Things You'll Need
- Wood framing material
- Wood perches
- Metal mesh
- Screws
- Hinges
- Latch
- Screwdriver
- Wire cutters
- File or metal grinder
- Heavy-duty staple gun
- Sandpaper
Instructions
Make a plan. Decide on a size for your cage. Love birds need to exercise and be active. A single love bird needs a cage that is 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet at minimum. Two love birds should have a cage roughly double that size. Increase the dimensions of your cage based on the number of love birds you plan to keep in the cage. Compile the measurements of the cage and calculate the amount of building materials you'll need.
Choose a framing wood and cage mesh. There are many types of wood that are toxic to birds. There is a list of toxic and nontoxic woods for birds in the Resources section. Choose a wood that is commercially available such as ash, aspen or spruce. The framing wood needs to be thick, 2 by 2 at a minimum, as love birds are chewers. Select a quality framing mesh that is made of galvanized metal. Make sure there is no zinc or lead solder in the mesh because zinc and lead are toxic to birds. Use nontoxic screws to assemble the cage and nontoxic metal hinges and latches to secure the door. Screws hold the cage together more securely than nails.
Build the cage frame and door frame. Cut the pieces of your cage frame to the measurements in your plan and sand the pieces smooth. Assemble the cage frame using screws. Cut the pieces to frame the door of your cage. Assemble the door and attach it to the frame using hinges. Attach the latch to the door and the door jam.
Add the outer mesh. Cut the outer mesh for the top, bottom, sides and door of your cage. Remove any sharp edges on the mesh using wire cutters and a grinder or file to avoid injuring your birds. Attach the mesh using heavy-duty staples or screws and washers. Make sure you use enough staples or screws to keep the mesh secure and escape-proof.
Add perches, food and water bowls. You can purchase commercially available food and water bowls that attach directly to your cage mesh. Use nontoxic metal bowls. Birds need to stand to be comfortable and they don't like to stand on flat surfaces. Design your perches so that your birds can grasp them comfortably and use nontoxic wood.