Parrot cage: Complete newbie at building anything

[Niva2gr]

So i am planning to build a big wire mesh cage for my cockatiels, but i have no idea where to start from! I do have a design in mind that i will upload as soon as i sketch it. Considering that my income is low, and that the cage is going to be inside the house:

1. What kind of cheap, non-toxi wire mesh and paint can i use?
2. Considering that i am a complete newbie, how can i build it without the help of a professional?
3. Because i have no idea where to start from, can you please link here topics that i might find useful?

Any ideas or advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[foxhole]

http://www.ehow.com/how_5074777_build-cockatiel-cage.html

 

[0000]

Round cages are not advisable for birds. Their vision almost around except for a blind spot at that back.

I only ever had large parrots. You have to make escape proof especially with greys. But try to avoid designing feature where they could end up guillotining themselves. Make sure all edges are rounded off too.

I would avoid paint at all cost unless it is very hard wearing treatment. You need metal that isn't going to corrode and is safe to lick/bite.

Space is really important for well being. make it as big as possible. You might think vertical space is wasted, but they like to go down every now and then, and they feel more conformable being a large distance from the floor. Cage manufacture can skimp on this because they use less material, but really you are going to be taking up the same floor space anyway.

The structure can be made of bent tube and tub cross bars, which you attach the mesh to. Don't try to just make it out of mesh. That would only work for a travel cage. Also don't use flimsy mesh. it must buckle easily, should be a decent thickness.

Design in maintenance. You need a sheet metal drawer for changing the papers. Food troughs should be pushed through slots. However the clips on these are easily released by a smart parrot. It depend how much fun you want to let them have chucking their trough out to the floor. We used those keyring clips where you screw to fasten, which was a little too much force without leverage for the bird (but I'm sure she knew what she had to do). Those fastening are good for securing all openings. Don't use climbing clips, often they can open them, an they offer too much movement anyway.

Sometime it is just easier to be able open the whole of the front, rather than have a small door. many designs have a kind of gutter all round to catch any dropped food or mess.

Castor and not too heavy so it is easy to move.