While waiting for baby, looking at cages

[Shutterbugmom]

I currently have a California Cage that is 18 X 18 X 30? with a dome top. (Bar spacing 1/2 inch.) My GCC will come home to this cage, and it will eventually become his/her sleeping cage.

In the meantime, I'm looking for a bigger cage, and am wondering if the Avian Adventures Chiquita Dometop (28 X 22 X 34) would be a good size. Bar spacing is 3/4 inch. Is that ok?

Much bigger, and I wouldn't be able to keep the cage in the kitchen with me, and I think placement overrides a slightly larger cage. If the cage is in the kitchen - then, by default - my gcc will automatically be spending a lot of time with me whether or not s/he's out of the cage. KWIM? (And, of course, s/he will spend time out of the cage.)

So? Your thoughts?

(I think I'm giving more thought to this cage than I did to my first child's baby bed. LOL OF course, I was young and stupid waaaaay back then, and just assumed than any crib we purchased was going to be safe....)

Jo

[mmr]

why don't you get the big cage (and bigger cage is better than placement) and get a play stand to put in the kitchen with you??? Then your baby can both!

[Razzle]

I actually think where you put the cage DOES beat out the size difference, if it isn't too major a difference in cage size. My conure was happier the first month we had him in a cage a third of the size he was in at the pet store we bought him from than he was at the pet store. (Of course now he has a big cage!) We kept him in the room we were in most often and let him out for several hours a day to make sure he got enough excercise. He seems even happier in a big cage now, so I'm not going to say that it isn't important for a happy bird to have a big enough cage, but I think being around you is better.

[Ringneckmom]

Yep I would go with the bigger cage - you may want to rethink him being in the kitchen as there are lost of bad things that can happen in there especially if you cook a lot.

If you can put the bigger cage in the family room where the family will be most evenings etc that would be the best bet.

[Alyx]

Hey Jo!

3/4" spacing for a conure is TOO big. The maximum recommended size is 5/8" which is what we orignally had for our GCC and even that turned out to be too large in the beginning. She hadn't been in the new cage for a minute before she got her head stuck between the bars. It was my first heart attack of many. 1/2" is much better to start with. After a year we got out the 5/8" spaced cage and haven't had any more problems.

Hope that helps your decision :D

[Shutterbugmom]

Thanks for that info! I'm definitely starting my gcc in my smaller cage with 1/2 inch spacing! I have four children still left at home (youngest eleven) and one small, gentle dog with lots of human comings and goings, door openings, slamming doors. kwim? I really don't anticipate leaving my gcc out on a playstand although when the kids are at school I might be able to do that.

I mostly cook with Le Creuset cookware, and use a small teflon pan for scrambling eggs on a fairly low heat. Nothing ever happened to my cockatiels while they were in the kitchen, but when I did a heavy duty cleaning with cleaners I would roll the cage to another room.

So what cage is suitable for a gcc? Large enough, but with 1/2 inch spacing?

Thanks!

Jo

[Shutterbugmom]

Just wanted to say I would welcome specific cage recommendations! I'd prefer not to buy one of the cheaper cages, only to have to replace it in a couple of years.

[RoughCollies]

I really like the HQ flights for a GCC. Mine was not hard on her cage at all, so it wasn't an issue as to bar thickness. It gives them a ton of room, is inexpensive and it isn't the ugliest flight I've ever seen.

As for GCC's being on a playstand, you really need to worry about independent play with them. They NEED to learn to be out of the cage and playing on their own because if you let them, they'll spend all day and night snuggled in the crook of your neck. Which is nice, except when for whatever reason they can't be there. It causes more behavior issues later than it's worth. Independent play is essential in any bird, but especially one that is so much a cuddler. They just won't understand why they can't cuddle all of a sudden.

My GCC loved her stand. She spent most of her time with me, but did learn how to entertain herself by being left on her stand regularly.

[Shutterbugmom]

That is so cool!

I'm hoping to build or buy a nice table top play gym for my gcc. Then in the evenings when we're watching tv or when I'm on the computer, I can put my bird on the play gym if it's not cuddle time.

[Alyx]

kwim? I had to look that one up and LOL ya i do kwym! I have invested time and money into a few of those playstands, but by far my GCC fav place to be is on me.

The right size cage question has no 1 correct answer but I'm guessing you already knew that :P I personally use a (aprox) 24"x18"x36" but Pogo doesn't spend more than a couple of hours throughout the entire day in it and then it's usually open on top anyway. The rest of her day is spent on me. At the local pet store they have a double cage that is 8' x 4' x 8' for $900.00. When we get our second bird it is the cage we plan on going with. I figure that way if I want the bird to spend more time in the cage I can get in to :P JK!!