can anyone tell me how much it would cost to make a mouse cage out of wood and wire and how to make it???

Question

i want to make a frame of wood and maybe chicken wire for the sides...

Answer 1

I would not recommend that you make a mouse cage out of wood, as they have a tendency to gnaw into it, and may eventually be able to escape out of it. Chicken wire is certainly not suitable for a mouse. It would very easily be able to walk through the holes. You would need a much smaller gauge mesh if you do decide to build your own cage. A simple 10-gallon aquarium with a screen top is more suitable and will cost you about $20-45 total, depending on where you purchase it.

Answer 2

I have three mice and considered doing this also. It seems there are no cages on the market that would allow proper ventalation with wires close enough together so the mouse won't escape and hurt itself. Doing this, I'm sure, wouldn't cost much money. Wood could be bought a Home Depot or Lowes, as well as the wire. The wood would need to be of a fair amount in thickness, mice will gnaw on wood, eventually creating a hole. So be sure to provide gnawing bars to sway them from doing this. Chicken wire will most likely not work. Mice tend to seem larger than they really are, and would easily get through chicken wire. Your best bet for wire sides would be some sort of wire mesh. This might take some searching to find. Go to this link to get an idea of what I mean >>>
http://www.metal-mesh.cn/upload/product/brass/brass_wire_mesh_01.jpg

I would use a staple gun to attach this wire to the wood frame. Be careful not to leave jagged edges of wire where its been attached to the frame. To avoid this, put adhesive felt along the edge of the wire as it meets the wood.
As far as creating the frame for the cage would go, it would just be a basic box shape nailed together. To make a lid, purchase 2 to 3 hinges (depending on how long your cage is) and attach them to the framework and the box shaped frame of the lid.
Make sure to measure everything!! Keep the saying in mind- "Measure twice, cut once".
If you avoid mess ups, this all should cost you under $40. Which is cheaper than most cages on the market, trust me, I've been looking. Plus it will be more rewarding to make one, and it will be everything you wanted. Just have fun with it!!!
If you have other questions, just call or go to a hardware store like Home Depot (you'd probably have better luck at a family owned store though) and ask! Good Luck! Hope it works out for you!

Answer 3

I agree, chicken wire is not suitable and wood really doesn't sound too sensible either.

I have rats, and the best cages I have found are birdcages! I get them used at garage sales and thrift shops, and the little guys love to climb on the bars and even sit on the perches. Mice like to climb also, and would not be able to get through the bars on a regular budgie cage. You can attach boxes to the sides of the cage for them to nest in, at different heights. And the tray in the bottom makes it easy to clean them - mouse urine is quite strong as I'm sure you know!

Don't use wood for your cage if you decide to build one; they will gnaw it up in no time, and that unique mouse-smell will get into it even if they don't. Wood absorbs odours. I did make a killer rat cage in woodshop in high school, all metal frame with 1/4" wire mesh sides - but it would probably cost more to make than a good used cage.

Answer 4

IT WOULD NOT COST YOU ANY THING TO MAKE ONE
JUST GO TO LOWS BY THE STUFF FOR IT
AND MAKE IT YOUR SELF KIT