of a hassle..

I didn't spend a single dime, I had everything on hand. I have enough material to make a second one, but I don't have the space right now.
Dante

User avatar
DanteD716
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8084
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:16 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY
Contact:

Re: Building my first cage.

Post by DanteD716 » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:40 pm

So, the 1inch spacing worked fine actually, I cover the enitred fron, (there was a wooden board but the cage would've been too dark) and I made a flap on the back the closes above the two doors. I put the four societies in their, the zebras are on eggs and the waxbills are too small. I also went to a small family owned petstore. They had a population boom on society finches, and had them all cramped in one little cage! (about 30) I bought two fawn pieds, hoping to get two hens for my two lonely boys but ended up with a pair. They seem clean, but I still wouldn't risk it. They were 2 for 10 so I just had to get them, atleast I saved 2 of them.
Dante

Post Reply