Proper Cage Sizes

[The Outlaw]

I'm encouraging my members to print and save a few articles in a binder as a quick reference. I wrote this today:

One of the quickest ways to feather destruction and frustration is keeping your bird in an inappropriate cage. The size and cage bar spacing is extremely important for each species. Too small cages will ultimately cause the longer bird's tails to just be mangled and accidents to occur, blood feather accidents being most common.

Also, you must be certain that your bird's head cannot fit between bars. You may have a nice roomy cage that would be ideal for a larger conure but it can be deadly for your tiel or budgie.

Consider also how many toys, food dishes, perches and swings you will have inside. All of this effects the actual available space your bird occupies. Its probably better to limit to 3 toys in each cage and rotate them often. Your bird will have enough stuff to entertain himself, but not too many to actually cramp his style.

Be very careful not to have perches or swings directly over any food or water bowls. Feces can contaminate quickly. Its advisable to have an extra set of dishes, too. One to use and the other to keep clean and at the ready. This will prevent those quick changes that really aren't sanitary.

Here is a list of some suggested cage sizes. They are the MINIMUM sizes. You'll need a larger cage once you start filling it up with toys.

Minimum Cage Size and Maximum Bar Spacing Budgies Parrotlets, Lovebirds - 18"x18" with 1/2"
Cockatiels - 20" x 20" with 1/2" or 5/8"
Small Poicephalus,Conures, Ring-necked Parakeets - 22" x 24" with 5/8" or 3/4"
Caiques, Timnehs, Pionus, Jardine's, Small Mini Macaws - 24" x 24" with 3/4" or 1"
Small Amazons, African Greys - 32" x 23" with 1" or 1 1/4"
Mini Macaws, Cockatoos and Amazons - 36" x 24" with 1" or 1 1/2"
Large Macaws, Large Cockatoos - 3' x 4' with 1 or 1 1/2"__________________[/SIZE]

[danforth3]

Nancy:

Caique bar spacing at 1" is too large. Maximum bar spacing should be 3/4 inch. They are curious creatures and try to get out of the cage with 1" bar spacing.

[Anna Robin aka Annie]

Nancy,
"Small Poicephalus,Conures, Ring-necked Parakeets - (22" x 24") with 5/8" or 3/4"
22 x 24 is to small for an IRN. the smallest should be 30" x 30".
I don't mean to be rude.

[Monica]

From the looks of it some of these were just generalized by size... 20" x 20" should be minimum size for any bird though just think about how many people have put medium birds in smaller cages and all the finches and canaries in the petite cages!

[The Outlaw]

Exactly. These were the absolute MINIMUM sizes suggested. All of my birds are housed in the largest safe size I can put them in. After all, with life expectancies in the decades, its a small investment for housing to buy the biggest and best cage you can afford.

THE OUTLAW

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

I'm encouraging my members to print and save a few articles in a binder as a quick reference. I wrote this today:

One of the quickest ways to feather destruction and frustration is keeping your bird in an inappropriate cage. The size and cage bar spacing is extremely important for each species. Too small cages will ultimately cause the longer bird's tails to just be mangled and accidents to occur, blood feather accidents being most common.

Also, you must be certain that your bird's head cannot fit between bars. You may have a nice roomy cage that would be ideal for a larger conure but it can be deadly for your tiel or budgie.

Consider also how many toys, food dishes, perches and swings you will have inside. All of this effects the actual available space your bird occupies. Its probably better to limit to 3 toys in each cage and rotate them often. Your bird will have enough stuff to entertain himself, but not too many to actually cramp his style.

Be very careful not to have perches or swings directly over any food or water bowls. Feces can contaminate quickly. Its advisable to have an extra set of dishes, too. One to use and the other to keep clean and at the ready. This will prevent those quick changes that really aren't sanitary.

Here is a list of some suggested cage sizes. They are the MINIMUM sizes. You'll need a larger cage once you start filling it up with toys.

Minimum Cage Size and Maximum Bar Spacing Budgies Parrotlets, Lovebirds - 18"x18" with 1/2"
Cockatiels - 20" x 20" with 1/2" or 5/8"
Small Poicephalus,Conures, Ring-necked Parakeets - 22" x 24" with 5/8" or 3/4"
Caiques, Timnehs, Pionus, Jardine's, Small Mini Macaws - 24" x 24" with 3/4" or 1"
Small Amazons, African Greys - 32" x 23" with 1" or 1 1/4"
Mini Macaws, Cockatoos and Amazons - 36" x 24" with 1" or 1 1/2"
Large Macaws, Large Cockatoos - 3' x 4' with 1 or 1 1/2"__________________[/SIZE]

Can I add that for Parrotlets especially, the cage should be rectangular rather than square, to allow for flying here and there...which they do rather than hop or climb. I've also never seen it stated to have a cage as small as 18" x 18"...much too small for P'lets(24" x 18" is recommended).
Linda & HRC~