We inherited a parakeet with an unfortunate attitude from some people who I thought were friends. My wife, being the compassionate and free spirited person that she is, acquired a mate for the bird, thinking that this might help her disposition. She then commenced to letting the little tyrant and her henpecked little subject out of their small cage on a daily basis to freely wreak havoc on the sun porch. They are destructive little devils.
This is Fidela Castro (blue) and Johnny Mercer (yellow). I call them Dam Frances, after the person who inflicted her on us, and Johnny Rotten.
After the third or fourth time they refused to return to their cage for the night (they are not easy to round up), I struck a deal wherein I would build them a larger habitat in exchange for their permanent incarceration.
This is the result of this deal. My wife wants to tell her side. I told her to get her own blog.
I rescued an old end table from an uncertain demise.
This is the finished project.
The drawer is also the bottom of the cage and can be removed to facilitate cleaning. The drawer sides extend through the drawer front where I shaped pulls. I always wondered if this would work out.
I pegged the drawer sides to the front, top and bottom, with 1/4” dowel.
Hand cut dovetails at the rear of the drawer case.
The finish I am not completely happy with. I guess it is okay for what it’s for, but it was really an experiment.
I first sealed the pine with thinned shellac then used an oil based stain (walnut) and the another two layers of shellac. Kind of an antique finish I guess you could call it.
Overall, I think everyone is happy. Although, the birds will not be relocated until tomorrow.
We shall see.
9 comments so far
Russel
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1229 posts in 424 days
posted 172 days ago
I’m sure the birds will be quite comfortable in their new, though, restricted space. Nice work on the cage and table.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Thuan
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152 posts in 302 days
posted 172 days ago
This is a great project, I really enjoyed the story that went with it. I went to the Photobucket page and saw how you made the doors for the birdcage, you really put some detail to this.
-- Thuan
Scott Bryan
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9077 posts in 306 days
posted 172 days ago
Dusty,
This is probably your only project that I will say is completely for the birds. :)
Seriously I am hope that this will help alleviate your wife’s anxiety about caging. But if she does want them to be free flying you could always leave a window open.
This is a nice project.
Thanks for sharing both the project and the story behind it. I enjoyed it.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Dadoo
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1536 posts in 475 days
posted 172 days ago
Don’t do as Scott suggested! Leaving a window open…the poor birdys would fly out and be lost forever! They are obviously lonely. Get them an Iguana! Iguana’s love little birds. Or maybe a pet Python?
LOL!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Jimthecarver
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209 posts in 270 days
posted 172 days ago
Hi Dusty,
Nice cage for them destructive little guys. I once made a cage from wood for my some birds I had at the time.
I thought it turned out great, the thing I didnt think about was that they loved to use them sharp little beaks to rip the wood to shreds. So my cage did not last as I thought it would.
The thing I am wondering about would be the finish that was applied and what it may do to the birds being that it is oil based….just a thought, good luck!
Jim
-- A duck that brags on his own pond, soon swims alone.
BarryW
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188 posts in 391 days
posted 172 days ago
Nothing like have little dinosaurs flying around all over the place….ugh…love your solution to the problem. Also, like the door…I, too, went to photobucket…anyway, a great solution. A cage for all seasons.
-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.
EdC
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420 posts in 325 days
posted 120 days ago
Nice bird trap, now their happy and so is the wife, right????
-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.
dustynewt
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330 posts in 347 days
posted 120 days ago
Well Ed, now there is an issue with five kittens, their mother and an Uncle/Daddy Tom, all of which mysteriously appeared on our doorstep last month. The Birds are not happy about the situation at all, and I believe there is a rebellion brewing.
Life goes on….
-- http://dustynewt.webs.com/
WayneC
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5685 posts in 582 days
posted 114 days ago
LOL. We had the opposite experience when we brought home a new bird. The cat got disgusted and moved out into the garage.
I do not know what the issue was….. Perhaps a photo of the bird would explain his attitude….
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov