Page 1 of 2
Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 12:33 pm
by tovis
Anybody have any idea where to get powder coated wire to make my own cages?
Have any of you made your own cage?
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 12:41 pm
by debbie276
Sorry, no idea where to get powder coated wire. My husband has made all of ours with hardware cloth you can get from home depot or lowes.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:07 pm
by lmchapin
If you dont want metal... I bought some clear bird net (1/4" squares). I have had finches chew on it and they hang on it a lot too with no problems. I bought it from an online reef aquarium store. They use it to put over the tanks to keep fish that jump in and have minimal light blockage for their reefs. I like it. It is soft and if your birds fly into it due to fright I doubt they would get hurt. Here is a picture. It is the extension on the right side. I butted it up to a reptile enclosure that had an open end. I made the frame with the netting to sit on top of a planter on wheels. Here I have soil and a little bird bath for them. Dont know how you would fashion a door and you would need to figure out perches and such. I screwed a perch into the wood frame but for the most part they just fly in and out of this area or go down to the soil and bird bath.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:40 pm
by Sally
It depends a lot on where you are located, as shipping can kill you. If you post your location in your profile, it makes it easier to answer some questions.
This place has plastic-coated welded wire, not powder. They are in California.
http://clover.forest.net/kwcages/index.html
This place has powder-coated wire. They are in Houston, TX.
http://www.ceshepherd.com/aviary_cage_poultry_mesh.html
If you google powder-coated aviary wire, you may find a place closer to you.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:43 pm
by tovis
My workplace has polyester mesh they use to make trade show booths, wonder if that would work just as good.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:48 pm
by puglover
Places like Menards and Home Depot have got green plastic coated hardware cloth (screen) that can be used to cover a wood or metal skeleton. I have used that as well in a few homemade avairies as well. Hope that helps.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 2:01 pm
by tovis
Do you have a link to the item, I am not visualizing it.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 3:21 pm
by WhiteMagicWoman
I used the hardware cloth (plastic mesh) when building my cage, too.
Here's my blog article that I wrote about building it.
http://whitemagicwoman.com/wordpress/?p=414
Check out the slideshow to see the mesh in action.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 11:47 pm
by tovis
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 8:54 am
by WhiteMagicWoman
That exactly what I used. It's working fine.
One thing to note now that my cage has been in action for over a year -- that white birdie poop on black mesh is very noticeable. For neat freaks and clean nuts, you notice every drop.

Re: Making a cage
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:44 pm
by Don
Try this web site, I ordered from it before. Shipping cost will be stiff because it's heavy.
http://www.twpinc.com/
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:53 pm
by tovis
http://www.tractorsupply.com/handy-roll ... -h-3620150
would something like that work or would I need 1/4 inch as an absolute.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:54 pm
by Ria
Most finch cages have 1/2 inch spacing for the bars, so I think the mesh from tractor supply would work just fine. if you're keeping very small birds like orange cheeked waxbills, the 1/4 inch might be better though.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 8:52 am
by Sally
1/2" x 1/2" should be fine for indoors. The smaller waxbills can get out of 1/2" flexible bar spacing, but the mesh should keep them in. Outdoors, if you are in an area that has a snake problem, 1/4" would keep them out.
Re: Making a cage
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 1:03 am
by tovis