Junk Bird Cages

Salvaged or found accents and accessories for your rustic garden

Junk Bird Cages can hold much more than just a bird; how about a special collection of seashells, driftwood, or even nuts and bolts, or a bird made from old tools wired or bolted together?

They can be planted with succulents, displayed with a salvaged birds nest or two, or to protect special plants from chipmunks or rabbits.

They can be  used as a way to display your eclectic collections, or just to enjoy as is.

There is something really appealing about bird cages, the rustier and more beat up the better. 

Here are a few in my garden;

Some bird cages just need a slight tweak, such as burning in the bonfire for a few minutes to get some of the paint off. The remaining metal rusts and gives it a rustic patina in no time.

I always take t he base out of my bird cages, so they can never again be used to hold a bird captive. In days gone by, cages like this would hold wild warblers or canaries, until, doomed, they would expire before ever experiencing their native habitats again.

Bits of twisted root, or driftwood collected on the beach, wired in place make a sturdy handle - and add some rusticity. This cage was designed for a small parrot or a few budgies, often times raised by aficionados, not wild caught.

I use my favorite wire, rebar tie wire, to hold the twig handle in place securely. This cage is actually meant to hold gerbils or hamsters, or another member of the rat family. Either way, the floor comes off.

Squirrels Foot Ferns cover the base of this Victorian looking bird cage - the tiny cherub perches on the swing.  I call this one 'Going Up' because it reminds me of an old fashioned elevator.

If a bird cage or other cage was used for keeping mice or other small animals in, it stands to reason that they won't be able to get in.

Simple rustic displays gathered on a potting bench or shelf make great little vignettes. I had this one in my booth to sell faux birds nests.