How to Build a Wire Squirrel Cage

Though they are not easily domesticated, many people still keep squirrels as pets. Housing and caring for a squirrel begins with an appropriate cage in which to keep the critter. Wire cages provide the most stimulating environment for a squirrel, as they allow the animal plenty of climbing and scampering opportunities, something squirrels are naturally suited to do. Building a wire squirrel cage requires basic carpentry skills and a basic understanding of how squirrels like to live.

Things You'll Need

  • 12 six-foot two-by-fours
  • Five-foot-eight-inch two-by-four
  • 68 one-inch wood screws or nails
  • Hammer or screwdriver
  • Two standard door hinges
  • 180-square-feet of chicken coop wire
  • 100 carpenter staples
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Instructions

    • 1

      Construct a cube wooden frame that is minimally six feet tall by six feet wide by six feet deep. Build two wooden squares by nailing four six-foot two-by-fours together in a square. Connect the two wooden squares together with your remaining six-foot two-by-fours.

    • 2

      Choose one of the faces of your cube frame to act as the face that will frame the door for your cage. Nail your 5'8" two-by-four halfway down this face so that it spans the face horizontally. This board will act as the crossbeam of your door face and you can attach a latch to it when you install your door.

    • 3

      Construct the frame of the door. The door frame will fit flush inside the door flush, so the outer perimeter of the door frame needs to be 3' x 5'8".

    • 4

      Attach the hinges to the outer edges of the door frame on the 5'8" side of the frame.

    • 5

      Attach the other side of the hinges to the top of the frame on the cage's wooden frame. The door should open out from the top, so the hinges should face in towards the center of the cage.

    • 6

      Attach chicken coop wire on each face of the outside of the cube frame using carpenter staples. You do not need to attach wire on the face that will act as the ground of the cage. Be sure to attach the wire only to the outside of the door and the opposite side of the door face so that the door functions.

    • 7

      Smooth out the jagged edges of the chicken coop wire by hammering them into the wood frame. This will make moving around the outside of the cage safer.

    • 8

      Place some objects inside the cage for the squirrel to climb on and hide in. Because they are naturally energetic, squirrels need to be able to climb when in captivity.