How to Build a Parrot Cage

Many people get a great deal of satisfaction from owning their own pet parrot. Of course, with the joy of having a parrot as a pet comes a great deal of responsibility. Among all of the details that you must be responsible for is the parrot cage. After paying up to $1000 or more to acquire that special parrot you want to make sure that you arrange the appropriate type of housing for your new companion. Many people are hit with a case of severe sticker shock when they first begin to price cages. A good quality bird cage that is built large enough and strong enough for the needs of a parrot can cost more than $300. In order to save those hard earned dollars and still give their new parrot a wonderful cage a lot of people are choosing to build their own parrot cage.

The first step to building your own parrot cage is deciding on the style of cage that seems to fit your parrot's needs. You also need to make sure that the cage matches the size restrictions of the rooms in your home. It might be a good idea to first take some measurements of the room where the cage will be placed. The needed dimensions are going to be critical factors when it comes to bird cage construction. Because parrots are larger birds, they will need a cage to match, usually 36 inches by 36 inches by 36 inches minimum.

When you are ready to build the house for your new bird you are going to have to decide on some other details. Some parrot cages have legs and others can just be placed on a stand of your choice. There are cages that can even be hung from the ceiling. You must also decide what materials you are going to construct the cage as well as decide on the shape that it will be.

For a simple cube shape you can begin with two pieces of wire cut the same length and folded into thirds. The pieces would form the sides of the cage as well as the top and bottom. All you would need to do is to fasten two pieces of wire together with some cage clips or electrical ties. Use a wire cutter to make an opening in one side of the cube. Then use a small section of wire that is a little larger than this opening for the door. To accommodate the weight and size of any parrot you will need to make sure that you are using a heavy gauge wire. Lighter wires would pose the problem of breaking which could let your parrot escape, or get injured.

If you want to build a parrot cage that is sturdier you should first construct a basic frame made from wood. Then you can wrap the frame with heavy gauge wire and attach the wire to the frame. You can cut a hole in this wire to make the opening just as described in the construction of a wire cube cage. The wood surfaces that are facing the parrot should not be stained or have any type of finish applied. This is because most of these products have chemicals that are toxic to parrots and other birds.

No matter what style of parrot cage you decide to build it is important to make sure that the bottom of the cage is designed with a solid tray insert. These are described as false bottoms and will let the waste products from your bird pass from the cage into the holding tray for easy removal and cleaning. This also keeps bird droppings from remaining in the cage where your parrot would constantly be exposed to the waste and bacteria it contains. Lining the tray with wax paper or newspaper will be more hygienic. There are even some ready to use liners that can be bought and used.

Extra accessories are also important to remember and must be included in any parrot cage. You should consider adding swings, tug ropes, bells, perches or mirrors for your bird to play with. You can even build some great perches from natural twigs that your parrot will certainly love.

For many parrot jewelry is a wonderful way to share your enthusiasm.