Bye-Bye Birdie!

If you're the type of person who doesn't like to throw things away or buy new items when an old object can be converted for a new use, this type of project is perfect for you. Hamster caretakers often have to go out and purchase hamster-specific dwellings for their house, apartment, or dorm room, but with some creativity and insight, you won't have to buy an expensive hamster home. Instead, you can convert an old bird cage you may have in your attic or storage room into a hamster habitat.
While a bird cage doesn't meet all the needs for a hamster's living space, with a few minor adjustments, it can be ready for such a use fairly quickly. First, you want to ensure that the old bird cage is large enough to hold the hamster. Typically, bird cages are on the larger side versus hamster cages, which often tend to be shortchanged, so size should rarely be an issue.
Of greater concern is the floor. While birds are able to perch adequately on thin bars with their talons, hamster feet would fall right through a grated bird cage surface. If you have some cardboard or another sturdy material, that would be ideal. Cardboard's a particularly good choice because you can actually remove it from the cage when it gets dirty and place a new one in, and cardboard can easily be cut to fit the shape of the bird cage without losing much of its structural integrity. To further hamster-proof the cage, you'll want to make sure there are no awkward openings in the cage barrier where a hamster could get his head stuck. Most cages for birds have uniform designs throughout their exteriors, so again, this shouldn't be an issue in most cases. From there, you'll want to remove any raised perches, bars, or swings that may be higher up in the cage. Hamsters won't be able to utilize them, so by removing them, you open up room to put hamster-specific objects inside. A hamster wheel is a great way for your pet to get exercise and should fit easily, while a water bottle with a small mouth piece can be hung from the cage's exterior to save even more room inside the cage. If the cage has an irregular shape, you can even play that to your advantage, by installing small, climbable platforms and tunnels that follow the contours of the cage. This will help to stimulate your hamster, as it is a mammal and an active creature.
The rest of the process is rather simple. If the cage used to be hung from above, you shouldn't do the same when a hamster inhabits the space. Instead, keep the hamster habitat on a sturdy, flat surface. A hamster will often move around on the actual cage surface far more than a typical bird, so any movement can accidentally tip the cage if it weren't on a steady surface. Also, be sure to keep the cage away from any other pets you may have, particularly cats, as they may swipe at it and dislodge it from its place. After all, the new hamster habitat is built for the comfort and safety of your hamster, so the only way to truly ensure that is to make sure the habitat is secure from outside interference.
All potential problems aside, you should now have a brand new, unique hamster habitat that will certainly be a conversation piece the next time you have guests over.