Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
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- Pip
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:29 pm
- Location: S. Central MA
Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
It would be nice to make my own cage for the finches i plan to get.
But, since galvanized wire seems to equal 'death' to all caged birds, that leaves the equally uneconomical choices of:
1. finding somehow 'stainless steel mesh',
2. making my own out of wood and plexiglass--without any deadly galvanized wire over air vents..
or,
3. buying my own
In other words, if you wanna make your own cage, it seems almost impossible...........
Yet some people who keep finches have used galvanized wire without incident.
??? drag
But, since galvanized wire seems to equal 'death' to all caged birds, that leaves the equally uneconomical choices of:
1. finding somehow 'stainless steel mesh',
2. making my own out of wood and plexiglass--without any deadly galvanized wire over air vents..
or,
3. buying my own
In other words, if you wanna make your own cage, it seems almost impossible...........
Yet some people who keep finches have used galvanized wire without incident.
??? drag
John
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- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
I've made my own cages for my finches over 12 years now and have always used the hardware cloth from Home Depot and/or Lowes. I've never had a bird drop dead yet from the wire.
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
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
- wilkifam
- Weaning
- Posts: 1771
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:01 pm
- Location: South Central Montana
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
My flight is made of galvanized wire, have used it for about 10 years for both canaries and finches. Everyone has lived long healthy lives so I assume the wire did not cause any deaths.
Lori
Gouldians
Societies
Java FInches
Bourkes
Scarlets
Myers Parrot - Murphy
African Gray - Nzinga
2 GSD's - Heidi and Chiko
1 Minpin - Ted
1 Heinz 57 - Buster Brown
Chickens
Gouldians
Societies
Java FInches
Bourkes
Scarlets
Myers Parrot - Murphy
African Gray - Nzinga
2 GSD's - Heidi and Chiko
1 Minpin - Ted
1 Heinz 57 - Buster Brown
Chickens
- Asym
- Callow Courter
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 1:41 am
- Location: Sac CA
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
I made my own outdoor aviary and I insisted on black wire for visability. Granted, my aviary is large and I had to buy it by the roll, but it's been great. This company is in Oakland CA
http://www.twpinc.com/wire-mesh/TWPCAT_ ... 410W48TBLK
48" X 100' $260+ SH
http://www.twpinc.com/wire-mesh/TWPCAT_ ... 410W48TBLK
48" X 100' $260+ SH
~Ali
Slave to an aviary full of birds, an aquarium full of fish, and 2 pharaoh hounds.
Slave to an aviary full of birds, an aquarium full of fish, and 2 pharaoh hounds.
- finchmix22
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 6258
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:25 pm
- Location: DFW TX
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
I bought the black pvc mesh at Home Depot in rolls and attached that to pvc posts. I put the wire mesh on the outside and the pvc mesh in the inside. So there is two layers.
DEBORAH

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- Pip
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:29 pm
- Location: S. Central MA
-
- Pip
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:29 pm
- Location: S. Central MA
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
well, i wanted to add this to my previous post.
my plan right now, as a prospective newbie (i am not even THAT yet!!) is to make a 24"hi x 24"deep x 36" wide cage. i hope to have 3 same sex zebras in it to get my feet wet and see how i do.
i guess i will try galvanized material.
some people talk about how much cheaper it is to make your own cage, versus buying a 'store' cage. Well, it seems to me that the only way one can make a cage cheaper is in fact to purchase the 'deadly' galvanized material, cuz it is so much more affordable. Unless you luck out and get a gift of stainless steel mesh............
any further thoughts?
thank you all!
my plan right now, as a prospective newbie (i am not even THAT yet!!) is to make a 24"hi x 24"deep x 36" wide cage. i hope to have 3 same sex zebras in it to get my feet wet and see how i do.
i guess i will try galvanized material.
some people talk about how much cheaper it is to make your own cage, versus buying a 'store' cage. Well, it seems to me that the only way one can make a cage cheaper is in fact to purchase the 'deadly' galvanized material, cuz it is so much more affordable. Unless you luck out and get a gift of stainless steel mesh............
any further thoughts?
thank you all!
John
- Finnie
- 2 Eggs Laid
- Posts: 740
- Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
It sounds like some of you have had good luck with the galvanized wire. I've always read that you can remove the zinc by scrubbing it down with vinegar, and then it will be safe. On my budgie forum, they tallk about birds getting sick from "new wire syndrome", if they don't do this. Maybe finches just don't chew on their cages the way budgies do, so they don't ingest the zinc.
-Finnie
34 Budgies
13 Gouldian Finches
13 Society Finches
6 Owl Finches
4 Yellow Face Star finches
16 Bourke's Parakeets
4 Cockatiels
5 chickens!
OMG this signature is so outdated! Make that 50 chickens!

34 Budgies
13 Gouldian Finches
13 Society Finches
6 Owl Finches
4 Yellow Face Star finches
16 Bourke's Parakeets
4 Cockatiels
5 chickens!
OMG this signature is so outdated! Make that 50 chickens!
- nelloyello11
- Weaning
- Posts: 1901
- Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:50 pm
- Location: Buffalo, NY
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
For my cages, I found some black PVC coated wire from
http://www.elawngarden.com/florida-hard ... -4628.html
http://www.elawngarden.com/florida-hard ... -4629.html
http://www.elawngarden.com/florida-hard ... -4628.html
http://www.elawngarden.com/florida-hard ... -4629.html
Nelissa

1 NG (Peter), 2 SF/FF (Astrid & Nina) and 2 BC (Desmond & Penelope) Zebra finches
2 Owl Finches (Hedwig & Fawkes)
Painted turtle (Keeker)
1 NG (Peter), 2 SF/FF (Astrid & Nina) and 2 BC (Desmond & Penelope) Zebra finches
2 Owl Finches (Hedwig & Fawkes)
Painted turtle (Keeker)
- Finnie
- 2 Eggs Laid
- Posts: 740
- Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
That's a good site, Nelly. I've used 1/4" mesh because it was all I could find, but 1/2" would probably be easier to see through.
What I really liked on that site, was this door frame material, which can really cut down on scratched arms! http://www.elawngarden.com/little-giant ... -5600.html
What I really liked on that site, was this door frame material, which can really cut down on scratched arms! http://www.elawngarden.com/little-giant ... -5600.html
-Finnie
34 Budgies
13 Gouldian Finches
13 Society Finches
6 Owl Finches
4 Yellow Face Star finches
16 Bourke's Parakeets
4 Cockatiels
5 chickens!
OMG this signature is so outdated! Make that 50 chickens!

34 Budgies
13 Gouldian Finches
13 Society Finches
6 Owl Finches
4 Yellow Face Star finches
16 Bourke's Parakeets
4 Cockatiels
5 chickens!
OMG this signature is so outdated! Make that 50 chickens!
- nelloyello11
- Weaning
- Posts: 1901
- Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:50 pm
- Location: Buffalo, NY
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
Their shipping was pretty reasonable too!
Last edited by nelloyello11 on Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Nelissa

1 NG (Peter), 2 SF/FF (Astrid & Nina) and 2 BC (Desmond & Penelope) Zebra finches
2 Owl Finches (Hedwig & Fawkes)
Painted turtle (Keeker)
1 NG (Peter), 2 SF/FF (Astrid & Nina) and 2 BC (Desmond & Penelope) Zebra finches
2 Owl Finches (Hedwig & Fawkes)
Painted turtle (Keeker)
- nelloyello11
- Weaning
- Posts: 1901
- Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:50 pm
- Location: Buffalo, NY
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
Finnie
And if you don't like the metal ones, I've ordered plastic ones from here:
http://www.klubertanz.com/images/Klubertanz_Pg17.pdf
I used them for the edges of my dividers for my flight cage.
And if you don't like the metal ones, I've ordered plastic ones from here:
http://www.klubertanz.com/images/Klubertanz_Pg17.pdf
I used them for the edges of my dividers for my flight cage.
Nelissa

1 NG (Peter), 2 SF/FF (Astrid & Nina) and 2 BC (Desmond & Penelope) Zebra finches
2 Owl Finches (Hedwig & Fawkes)
Painted turtle (Keeker)
1 NG (Peter), 2 SF/FF (Astrid & Nina) and 2 BC (Desmond & Penelope) Zebra finches
2 Owl Finches (Hedwig & Fawkes)
Painted turtle (Keeker)
- Finnie
- 2 Eggs Laid
- Posts: 740
- Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 10:31 am
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
Cool. I also have this site bookmarked for next time I need it. It's a little cheaper than the TWP website, and it has several choices of wire and size rolls. http://www.academyfence.com/welded-wire ... uge-black/
-Finnie
34 Budgies
13 Gouldian Finches
13 Society Finches
6 Owl Finches
4 Yellow Face Star finches
16 Bourke's Parakeets
4 Cockatiels
5 chickens!
OMG this signature is so outdated! Make that 50 chickens!

34 Budgies
13 Gouldian Finches
13 Society Finches
6 Owl Finches
4 Yellow Face Star finches
16 Bourke's Parakeets
4 Cockatiels
5 chickens!
OMG this signature is so outdated! Make that 50 chickens!
- Asym
- Callow Courter
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 1:41 am
- Location: Sac CA
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
Do the people that have the 1/2" have a problem with mice? I specifically chose the 1/4" for that purpose.
~Ali
Slave to an aviary full of birds, an aquarium full of fish, and 2 pharaoh hounds.
Slave to an aviary full of birds, an aquarium full of fish, and 2 pharaoh hounds.
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 17929
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Impossible to find wire for DIY cage
Perhaps galvanized wire is not safe for hookbills, I don't know, but Quality Cage Company out of Portland makes their cages out of galvanized wire, KW Cages out of CA sells galvanized wire specifically made for cages/aviaries. Corners Limited, which makes the cadillac of cages, uses galvanized wire in their cages. If you can afford it, the PVC-coated wire is the best, but it is not cheap. If you are the least bit worried about it, wash the wire down with vinegar, then rinse--this is supposed to remove the zinc that is the problem. Again, I think it is because hookbills grasp the wire with their beak and chew, while finches don't--their beaks aren't designed for grasping.