dome top vs flat top cage

[Snowy]

I was thinking of getting a flat top cage or ones with play area on top.
Then I've been reading that having a play gym on top can make a bird territorial and also that dome tops are recommended for more space.

I thought it'd be easier to hang toys if the top is flat, but are the domes better??

[jimpierce7]

I look forward to everyones answer for this too. I'm getting ready to get new cages and have been asking the same question. I currently have play top cages which a lot of people don't seem to like. They don't let in as much light (I removed the tray myself) and don't have as much inside room. I put an "addition" on Sophie's cage so she would ave the room.
I live in a very small apartment so about all areas get to be used for play gyms for my birds. As I don't have a problem with being creative, I've already figured out how to make a play area on top of a dome top. lol As long as it's not over 6 feet high anyway.
So after all that I don't have a vote yet.

[GlendaNS]

Personally, I like the flat top better. Lots of reasons...
Hang toys better, bird can't get on top out of reach, I can put stuff on top for bird to play with. My birds have play stands and spend lots of time out of their cage.

[4HAND]

I recently upgraded Cheddy's playtop cage to a larger dometop that opens and I regret it.Mostly I miss the toy hook.He seems to spend his out of cage time loafing about instead of playing.
Tena

[Monica]

I prefer flat top... not necessarily play top, but flat top... since it IS easier to hang toys, and put something on top of the cage for the birds to amuse themselves with if on top...

However, that didn't stop me from buying a dome top macaw cage for Charlie! It is a pain in the butt cause he IS a *small* bird (he's the largest here!), therefore his toys are also small. ATM, I have the grate from his previous cage hanging inside at the top of the dome top to form as a platform. He goes up there and plays with his toys, or rather, beats them up! It works but still, I prefer flat top.

If he was larger, say macaw sized, then I can definitely see the reasons for having dome-top, as a macaw would have bigger/longer toys.

[birdlady49]

I recommend the flat top cages. I've heard horror stories about the dome cages as the wire usually gets narrower as they met at the top of the dome. Birds have gotten caught in those narrow areas and have been found too late.

[Buteo]

Originally Posted by 4HAND

I recently upgraded Cheddy's playtop cage to a larger dometop that opens and I regret it.Mostly I miss the toy hook.He seems to spend his out of cage time loafing about instead of playing.
Tena

That's easy to correct - make your own toy hook.
I never open the top of the dome, so I put toyhanger on the top of Gracie's cage. She battles with that toy, chewing on the wood parts or she'll run back & forth across the top and grab the toy with her beak as she passes by it and actually swing around on it.
I'm gonna try and get a vidclip of her doing it if I can.

[Monica]

birdlady, my dome top doesn't have any wires that get any narrower... however, I have seen dome-tops with "pretty designs" or otherwise that DID have some narrow bars...

This is my dome-top.... WI40R
In antique silver as the site says.

[Tiffany]

I have a flat top with the attached play area. My tiels seem to really enjoy it. I have a pic attached of the cage my tiels are in.

[Lisa B]

I have mostly dome tops for more living area, in cage play space. My gang has a seperate area for playing in our livingroom and they have their own bedroom for their cages. The cabinets are in where the old closet was. I needed an area to organize stuff, and keep their foods.
My disabled girl has a play top, because I wanted her lower in the cage for when she falls at night.
The only time they are out in their room on their cages is either when I am feeding them or cleaning cages. Other wise they are out in the livingroom.
you can always get a dome top and hang a boing from the ceiling Make it a floor to ceiling play area if the cage is going to be in the same spot as his play pen.

here is their bedroom and play area.