Handy hubby

[shelly]

We would like to make a cage from wood and acrylic panels. I know ventilation is a problem with them so i am thinking front and back will be acrylic and sides half acrylic on the botton- top will be some bird safe wire. Plus top will have built in full spectrum lighting and venting. Can anyone tell me if there is some kind of non toxic glue for plexiglass and what wood i should use? Or suggest some books or something? I would appreciate your help. Thank you.

[Birds&Horses]

Sounds like a cool idea! I don't really have any information on building a cage, but I do have one word of advice on door placement. I have a cage with an acrylic front that opens up completely (the rest of the cage has bars). This is very handy for cleaning, etc, but I would recommend also putting a door on a spot on the cage that is NOT acrylic. Since the plexiglass is not a visible barrier it is a learning process that they go through to figure out that they can't go through it. If you have a door there, it kind of confuses them. (Sometimes there is something stopping me and sometimes there isn't!) :confused: :p With Taz, the first few days he was in his new cage he figured out he couldn't go through it and was fine, but then I opened the front door to let him out and after that it took him awhile to relearn that he couldn't go through it. I don't know if this is something where they would eventually learn to see the difference between open and shut or not, but because of this I have been taking Taz out the side door of his cage where there are bars.

Your cage idea sounds cool! I love having the plexiglass front so I can watch him and he can watch me without cage bars in the way. Once it is built you should definitely post pictures! :D

[shelly]

That is a great thought. I was playing with the idea of the whole side opening up for the door. Plus then you still have that unobstructed view thru the front. THis is something we are really going to think thru before we start so it may be a while. Plus i just spent 90 for a cage. Hubby hates the seed mess and i don't blame him. i vacum twice a day and that isn't enough. Thanks for your input, it all helps. Will defianately post pics IF we ever get this project underway. Thanks agian.

[Jinx n Noodle]

There's instructions online somewhere... I found them years ago when I looked into doing it. They didn't use glue, the parts were screwed together, you would drill holes for the screw- which they mentioned you had to be careful otherwise you may split the plexiglass. I would be careful about any wood that you use, p'lets can and will chew through wood. It may take some time to get through wood, but they can do it.

Also, you either would need to cut slits through the plexiglass or something to put perches up in the cage. I think there was another thread on this forum where somebody used a fish tank type cage and then for the perches, creatively put suction cups up to hold the perches.

You would also need to consider since there will be decrease ventilation, that the placement of the cage need to be careful. In the summer months near a window, the cage can heat up a lot.

[michiganlet]

I would think an acrylic cage would not allow a bird to climb. Jesse constantly climbs around his cage from top to bottom and side to side. He also likes sliding down the cage bars. You could just buy an aquarium to put bird in.

[shelly]

We would have to put lots of climing things in there maybe from the top and bottom. Some ladders and boings and things. And yes i would think it would have to be out of the sun even in the winter.

[Sally]

I am not a big fan of acrylic in a cage, I get claustropohbic thinking about less air flow.He gets to come out to play and fly also? Maybe you can show us some photos.

[Bird_lover6]

http://www.finchaviary.com/Graphics/Home/AviaryDone2Lg.jpg

I wanted to show you this photo of an aviary that seems to have been made using door panels. I think with a little planning, you could make a cage out of door panels (glass, screen or both) as well.

[catfish]

i actually would love to have that for my little Gelato. i don't think i would be allowed to do this in the current house.... but once i graduate and we move into the house I buy, it's being constructed!

I still dream of an attached green house for my little Gelato to live in... one can dream.

[shelly]

Instead of a mesh, i could use screen and that should keep the seeds in equally well. Plus there would be ventilation. So that would be what we would use on the sides. Glass would have to actually cover any wood that was used to protect if from chewing. Now to find a manufacturer of bird safe screen and untreated wood. Since i bought the tidy no mess bird feeder i am feeling alot better about the mess. that thing is great!:D

[krysm]

I love the name Gelato, Catfish. Too cute!

Sounds like a really cool cage - would love to see pics when done.

[Jinx n Noodle]

Hmmm, how about this... my double stacker came with plexiglass panels for the bottom fifth of the cage. They just cover enough to keep most of the mess in (doesn't work so well when the birds flap and the stuff goes flying over the plexiglass). I'm planning on getting plexiglass and hooking it to the outside of the cage for the area where I put their fresh foods (they like to fling that).

[shelly]

I think we tried to do that with a parokeet cage a while back. Never had it on tight enough or maybe it wasn't tall enough but a good idea that i may have to end up doing. Thanks guys!