Assembly

• 1). Place the 1-by-2-by-48-inch pieces of oak lumber on their edges on a worktable. Measure down from the ends and make marks at 1 and 3 inches, place them on the drill press and drill a pilot on each mark through each piece with a 1/16-inch drill bit.
  
  
• 2). Drill quarter-inch-deep countersink holes in the pilot holes. Next, place two of the 1-by-3-by-36-inch oak pieces on the worktable, measure in from each end and make marks at 12, 12½, 13½ and 14 inches. Drill pilot holes on the 12½- and 13½-inch marks followed by quarter-inch-deep countersink holes.
  
  
• 3). Secure the 3-inch pieces from Step 2 between two pieces of the 1-by-2-by-48-inch oak lumber with the 3-inch drywall screws. Next, secure the 1-by-2-by-40-inch oak lumber on the marks drawn in Step 2 with the 4-inch drywall screws. This is the front of the finch cage.
  
  
• 4). Secure the remaining 1-by-3-by-36-inch oak between the remaining 48-inch pieces with the 3-inch drywall screws. Install the cage wire on these two frames with the quarter-inch staples and the staple gun.
  
  
• 5). Secure cage wire to the two 12-inch areas on each end of the front cage frame. Next, secure the side frames to the ends of the 48-by-40-by-¾-inch plywood (the back) with the 1¼-inch drywall screws.
  
  
• 6). Next, place the two 38½-by-40-by-¾-inch plywood (top and bottom) between the side frames and butting the back of the finch cage---one at the top and one at the bottom. Secure them through the frames with the 4d finish nails and through the back with the 1¼-drywall screws.
  
  
• 7). Secure the front frame (Step 3) to the assembly with the 4d finish nails.
  
  

The Door and Options

• 1). Place the 1-by-2-by-39¾-inch oak lumber on the worktable and make marks on their edges at a half and 1½ inches. Drill pilot holes with the 1/16-inch drill bit followed by quarter-inch deep countersink holes. These are the sidepieces of the door frame.
  
  
• 2). Secure the 1-by-2-by-7¾-inch pieces between the sidepieces as the rails, fitting them between the 39¾-inch pieces at the top and the bottom. Install the hinges to the door according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  
• 3). Cut and install cage wire to the back of the door with the quarter-inch staples and the staple gun. Next, install the door to the front of the frame in the door opening.
  
  
• 4). Install chicken wire on the back of the finch cage to give the finches a place to perch. Secure it to the plywood with quarter-inch staples and the staple gun.
  
  
• 5). Install low-wattage lights to the inside top of the finch cage. Another option is to lean a small tree branch in one of the back corners.