Armoire Cage Build

[mntnfishguy11]

Finally got a hold of an armoire and plan to turn it into a big cage for my new canary. Here's a picture of him in his current cage (which he has been living in for the last two years before I got him) compared to what will be his new cage.


And one more of me mapping out the doors, the bottom door will flip down for easy cleaning and have an acrylic pane to act as a water/seed splash guard. The top two will swing out and have a screen mesh for ventilation. I will add some sort of lighting system to the top seperated by screen mesh from the interior of they cage to add more ventilation.


Progress might be a little slow as I work a lot, but I will post updates here and there.

A couple quick questions (sorry, this is my first bird and first time building something like this)
1. Any problems with using magnets to hold the doors closed with the birds?
2. The inside dimensions come out to 29.5" wide X 17.5" deep X 40" tall, at the start it will just house my canary but could I fit 2-3 more birds in it if I wanted to? The housing calculate says 1-2 birds only but doesn't take into account height at all. I wouldn't get any mated pairs or any aggressive birds, just a small group of community birds.

Thanks and here's a pic of the lucky first inhabitant, who happens to be really tame and even flies to me pretty much on command!

[lovezebs]

mntnfishguy11

Welcome to the Forum.

I'm sure your Canary boy will be extatic in his new apartment .

It looks like a neat plan, but you will definitely need some cross ventilation in there, and lighting to be sure (seeing as the piece is very dark.

There are some other members on the Forum, who have done similar projects. If you search them out, it may give you all sorts of ideas for future projects .

Your Canary looks like a sweetheart (resembles my Luciano and one of his sons). In the picture, it looks like his beak is overgrown, or is that just something in the picture itself ?

All the best of luck, and would love to have a progress report, to see how this comes along, and of course, the finished product as well.

Warm regards

[debbie276]

Wow, looks like a fun project!
Not sure I would use magnets on the doors for fear of them getting banged and popping open.
Height doesn't really come into the calculation because birds tend to stay near the highest point unless they are foraging or eating. I would tend to keep with 2 or 3 if your not breeding. Breeding I would keep with just a pair. You'll have to add the birds and watch for aggression, then act accordingly.
I would drill a few small holes across the top, maybe in the back, so that hot air can escape, especially if you are adding a light in there.

Can't wait to see your progress
good luck

[Babs _Owner]

mntnfishguy11

Thats an exciting project! Little guys is going to have tons more space!
Doing the whole front in mesh I hope! Need lots of airflow! Handsome bird house so far. Little guy will actually be able to fly around a bit in that one

[mntnfishguy11]

His beak is fine, part of the plant in the background makes it look funny. The top two doors will be screen and I will be cutting out a large gap in the top for more ventilation and for lighting.

Painting and staining later tonight, will let everything sit until sunday when I put it all back together.

Would this light (well two of them) be alright? 5000K color, 90 CRI led?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-6-in-TW ... /205576730

[mntnfishguy11]

Another update


With the doors open

And the doors closed


I decided to do the whole front in screen mesh (which should prevent seeds being thrown outside the cage and if I put the watet dish towards the back water splashing should be contained pretty well), though I can change the bottom pane to am acrylic panel if I want. I also have two slots cut out on the top, one 24" x 6" with the two lights and the other 24" x 4" for ventilation. I just used a staple gun to hold the mesh in place, may not look perfect but it was quick, cheap and when everything is closed you don't see any of the staples. The interior was painted black to contrast my bright orange/red bird (and if I add another bird or two they will be brightly colored as well).

The magnets to hold the doors are actually fairly strong so I'm not worried the small bird will pop them open. I decided to use the Cree TW series dimmable LED's, which have a k value of 5000 with a cri of 90. I have them set on a timer and on dimmers so I have complete control of them.

I still need some sort of tray for the bottom (thinking a dog crate tray cut to fit), some dishes and then to add real branches for perch spots.

So far its turning out nicely

[lovezebs]

mntnfishguy11

Looking good.

Not sure about the front doors however, can you see through this screen that you used. In the picture, it appears as if you can't see through it. Also, from what I understand, screens, can be dangerous for birds' claws getting caught in it.

There are by the way, background pictures, that you can get for your backwall, that help lighten up the enterior, and make cleaning easier, such as example below (used I believe by another Forum member on a similar project). Just a thought.

[debbie276]

Looks great!
Can't wait to see your birds in it

[Atbird]

That looks really good. Since the front is mesh and the sides are solid, how are you going to hang food cups?