Letter 9633

Seeking Powder Coated Wire for Bird Cage

+ I'd like a specific size of bird cage that is not available commercially and therefore would like to create my own. The dimensions of the cage will be 67.5 x 36 x 30. I'm looking for 1/4" powder coated wiring for my design. Do you sell this or something similar? Sheri Wallace-Matthews - Dublin, Ohio + Are you saying the bird cage is made of 1/4" diameter wire, Sheri, or do I misunderstand? What species are you building it for, Pterodactyl? What I'm really getting at is that 1/4" diameter is so heavy that screens of that weight are usually fabricated by welding the lengths of rods together, rather than by weaving them. Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey + Pterodactyl wasn't a bird ;) Maybe for a condor? Adam Weston - Northridge, California + Of course pterodactyls were birds. Did you miss the closing scene of Jurassic Park? :-) Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

Don't know if it will help but you can try GDC/Estey Wire Cloth at www.gdcestey.com/galvanized.htm

Carol
- Sulphur, Louisiana

Ed. note: That page is now a link farm; sorry.

Just a tip- be careful not to use galvanized wire for birds b/c I have just learned that the zinc in the galvanized wire is toxic to birds if they manage to get the zinc off in their mouths. I'm also looking for wire to replace the galvanized wire on my birds cage and I have found some stainless steel welded wire.

Good Luck,

Tracey Cipollone
- New Richmond, Ohio

There is a place to get coated wire and cage supplies at www.klubertanz.com. Do not use Galvanized wire for any animal it is very toxic.

Patty Fatsie
- Cleveland, Ohio USA

An alternative for birdcage wire is stainless steel TIG welding rods, not cheap but not too bad, if you have the equipment to weld S.S. There are also different gas welding rods available at welding shops for gas welding muffler pipe that are not stainless, but they would need to be painted or taken to an outfit that could powder coat the whole cage, a reasonable alternative for a custom cage.

Romas Povilaitis
- Monterey, Indiana

I am desperately trying to find wire mesh panels to build a flight cage in my backyard. It is for cockateils and would like it long so they can actually fly. Do I keep it off the ground? How high? I am having trouble finding supplies locally as well to put it all together. Also some suggestions to secure it from Hurricanes would be helpful.I have about 10 birds. I live in South Florida. Any suggestions.

Thanks....

Susan Sado
hobbyist - Hollywood, Florida

Hi, Susan. This is actually a metal finishing site, and the topic has drifting beyond my area of experience, so I don't know if anyone can help. But four suppliers have been mentioned by other readers. Good luck.

Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

I just ordered wire panels and doors from Wingz Avian Products for my 8' X 16' Indoor flight. Everything was powdercoated black. I also bought a roll of Pvc coated wire to re-wire my outdoor lori aviary.

Tom Arbeta
- Plant City, Florida

Susan
Yes you should keep your flight cage off the ground. Ground feeding birds frequently get infected with worms if allowed to actually ground feed. This is one of the reasons that wild birds don't have as long life spans as captive kept birds.

Bill Wagner
- Green River, Wyoming

I have found a source for 1/2" "chicken wire" Try Kent Design and Manufacturing and scroll down in their "metal grill" section and find #1220T.

Elizabeth Paul
- New York, New York