How to choose a bird cage
May 24 '01
The Bottom Line This is your bird's home. Take your time making the decision. Talk to the people at your pet shop and vet's office for more advice.
You have made the decision to get a bird as a pet. The first thing you are going to have to purchase is the cage. There are so many choices. I hope I can help you make a good decision.
You can buy your cage at your local pet shop, at a mega pet store, and even at a discount chain such as Kmart or Walmart.
If you are on a tight budget you can purchase a small cage for about 20 dollars. The very large fancy cages can be purchased for several hundred dollars.
Finches and parakeets can live in the smaller cages. You will need a larger cage for either cockatiels and parrots.
It is very handy to have an extra cage which in my case is a smaller one in which to put your bird when you are thoroughly cleaning their cage or for the trip to the vet.
I have always had stationary cages. I have found that for me it was easier when moving the birds from room to room. If you prefer you can also get rolling cages. These are great if you have hardwood floors. Some birds like to look at the window during the day. This is easy to do with the rolling cages. You can move them back away from the window when it cools down or it gets too hot.
You will want to get the biggest cage that you can afford. Of course the bigger cage you purchase the more costly the cage will be. This is your birds home and they need to at least need to be able to easily flap their wings.
The spacing of the bars is very important. The smaller the bird you own the closer the bars will need to be together so you pet will not escape.
I would recommend getting a cage with metal bars. These usually last at least five years. I have seen plastic and bamboo cages which will just be torn apart by your birds.
I prefer cages with wire bottoms. It gives the bird a place to stand and the droppings will fall through the mesh to the tray. This helps to keep your birds healthy.
A must in my opinion is a removable bottom tray. I line it with paper which makes for easier cleaning. I try to do this daily. If you have a removable tray you will not have to take your bird out of the cage every time you need to do some cleaning.
You will need two cups for feeding. One cup will be for food and the other for water. I like to have a cup for food that is partially covered. This helps to keep the food more clean. You will want to change your birds water at least once a day. It is very important to their health. I sometimes even put in a drop or two of vitamins that I buy from my vet.
You can buy skirts or special sheets to go underneath your cage. I would recommend not wasting your money. You can use an old sheet or towel and it will works just as well. My birds tend to throw their food and feathers every where. I shake out the towel I have underneath and just throw it into the washer.
I have two perches and a swing for my birds. I would recommend more than one perch if you have more than one bird so they can get away from each other if they want. They love the exercise they get swinging on their swing and flying from perch to perch.
I have several toys that I rotate into my bird cage so they do not get bored. I make sure I wash them before and after they go into the cage.
I enjoy having my birds. They are great pets for someone who lives in an apartment. I think often they make a great first pet.
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