Cages... playtops, open tops, so many choices

[indybirds]

Edited to add: Sorry! I forgot to mention, the cage is for a Cockatiel

What sort of cages do you all have? I am just perplexed by the huge selection.

I am fairly sure that I want a cage with seed skirts (if they don't work I'll take 'em off) and I'm also pretty sure I don't want a plain closed top. I either want a playtop or an open top.

What's better? An open top with a seperate play station, or a play top?

I probably will end up getting a seperate play station later on down the line, no matter what sort of cage I end up with. But what's a good starting point cage?

Between wrought iron and wire... Which is easier to keep clean? I've seen both wrought iron and wire cages that I thought were attractive and perfectly functional.

Any special advice on what material the food bowls should be made of? My dogs eat from stainless steel or ceramic. I figure a bird should eat from the same, eh?

Thanks a bunch! You all have been extremely helpful and I can't express enough gratitude for your sharing of bird wisdom. Can't wait to get my fid home!

[The Outlaw]

Well, it really totally depends on who goes IN the cage, what space and financial restraints you have and how much work you are prepared to do.

As a rule, the bigger the better. Try to get a cage with outside access to food and water bowls, and be careful about selecting a cage that has a proper cage bar spacing. A too small bird in a cage with too wide bars can lead to a strangled bird. However, a cage that is too lightweight will have to be replaced very quickly. You cannot imagine how quickly a determined macaw or cockatoo can break welds and decide to explore the REST of the house.

I don't use seed skirts. They simply take up too much room and are one more thing to clean. I prefer to simply provide easy to clean flooring UNDER the cages. That's simply a matter of choice.

Get a cage with either powder coating or better still, a stainless steel cage. I am currently determined to replace every cage here in stainless over the next 5 years or at least all of the macaw cages. In the long run, it has to be more cost efficient than replacing other cages every 5 years.

When you order a cage, also calculate what kinds of things you'll need to have inside of that cage. My greys and eclectus like boings and they take up a lot of room. My birds are only in their cages to eat and sleep, so I only keep 3 perches, 3 toys and either a swing or boing in their cages. If, however, they spent 8 hours a day inside cages, they'd have cages almost twice the recommended size to accomodate extra things to entertain them.

And, finally, its futile to shop until you really decide on a specific bird. If you go to bird shops or breeders looking for one species, you will more than likely find yourself meeting others you never even considered. On the 6 times I actually went looking for new birds, on every occasion I came home with an entirely different bird. Here's a classic example: I went shopping for sun conures and came home with an Ekkie. I went shopping for a Cockatoo and brought home a mini macaw. I went shopping for a Hahns and came home with another BG. And, finally, I went shopping for a Sennie and came home with the best bird on Earth, another BG macaw, the Fabulous Margarita. They will pick YOU out if you simply pay attention.

THE OUTLAW

[indybirds]

Thanks both of you for those informative responses. I could read websites all day long, trying to guess what the upsides and downsides of all the cage options will be... or I can just ask the people who have already been there and done that! :icon_smil

[Franciscus]

I agree with Nancy in that the bird should come first, then the cage. According to Sally Blanchard in the latest issue of Companion Parrot Quarterly you should get a size up form the size cage suugested by most manufacturers. For example, if you have a cockatiel, get a cage made for conures and Senegals, if you have a Senegal, a cage for a grey and so on. That way you will have enough room for the "furniture", toys, extra bowls, etc. It makes a lot of sense to me. The large macaws should get the largest cage available. I prefer dome tops as there is more room in the cage. Also the play area(s) is best situated away from the cage to help prevent boredom as well as the bird becoming territorial (although there really is no guarantee that won't happen, ESPECIALLY with quakers)

I know what Nancy is talking about in regards to welds. I've ordered a new cage for Razz partly because I think she deserves a bigger cage and she has popped several welds on the one she's in (38" x 38" x approx. 6') I have also decided on stainless, dometop, 3' x 4' x 6 to 6.6' ,no welds, all the bars go through the crossbars. Caillou is also going to be getting a bigger cage, possibly at the same time, also stainless, also a dometop. She is currently housed in a removable playtop cage which Toto will move into.

As far as the cageskirts are concerned, they basically catch to poop from the birds when they are sitting on the cage, everythig else gets flung far and wide. When decorating the room your bird's cage will go, I suggest a nice camouflage pattern in all colours of creation, if you don't do it before, a well fed parrot will.

[indybirds]

Originally Posted by Franciscus

As far as the cageskirts are concerned, they basically catch to poop from the birds when they are sitting on the cage, everythig else gets flung far and wide. When decorating the room your bird's cage will go, I suggest a nice camouflage pattern in all colours of creation, if you don't do it before, a well fed parrot will.

<VBG> Well, the room is mauve and teal mostly... Thank god for steam cleaners! I bought mine when I bought our second pup. It's a godsend, I use it all the time!

[smallonion]

Humhrey's cage doesn't have a play top - it's just flat, but she spends a LOT of time on the top. So much so that there are more toys on top of the cage than inside. But my Humphrey lives a 'cage free' lifestyle - she is never caged (except for bedtime) and goes in when she wants. This is controversial to many people, by the way. I think Humphrey would have really enjoyed a play top. She also has a separate play gym on another table.

I bird-sat my friend's tiel for a while, and I think I remember he liked to play on top of his cage...then again, all tiels are different!

One thing I have to say - you are going to be the best bird parent EVER. You are really concerned with creating a lovely environment for your new cockatiel, and that will totally reflect in the relationship the two of you have. I am impressed.

Also love your list of backyard birds. Being an American living overseas - I miss the American birdies - the mourning doves, the cardinals, the blue jays...sigh. We have some lovely birds over here, but I miss my American ones.
Michele and Humphrey

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Well, it really totally depends on who goes IN the cage, what space and financial restraints you have and how much work you are prepared to do.

As a rule, the bigger the better. Try to get a cage with outside access to food and water bowls, and be careful about selecting a cage that has a proper cage bar spacing. A too small bird in a cage with too wide bars can lead to a strangled bird. However, a cage that is too lightweight will have to be replaced very quickly. You cannot imagine how quickly a determined macaw or cockatoo can break welds and decide to explore the REST of the house.

I don't use seed skirts. They simply take up too much room and are one more thing to clean. I prefer to simply provide easy to clean flooring UNDER the cages. That's simply a matter of choice.

Get a cage with either powder coating or better still, a stainless steel cage. I am currently determined to replace every cage here in stainless over the next 5 years or at least all of the macaw cages. In the long run, it has to be more cost efficient than replacing other cages every 5 years.

When you order a cage, also calculate what kinds of things you'll need to have inside of that cage. My greys and eclectus like boings and they take up a lot of room. My birds are only in their cages to eat and sleep, so I only keep 3 perches, 3 toys and either a swing or boing in their cages. If, however, they spent 8 hours a day inside cages, they'd have cages almost twice the recommended size to accomodate extra things to entertain them.

And, finally, its futile to shop until you really decide on a specific bird. If you go to bird shops or breeders looking for one species, you will more than likely find yourself meeting others you never even considered. On the 6 times I actually went looking for new birds, on every occasion I came home with an entirely different bird. Here's a classic example: I went shopping for sun conures and came home with an Ekkie. I went shopping for a Cockatoo and brought home a mini macaw. I went shopping for a Hahns and came home with another BG. And, finally, I went shopping for a Sennie and came home with the best bird on Earth, another BG macaw, the Fabulous Margarita. They will pick YOU out if you simply pay attention.

THE OUTLAW

You have such a KNACK for making your last statements the best!!! The only bird I ever actually bought also picked me out. I went to a pet store to buy some things for my cats and this little Tiel was in one of those corral type things they put birds in and as I walked by the corral, she jumped on my arm, ran up and kissed me!! It was love at first sight...how could I NOT take her home? She was my love from then on out, all she ever wanted to do is sit on my shoulder as I went about my daily business. Sighhhhhhhh sure do miss her. Ooooops, got off track....where IS my mind? LOL If you see it, tell it to go home, I'm looking for it.
Linda & HRC~

[indybirds]

Originally Posted by smallonion

Humhrey's cage doesn't have a play top - it's just flat, but she spends a LOT of time on the top. So much so that there are more toys on top of the cage than inside. But my Humphrey lives a 'cage free' lifestyle - she is never caged (except for bedtime) and goes in when she wants. This is controversial to many people, by the way. I think Humphrey would have really enjoyed a play top. She also has a separate play gym on another table.

I bird-sat my friend's tiel for a while, and I think I remember he liked to play on top of his cage...then again, all tiels are different!

Thanks for those thoughts, Michele. I thought he might like getting out, atop the cage and peekin' around a bit. Especially if he can't spend a lot of time on my shoulder (we'll see... ) Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever be able to 100% trust the dogs, unsupervised with the bird (while I'm asleep and whatnot) so our Tiel will have to have set times in and out of the cage.

One thing I have to say - you are going to be the best bird parent EVER. You are really concerned with creating a lovely environment for your new cockatiel, and that will totally reflect in the relationship the two of you have. I am impressed.

Also love your list of backyard birds. Being an American living overseas - I miss the American birdies - the mourning doves, the cardinals, the blue jays...sigh. We have some lovely birds over here, but I miss my American ones.
Michele and Humphrey

Thanks so much for the vote of confidence I have to admit, it's been such a long time since I had a bird, I hope I'm still a good bird-mom :icon_smil but I think everything will be okay. If there's one thing I don't like doing, it's jumping into big commitments without research. I'm certainly an inquisitive soul, and I hope I don't bug you all to death. <VBG>

On the backyard birds... I'll try to get some photos of my little buddies for you. I've really enjoyed birdwatching, which is what led me to see about convincing my hubby that we could handle a pet bird The yellow birds in my avatar are the goldfinches that come to the feeder daily. I think they must've hatched some new babies in the recent past, because I'm seeing a bunch of juvenliles hanging around the feeder, at times. Very cute!