Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    As was mentioned previously (somewhere, can't remember where), wood is
    not easily disinfected.
    
    I would make it of the best wire you can get.
    
    Ed
    

    My husband made my Canary and Finch flights.  They are made of pine
    and oak.  You have to be very careful with any type of wire mesh.
    If you do decide to make your own, get the mesh (mine is 1/2") that
    is glavanized after its welded then dipped in a weak acid wash.
    You can tell the difference, the wire is dull on the stuff welded
    after and not dipped, the stuff that is, is nice a shiney.  Welding
    material often has lead in it.  The manufacturer dips the mesh in
    an acid wash to remove any excess metals that may be harmful.  
    
    Personally, for any bird that is a known chewer (whether wood or
    other) I would not use wood or a wire mesh cage.  My Vet currently
    has a Macaw in her office that is suffering from toxic posoining
    from chewing on his owners newly made galvanized wire cage.  We
    were concerned when we saw the macaw, knowing that the canaries
    and finches are in a similiar type metal mesh cage, but my vet
    indicated that they are okay because we got the acid dipped stuff
    and also because canaries and finches aren't known chewers.  The
    owner of this macaw thought he would build his bird a nice big cage
    with the 2" wire mesh and heavy gage but didn't realize that it
    doesn't take much of this type of metal to seriously hurt a bird
    that chews on it.  I'm sure it was an expensive lesson.
    
    Cockatiels chew.  My conures and quakers are very similiar to
    cockatiels and love to get their little beaks on everything.  I
    would not put them in a wood cage nor a cage with that type of welded
    galvanized metal....   -1 also made a good point that bacteria is
    much harder to control in a wood environment.  They are just plain
    hard to clean...

    I build my own cages and have built them for others amoung them
    Al decodia & silva King.  I have also gleamed advise from several
    well known breeders.  they requested and got the fallowing types
    of cages.
    
    1)  wire Not galvanised after welding.  this should show the welds.
    I buy it by the roll and eather steam clean it to get the machine
    oil off or use a solution of LOC from Amway and wipe it down.  all
    is rensed off afterwords.  this is to insure the birds do not get
    Zinc posining.  I make all my cages from this wire so that if I
    ever swap form finch (nochewers) to hookbills (chewers) I do not
    have to worry.
    2)  cage clips (J clips in the south)  have only used on medium
    to small birds so far.  and would not reccomend them for any cockatoo
    macalls, yellow napes or of that size birds.  
    3)  wire size 16 gage is fine for about all cages and can be cut
    with electric wire cutters and or hand wire cutters.  
    4)  wood reinforcement.  I have used but reccomend against it. 
    I have made cages of wood frames with the wire stapled over it.
    then the pannels screwed togeather.  the breeder who won'ted these
    had a cleanning plan.  breed birds in the winter take the bird out
    side in the summer.  steam clean cage & leave out over the summer
    to dry out.
    5)  cage bottom:  plan wire with paper over it is cheap but messy.
    I get my trays made they can make up 43 in by 24 in by 2 in lip.
    I make sure all edges are folded over and no sharp corners are showing.
    this makes 3 trays out of one sheet and it is cheaper this way.
    With haveing a tray this size I find it is hard to pull out and
    practly use less to do so.  so all trays are placed inside the cage
    as it is being made.  hense the smoth bottom and no sore feet. 
    clean up is just folding the paper up.  vaccumme up any missed messed.
    Very seldem have I had to do any wipeing down of the tray itself.
    6)  Door:  cut door very carefully if you center it sometimes the
    purches will not work out.  in a 43x24x24 I can get 3 purches on
    one side and 2 on the other if the door is off center.   cage clips
    work well for hinges.  I use plastic protection over the edges so
    as to not cut myself.  only one set of birds have taken them off so
    far and that was a pair of golden manaled rosella's and I found
    it in the nest box.   
    7)  Stand:  2 or 3 cages stacked up make a 6 foot cage set depending
    on wire size for example two 30 inch high cages or three 24 inch
    high cages make a good set that can be rolled out the door.  beware
    that cages wider that 24 inch have problems with doors and halls.
    8)  legs:  they make metal legs that can be ordered.  I get a set
    and drill an extra hole in them.  put a two by four between them
    and put wheels on the two by four.  this way you can pull the whole
    thing out for cleaning.
    9)  latch:  recomend outside sping latch that is bent over the door
    wire and latches to the side.
    10)  I can bring in my sorces of materials if any one is interested.  
    
    like to make things.  owner of tooth pick maker. ck

    Heres another suggestion..........
    
    3/4 PVC pipe.....like the ones used for plumbing...
    
    I 'created' a 5' X 10' X 6 ' PVC cage using 2" PvC schedule 40 
    stock and chain link fencing. The cage finally cost around $150. 
                                
    I have divided it in two and house two pair of Macaws in it.
    
    The interresting part of the project is the articulation of all
    the corner pieces and various adaptation devices that plumbing
    supplies offer in cage building.......it kinda resembles one of
    those PVC furniture pieces.  
    
    CW
    

    Heres ANOTHER suggestion........
    
    Corners unlimited..........Its advertised in the BIRD TALK magazine
    and I have purchased several.....you have to build em yourself,
    but there easy and relatively inexpensive or the size compared to
    store sold goods.
    
    chet

    Anyone wish to get prices of the last note on corners unlimited,
    I think I have a catalogue somewhere!
    
    
    
    Chet

    do not get the wire holders from corners unlimited.  they are of
    soft plastic and the birds went right thourh them.  corners unlimited
    does carry a very good door latch.

    re: .5
    
    I have seen Corners unlimited in bird talk and I have their catalog.
    I would like to know if there is alot work to assemble their cages?
    Do you have to attach the wire screening with the j hooks to the
    post? or is that part assembled and you just have to push major
    sections together (like 1,2,3...all done...)????
    
    KARL........

    corners unlimited has a 800 number and I have talked to them in
    the past and it was just a matter of what I was willing to pay.
    
    Someone will have to supply you with the number I have lost it.

    Their cages are NOT a 'cake_walk"!   However, you just need the
    ambition....
    
    Their directions should be looked at by our ESD&P folks, they'd
    get a real laugh. And SVENSON at the 800 number isn't too much
    additional assistance. Common sense rules here.  The screening is
    already cut to fit, the poles are ready cut to size, and the shell
    of the cage goes together relatively easily, however, if you bought
    the three level cages (Split level's just not good enough for my
    birds) there is a significant increase in assembly difficulty, just
    have a ten year old there for consultation (Can be assembled by
    any ten year old....remember that phrase?).   I can be reached at
    226-6821 for any additional consult at no charge.
    
    To date I have TWO FLights, 8 feet by three feet by six feet high,
    excellent for cockatiel colony breeding but I recommend the version
    with the drawers underneath, "for a few dollars more". 
    
    I have one double parrot size cage with drawers, one quadruple
    cockatiel breeder.....   This was a chore, but not the worst.
    
    The WORST was a beautiful unit that fits against a wall and resembles
    an octagon cut in half???  with a tapered to a point roof?  This
    one took two of us and around 5 hours. And after I assembled it,
    I couldn't get it :
    
    	Up the stairs
    	out the cellar bulkhead
    	out any window!!
    
    I heard someone laugh........not funny!
    
    oh well, looks pretty good right where it is!
    
    later,
    
    chet

    
        Does anybody out there know where I can purchase some half inch
    by one or two inch mesh? I live in RI and have checked all the 
    hardware and feed and grain storesin that area, but I can only find 
    half inch mesh or one by two mesh. I work in Northboro and am 
    interested in finding a source in that area.
    
                                           Thanks,
    
                                                 Paul
     

    I use Lewie Page company, at the border of littleton & westford.
    they are a wholesale company so you can only buy 100 foot rolls.
    
    cost of approx $100 per roll.   do not ask for lewie page he is
    long dead.

    Re: .11
    
    If you're still looking for 1/2"x1" wire mesh, UCF on Mill Street
    in S. Lancaster (just over the line from Clinton on Rt. 110) has 
    it in 2' and 3' widths, and they'll cut it to any length.  The 2' 
    width sells for $1.39 per foot (I bought some yesterday) and, if 
    memory serves, the 3' width is $1.79 or $1.89 per foot.  The person 
    who runs the place raises birds himself,and is a good source of 
    information.  Their phone number is (508)365-2194, and they're open
    until 5:00 on weekdays.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    							GK
    
    
    						

    re. 12, 13
    
    
        Thanks for the info. I just went to UCF and got what I needed.
    It cost me a little more per foot than what Sylvia quoted, but that
    was about 75 feet more than I wanted.
    
    

    I my name is charlotte and i build bird cage's it not hard.just
    a lot of time.3ft X3ft.colo spring's colo.

    
    
    Does anyone have the 800 number to Corners Unlimited. I would like
    to call and get a catalog.
    Thanks in advance for any help.
    
    T.