How to Make a Canary Cage

Canaries have been kept as pets for hundreds of years, and today are available in a wide assortment of color varieties, including reds, oranges and browns as well as the classic bright yellow. Renowned for their musical song and cheery antics, canaries are fun and relatively easy to keep birds which will offer many years of enjoyment for their owners. While canary-sized cages are widely available on the pet trade, a homemade canary cage can offer your bird with much more room for the same costs and can be customized to fit the exact specifications you seek.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/2" plastic-coated wire mesh
  • J-clips
  • J-clip pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • 1 x 2" lumber strips
  • 1/2 plywood sheeting
  • Nails
  • Hammer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase plastic-coated wire mesh from a hardware store or feed supply store. The mesh is generally available in several colors and widths, and the plastic coating protects your birds from exposure to toxic zinc oxide, which is used to coat galvanized steel mesh.

    • 2

      Cut the front, top, and bottom panels for your canary cage based on the size you would like the finished cage. Fold over the protruding bits of wire where you cut between the wire squares. This will give the cage a smooth edge.

    • 3

      Cut the two side panels 5 inches taller than the desired height of the cage, and the back panel 3 inches taller than the desired height.

    • 4

      Fold the bottom two inches of each side panel over to a 90 degree angle.

    • 5

      Begin to assemble the cage by attaching the roof panel to the back panel of the cage using J-clips and J-clip pliers. Attach the side panels in the same manner, with the bent portions towards the bottom of the cage. The bottoms of the bent side panels should be flush with the bottom of the back panel.

    • 6

      Attach the bottom grate next. Do this by connecting the bottom cage panel to the back and sides, three inches from the bottom of the cage. This will create a ̶0;false bottom̶1; which will allow a space to slide in a catch tray for loose seed and bird droppings.

    • 7

      Cut out a door opening into the front cage panel, and attach a piece of wire mesh that is slightly larger than the opening you cut to act as a door. Attach the door along one side with J-clips to create a hinge. You want a small amount of overlapping mesh to prevent escape, and can use twist ties or wire to hold the door shut.

    • 8

      Attach the front panel to the cage with J-clips once the door is complete.

    • 9

      Create the seed tray by cutting a piece of ½̶1; plywood to the dimensions of your cage bottom, minus 2 inches in depth and 2 inches in width (i.e., if the cage is 20 inches by 15 inches, you would need a 18 x 13̶1; piece of wood).

    • 10

      Cut the 1 x 2 lumber strips to fit around the plywood. The cage will look nicer if the front and back boards nail into the side pieces, and not the other way around. This way the front board will run the full length of the cage.

    • 11

      Nail the 1 x 2 sides onto the plywood base.

    • 12

      Line the seed tray with newspaper, and slide into place.