How to Buy a Parrot Bird Cage

JL_Tuso | Mar 8, 2011 |

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When well-chosen, a cage makes a safe haven and playground for a bird when they cannot safely be out on their play gym or in their outdoor aviary. However, many cages are too small, badly designed, and even contain toxic substances. When the cage chosen is not done with careful consideration, it can become a place of confinement and cause potentially life threatening health problems for the bird. There are some key features to look for in a cage to determine which parrot or bird cage to buy.

Choosing a Bird Cage Size

Know the wing span of the bird. You can find this information in parrot identification books such as “Parrots of the World” by Forshaw. At a minimum, a cage must allow a bird to fully extend its wings in all directions. Yes, this does mean you will have a difficult time finding an appropriately sized cage for a large macaw or cockatoo. For these birds, play gyms and outdoor aviaries are all the more important to their well-being.

Also, measure the spaces between the bars. Make sure the bar spacing is not large enough for your small bird to escape through.

Cage Material

Find out what the cage bars are made of. Buy only stainless steel, plastic or powder coated cages. Old wrought iron cages and brass cages have high levels of zinc and other metals. These are toxic to birds when ingested. Birds get the metal from the cage into their system when they use their beak on the cage bars to move around.

Cage Style

Do not buy round cages. Take a look at the top of round cages. The openings go from wide to narrow. Birds can easily get their wings, or even neck stuck in the bar spaces of the tops of round cages.

Do not be charmed by the fancy designs on cages. All those intricate details may pose a risk of injury for your bird, especially to toes.

Buy a long cage rather than a tall cage. Birds spend much of their time at the top of cages. A narrow tall cage does not give most birds a lot of space because most birds will not use much of the space.

Cage Cleaning

Consider the ease of cleaning the cage. Cages must be cleaned every day to remove all droppings and old food for birds to be healthy. Cages also need a good scrubbing and disinfecting every few weeks. Look at the cage to see if you will be able to keep the cage clean easily.

An important tip to keep in mind when looking to buy a parrot bird cage, is that the marketing is always going to be geared towards the one spending the money, you. Since it’s not believed by many businesses that bird owners want a large expensive cage taking up an entire room, they don’t market many large expensive cages to macaw or large cockatoo owners. More often, mid-sized cheaper bird cages that tuck away in a corner are marketed to large bird owners. However, a large expensive cage that dominates a room is exactly what a macaw and any sized cockatoo needs. Therefore, you cannot simply read the cage label and assume you have purchased a good cage for your new feathered friend. Most cage labels are not appropriate. For example if the cage says made for an Amazon parrot, you can probably assume that it is too small for an Amazon, but may be suited for a conure or cockatiel. If the cage says it’s made for an a macaw, then it may be appropriate for an Amazon, but probably not a macaw. To confirm this, measure the cage and compare it to what you know of the species’ wing span.