Last week I took the Muscovy ducklings and all the chicks to the local livestock auction. Since cages sell with the animals at this auction, I needed to make or find three cheap cages to take them in that I wouldn't mind losing.

As I considered the materials I had on hand, I came up with a solution that's quick, easy and inexpensive - mine were free since I had everything I needed.

This cage would work well for more than birds too. It can also be used to transport a rabbit or other small mammal. It's quick to construct, easy enough for a child to make (with a bit of help cutting the wire), and very inexpensive. Mine were free, using the leftovers from other projects.

I started with a cardboard box large enough to hold my cargo. I kind of underestimated the size I'd need for the ducklings, they could have used a bit more space, but they wouldn't be inside for long and I didn't have a bigger box.

One of my boxes had an open top, and another had the front and top open - it was a display box from a grocery store. The third had the top flaps still attached, but I taped them straight up to give the box more height. If your box is tall enough you could simply cut off the top flaps.

Next I cut a piece of chicken wire to fit the top of the box with enough on each side to fold over. If you're moving a smaller animal you can use another type of wire, perhaps hardware cloth or even window screen. I used tin snips to cut the chicken wire, but you could use wire cutters if that's what you have. Chicken wire isn't the only kind that will work, it's just what I had on hand.

I fit the wire on top of the box, folded the edges down, and molded the corners over so it would stay on well. Now it resembled the lid of a shoe box.

Then I used the pointed end of a meat thermometer to make a few holes at the top of each side of the box. I started out with a pencil, then used a sharp knife, but the metal end of the thermometer worked the best for me. Feel free to use what you have.
This next step is optional. I wanted the young birds to have the option of being given water to drink. I used a plastic cup for each box, but clean, empty yogurt containers would work great for this too. I put two holes in the cup using an office hole punch, about a half an inch apart, and then made matching holes in the side of the box by putting the cup inside and poking the pointed end of the thermometer through the holes and the cardboard.

Using a cable tie, I attached a cup to an inside corner of each box.


I put shavings on the bottom of the box, added the birds, and set the wire lid on top of the box. With cable ties I fastened the wire lid to the box through the holes I'd punched near the top. I started out using baling twine, but it's sort of plastic-y and didn't stay tied well. I thought about using the string that holds feed sacks closed, but that might not be strong enough. Cable ties worked perfectly.

If the holes were too close to the top I thought the cardboard might give way, so I'd made them about half an inch from the top. It's a good thing I did, because the guys who work at the auction carried those cages by the wire tops! Fortunately the cable ties held strong. The box of month-old ducklings was pretty heavy.

The chicks and ducklings traveled to the auction in comfort and safety, and went to their new homes in the familiar cardboard cages, without the trauma of being transferred to another container. May they have long and loved lives on their new farms.


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