The
most common mistake that Parrot owners make when buying their Parrot
a cage, is to buy one that is too small! At a minimum, Parrots need
to have enough room in the cage to spread their wings out, flap them
and turn around on their perch without neither their wings nor their
tail touching the bars of the cage.
The
general rule of thumb when selecting a cage for your Parrot is to
always buy the biggest cage that you can afford! I cannot
emphasize this enough...
A
lot of people feel and often tell me that keeping a bird in a cage is
a crime, here pls do understand that for pet birds, it is their home
and safe haven, a place where they can retreat to...sort of their
personal space :-), my 1 pair of budgies have a cage usually meant
for 2-3 pairs.
Choose
your parrot's cage with care
Did
you know that when choosing a cage for your Parrot, a longer cage is
much better than a cage that is tall and narrow? Most Parrot’s like
to fly from one side of their cage to the other side. But don’t
forget that for taller Parrots or Parrots with very long tails, such
as macaws, the cage height must be adequate for them as well.
Never
buy a round cage for a Parrot! This will lead to a very nervous
Parrot indeed! Parrot’s need to have a sense of security and in a
round cage there are no walls or corners for your Parrot to hide
against when he feels anxious.
Another
tip to remember when choosing a cage for your Parrot is to make sure
that the cage is not painted, as most Parrot’s will eat away at the
paint. If the paint is toxic, your Parrot can get sick or even die!
Do
you know which cage is better for your parrot?
Don’t
forget that your Parrot’s new cage will have to be cleaned
regularly so the easier it is to clean the better for you and your
bird. Wide doors that give you easy access, trays that fit the bottom
and can be pulled out readily, are good things to look for when
choosing a cage.
Bar
spacing is another matter to be concerned with. If you select a cage
which has too huge of a bar space, your little parrot might be just
be able to squeeze himself through and escape, or worse yet get his
head stuck between the bars! If the cage has a very small bar spacing
your Parrot could get his toes wedged in between the bars!
Does
your parrot have right perches in his cage?
You
will also have to choose the right perches, food and water dishes and
toys for your Parrot’s new cage. While this can be a fun activity
for the whole family, you should remember to buy perches that are of
the correct diameter for your Parrot’s feet and make sure that the
toys don’t have any parts that are easily breakable or your Parrot
might ingest them. Toys are one of the best boredom-breakers for
Parrots. Always buy a variety of toys and rotate them weekly in your
Parrot’s cage.
A
word of caution though, if there are too many toys in your Parrot’s
cage, he will run the risk of breaking blood feathers in his wings if
he flaps his wings too hard and a toy is in his way.
You
will stop:
- Worrying that your parrot will get hurt in a cage that is too small or too large;
- Wasting money on the wrong style and type of cage;
- Stressing that your parrot will open the cage door on its own and escape;
- Buying the wrong type of toys that your Parrot easily becomes bored with;
- Trying to figure out the best location for your Parrot’s cage.
Given
below are the approximate cage size and bar spacing of different
Parrot species. Since cage is so important in your bird's life,
special attention should be given to the actual cage size and bar
spacing.
| Name of the Parrot Species | Cage Size |
| Parrot |
Cage
Size: 24"
W x 24" H x 24" D for smaller Parrots
5 ft W x 6 ft H x 3½ ft D for larger Parrots
Bar
Spacing:
1/2" for smaller Parrots 4" for larger Parrots |
| Conure |
Cage
Size:24"
W x 24" H x 24" D approximately
Bar
Spacing: 5/8"
to 3/4"
|
| Macaw |
Cage
Size:
24" W x 24" H x 18" D for smaller Macaws 5 ft W x 6 ft H x 3½ ft D for larger Macaws
Bar
Spacing: Not
more than 4" apart
|
| Cockatoo |
Cage
Size: 24"
W x 36" H x 48" D for smaller Cockatoos
24" W x 48" H x 48" D for larger Cockatoos
Bar
Spacing: 1"
to 1.5"
|
| Parakeet |
Cage
Size: 24"
W x 24" H x 36" D approximately
Bar
Spacing:
1/2" to 5/8"
|
| Lovebird |
Cage
Size: 24" W x 24" H x 24" D approximately
Bar
Spacing: 1/2"
to 5/8"
|
| Budgie |
Cage
Size: 18" W x 18" H x 24" D approximately
Bar
Spacing: 1/2" or less
|
| Cockatiel |
Cage
Size: 20" W x 20" H x 24" D approximately
Bar
Spacing: 1/2" to 5/8"
|
| Parrotlet |
Cage
Size: 24" W x 24" H x 24" D approximately
Bar
Spacing: 1/2"
|
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