How to Build a Cockatiel Cage

Originally from Australia, cockatiels make exceptional caged birds for the home. With a little handiwork you can build a custom-designed cockatiel cage for a fraction of the cost of a store-bought model. Use these directions as a template to build your cockatiel cage, adjusting the specifications as needed to fit your own house.

Things You'll Need

  • 36 feet of 2-inch-by-2-inch wood beam
  • Table saw
  • Electric drill
  • 3/16-inch-diameter drill bit for wood
  • Box of wood screws 3 inches in length
  • Roll of 1/2 wire mesh
  • Tin snips
  • Staple gun
  • Staples
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut 12 pieces of 2-inch-by-2-inch wood beam to a length of 3 feet each using the table saw. Make straight, uniform cuts to ensure a tight-fitting framework for the cage.

    • 2

      Drill pilot holes in the ends of each wood beam using the electric drill with a 3/16-inch-diameter drill bit. The pilot holes will prevent the wood from splitting when screwed together. Drill holes according to the diagram.

    • 3

      Make two separate squares out of the eight pieces of 2-inch-by-2-inch-by-3-foot wood beam with pilot holes. Offset each wood beam according to the diagram so that one end of each beam forms 2 inches of the outside edge of the square. Screw together four of the wood beams using the electric drill and one screw 3 inches long for each corner of the square by making use of the pilot hole. When screwed together each square will, because of the offset, measure 3 feet 2 inches in length per side. These squares will form the top and bottom of the cockatiel cage.

    • 4

      Connect the two squares to the four remaining 2-inch-by-2-inch-by-3-foot wood beams. Start by standing one of the remaining wood beams on end and place one corner of one of the square frames on top of the wood beam so that both sides of the wood beam facing the exterior of what will be the cube are flush with the outside edges of the square frame. Drill a pilot hole toward the outside edge of the square frame and down into the single wood beam and then screw together using a single wood screw. Repeat for the three other corners and again to attach the second square frame to the opposite end, thereby completing the cube.

    • 5

      Cut six squares of wire mesh measuring 3 feet 2 inches long by 3 feet 2 inches wide using the tin snips and attach one square section to each side of the cage frame, including the top and bottom. Use a staple gun to attach the wire mesh.