Choosing a Parrot Cage: Size, Cells, Mounting and Color

Cage size: what a parrot needs in its cage to feel comfortable

A considerable number of cages that the market or store offers are not suitable for the home of any living creature—especially cages – “tubes,” which are 30 cm diagonally but a meter high. Birds do not fly as high as helicopters, so horizontal space is more critical for exercise than vertical space. Imagine what it would be like to live in a closet that is three stories high! Many people choose these cages because they create the illusion of space while not taking up room.

The more spacious the aviary – the more at ease the bird will feel.

However, what should you do if you can’t afford a giant cage to comfortably accommodate all the items you would like for your bird? There are a few rules that you should follow so that you will not inconvenience your bird.

So which size is preferable?

• For small and small parrots (canaries, wavy parrots, cockatiels): at least 60 cm x 90 cm. It depends on what the cage needs for a wavy parrot or cockatiel: only a feeder with a drinker, toys, and swings.
• For medium-sized parrots (amazons, cockatoos) – 90 cm x 135 cm
• For large and significant (ara, large cockatoos): 180 cm x 270 cm

Also, parrots with crests or long tails need extra height to keep feathers from touching the top or bottom of the cage. However, this basic arithmetic needs to consider the activity levels of different species. For example, a caique or lory is considered relatively small, but their extremely high activity level would make them use every inch of their cage a hundred times a day. Consequently, they need a larger cage.

Tip: Avoid overloading the cage with toys; otherwise, the house will become like an aunt’s living room, stuffed with an unimaginable amount of furniture, making it challenging to move around.

What a safe cage should be

When choosing an aviary for your pet, you should pay attention to how safe the cage is and the distance between the bars. If the bird manages to stick its head between the bars, there is a risk of getting stuck and trying to free itself, causing injury or death. Because of this, you should be cautious about placing a small parrot in a giant cage.

Safe distance between the cage bars: for small birds – 1 cm, medium birds – 2 cm, and large birds – 2.5 cm. Therefore, if you are thinking about what kind of cage you need for your wavy parrot, you should continue with large-sized cages, no matter how much space you want for your pet.

A strong beak is another pitfall. Many cages are made of weak rods, which cannot withstand the force of the beak, and this will inevitably lead to the bird bending or biting the bars of the bars. When evaluating the cage in the store, remember to run your hand along the inside of the frame to notice sharp edges and roughness, which can lead to injury to the pet.

What kind of cells are there

The design of cages for parrots is very diverse. Three main styles can be distinguished: open-top, closed-top, and play cages.

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The name suggests that the cage has an open top. This is convenient for the bird, which can return to the cage to absorb food or water. However, this cage style is unsuitable for beginners or those who need help getting their parrot to return to the cage on time, such as overnight.

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Playgrounds. A popular type for those who love their parakeet. You can place nutshells or other toys on the territory, depending on what the parrot needs in the cage. And the bird will not fail to taste it on the beak! The bird has plenty of room to roam around and do his bird things. However, if the pet is not accustomed to returning “home,” this can be a problem.

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Standard closed cages. It may have a flat or rounded dome. This type of cage does not have a play area or open top.

Tip: The more decorations in the cage, the more attention it draws from the bird, which is already quite beautiful and colorful. In addition, some cage decorations can cause injuries to the pet.

How high to mount the cage

Some parrots tend to show dominance towards their owners if they are higher up. There are different opinions on why this happens, but no scientific evidence exists on any side of the issue.

The solution to the problem is to tame the parrot. If you teach the bird to sit on your hand every time you let him out of the cage, the problem will not exist. Receiving praise from you, a gentle pet or a piece of treat is the best treat for the bird!

By the way, keeping your bird below eye level all the time is not always a guarantee of good behavior, but some people think it is!

What color cage to choose

The bars of most cages are powder-coated or made of stainless steel. Powder coating means that the metal is spray painted. Such cages for parrots can be beautiful, as owners can choose a cage of any color to match the apartment’s design and the bird’s color.

However, it is worth understanding that you will notice that the paint has come off sooner or later, and you will either have to put up with it or repaint the cage. The best choice is a stainless steel frame. Such cages are durable, but they are also expensive. However, you will spend less on maintenance than on a standard painted cage.

Easy access to all corners of the enclosure

There is no doubt that this is an essential factor. If the cage is easy to clean, you are more likely to clean it more often, providing a healthier environment for your bird. Generally, cages with hard-to-reach places, cracks, and crevices will collect crumbs, grains, waste, and other debris. A cage that is safe and easy to clean is better than just a pretty birdhouse.

Why a good cage is important

You’re probably familiar with the story about a guy who realizes his dream and buys himself a hyacinth. However, he doesn’t have enough money to buy a cage, so he puts the parrot in an unsuitable box or cage meant for another animal. While the owner is at work, the parrot destroys the cage and begins to damage furniture and other interior items. Do not repeat his mistakes!

If you love your pet, you will surely want the best for him. Let’s understand what a parrot’s cage should have.

Birdhouses and swings

We don’t always consider the comfort of our feathered friends’ feet. Parrots use them 24 hours a day, even when they are sleeping. It is best if the cage can accommodate several perches of different sizes. Natural wooden parrot poles are preferable to plastic ones because they have a natural roughness. Plastic poles are too smooth and uncomfortable for the bird. In this case, the accessory can be further sanded to give it an uneven surface. Sisal ropes are comfortable for the bird, but it is worth watching their surface so they stay tight enough and the parrot can hold on. Swings are also worth choosing from affordable and reasonable quality materials: a round fabric ring with a parrot pole.

Many owners prefer stainless steel and rubber swings and rings made of impact-resistant plastic. If you choose rubberized products, you should ensure the parrot does not bite or swallow pieces; removing this accessory from the cage is better if you notice a bad habit.

Parrot toys

Many bird owners like to pamper their pets with stimulating toys to diversify the bird’s life and enjoy watching the parrots, which are often not lacking in intelligence. Toys are made from various materials: wood, acrylic, stainless steel, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, cotton and sisal, fabric, rubber, paper, tanned leather, husks, dried palm leaves, and other organic materials. They can be represented by different shapes: bells, beads, rings, and coconut shells—a wide variety of shapes, colors, and combinations of materials.

There are a variety of toys for parrots:

• toys that are connected to the cage in one way or another;
• rotating toys;
• cuddle toys;
• puzzle toys;
• chew toys;
• jumping toys;
• cluster toys;
• slimming toys;
• noise toys;
• interactive toys;
• children’s toys.

Parrots love almost all of them. They know they can do whatever they want with their toys. This is an integral part of the emotional and mental health of birds – permission to manipulate and destroy their personal belongings.

Curious birds are almost immediately eager to explore an object when a new toy is grasped. Parrots don’t always need fancy toys – for them, a bolt attached to a string is sometimes enough for them to explore and try it out on their beaks. Transparent parrot sticks (often from citrus trees) are a great way to keep your bird in the cage. If you decide to make your bird toys use safe materials.

Video: how to make a ring for a parrot with your own hands

 

 

 

 

 

 

If space allows, you can add additional accessories such as a stone or chalk to the cage for the parrot.

Parrot feeder and drinker

These two accessories are essential parts of any parrot cage. If the size of the cage allows, it is best to use three parrot feeders: a drinker, a bowl for dry food (e.g., grains), and a feeder for wet food (e.g., vegetables). Food bowls come in a variety of materials. Parrot feeders made of shatterproof plastic, ceramic, or stainless steel are safe for feeding, but it is best not to use galvanized metal bowls because of the potential toxicity of heavy metals.

Parrots should always have access to clean, filtered water. Quite often large parrots, such as Amazons, confuse the drinker with the toilet, so the water should be changed several times a day. For such parrots, it is recommended to purchase bowls with a “hood” or put special closed drinkers, as in the photo. Such drinkers for parrots, despite the fact that externally they do not get dirty, require a change of water at least once a day.

Video: automatic feeder for parrots

 

 

 

 

 

 

In large cages, many owners buy a special net stand. On such a net you can periodically put slices of vegetables: corn, carrots, cherry tomatoes, broccoli; pea pod. Green beans, orange slice, a slice of banana, Brussels sprouts, slices of sweet potato, zucchini – all this will certainly find its use.

Of course, more treats end up at the bottom of the cage, but still the parrot spends time with pleasure and eats those pieces that he considers necessary.

Does a parrot need a mirror in its cage?

In nature, parrots live in flocks. At home, a parrot is looking for a companion. In your absence, he will not be lonely at all if you hang a mirror in the cage. The parrot will most likely see its reflection in the mirror as a second bird.

There are a few dangers here:

• he may start pecking at the mirror. The materials from which the parrot mirror is made can be dangerous. Therefore, when choosing a mirror for your parrot, pay attention to safe materials, such as a Plexiglas mirror.
• Parrots, like people, differ in character and temperament. Not all birds may like the presence of a competitor in the cage (he will see the competitor in the reflection), so if you notice that the bird is irritable, it is better to remove the mirror from the cage.
• or maybe…see your other half in the reflection!

Video: a true story about a mirror for parrots

 

 

 

 

 

What to put on the bottom of the cage

Sand for parrots

Pros:

• • Birds can use the sand for play and entertainment, and will often pick at the bottom of the cage
  • Aesthetic beauty

Minuses:

• • Will be flying around the cage and outside the cage
  • It is difficult to notice changes in the droppings, which is the first sign that the bird is sick

Paper

Pros:

• • Easily accessible
  • Easy to handle

Minuses:

• • Do not use newspapers (printing ink is destructive to birds)
  • The bird may chew on the paper, which is detrimental to its health (e.g., it may get a blocked goiter)

Special sand bottom

Pros:

• • Specially developed from companies, no flying around the cage
  • Easy to clean

Minuses:

Empty pallet

Pros:

• • no need to use improvised means
  • droppings

Minuses:

• Polluted frequently, requires periodic cleaning