hardware cloth sizes

sean · Post by **sean** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:34 pm

I am building a small flight cage out of wood. I am going to use the vinyl coated hardware cloth for the three sides. The front of the cage will be plexiglass.

I was wondering if anybody with cage/aviary experience could advise me on what size hardware cloth to get. The "smallest" I've found thus far has been ones with 1/2" square holes.

My question is: is 1/2" too small for finches (waxbills included. I have a CB). Any input would be appreciated.

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:05 pm

The 1/2 inch is ideal for most finches. The only exceptions might be very small waxbills like Goldbreasts. I think it would be fine for Cordon Bleus. I don't think they make the vinyl in 3/8 inch. But since it's a bit thicker than wire hardware cloth, the opening is probably actually a bit smaller than 1/2 inch, so I would say this would be perfect for most finches.

Several others on here have used that same vinyl. I wouldn't use it for an outdoor aviary, since predators (sp?) might be able to break through it, but for indoors it would be fine.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:54 pm

I keep my goldbreast in the 1/2 x 1/2 size and have no problems.
Since my aviaries are outdoors I do also screen the outer side to protect from mosquitoes.
I use 2x4 lumber and put the 1/2" wire on the inside of the wood and the scree on the outside. Finches can get their toenails caught in the screen so it's best not to let them land on screen.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:53 am

The bars on my commercial cage is 1/2 inch apart.

BTW the only coating color (vinyl coated galvanized steel) that I've been able to find is GREEN. The BLACK hardware cloth is pure plastic, so it has no structural strength of its own and needs a frame.

I'm planning on building a breeding cage or two with just the hardware cloth (w/o a frame), so I need to use the coated steel hardware cloth. But, since I don't like the green color, I might try making one with uncoated galvanized hardware cloth. I haven't seen my finches biting the cage, so I think this should be OK.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:09 pm

The plain hardware cloth galv. wire is fine for a finch cage just take a paint roller and paint the color you like I would suggest black as your birds will show up a lot better than the plastic coated wire or the plastic webbing and the galvi.is stronger than the plastic webbing.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:42 pm

I have some breeding cages that are made from plain galvanized wire mesh, 1"x1/2". I've never had a problem from the wire, though it is not the most attractive of materials. I did spray paint one cage with black paint, but I think a roller would work a lot better.