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If you are just about to buy a parrot, it will need a bird cage to call home. If you rescued a parrot recently, chances are you will want to buy it a bigger, better bird cage. And you have had parrots for a while, you may want to buy your bird a new cage with nicer features or larger or simply to upgrade cages. Here are the steps to determining which cage is best for your parrot.
Step 1: Determine Bar Size and Spacing
Nina Playtop Bird Cage – this is a great small bird cage!
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Bar size will basically be determined by bar spacing. The larger the bar spacing, generally, the larger the bars are in diameter. Use this as a general guideline for bar spacing:
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Bar size will basically be determined by bar spacing. The larger the bar spacing, generally, the larger the bars are in diameter. Use this as a general guideline for bar spacing:
Small birds such as budgies, parrotlets, cockatiels and lovebirds,should have bars spaced about 1/2 (1.3 cm) to 5/8 (1.6 cm) inch apart.
Medium parrots such as small conures, Quakers, lorikeets and Indian ring neck parrots, should have bar spacing of 1/2 (1.3 cm) to 3.4 (1.9 cm) inch apart.
All larger parrots should have bar spacing of 3/4 (1.9 cm) to 1 (2.5 cm) inch apart.
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If you place a smaller bird in a cage with widely space bars, it can easily harm itself or even die by sticking its head through the bars and then panic, making it unable to figure out how to remove its head from the bars.
If you place a smaller bird in a cage with widely space bars, it can easily harm itself or even die by sticking its head through the bars and then panic, making it unable to figure out how to remove its head from the bars.
Step 2: Determine your budget
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You can buy cages at low prices or you can buy huge, fancy aviary-typecages which are very expensive. Decide how much you can afford to spend and then choose the largest cage possible for that price.
You can buy cages at low prices or you can buy huge, fancy aviary-typecages which are very expensive. Decide how much you can afford to spend and then choose the largest cage possible for that price.
Step 3: Choose the construction material you prefer:
Finch Haven Flight Cage – this powder coated cageis available in six colors.
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Wrought iron cages are popular for larger birds, stainless steel cages are great for smaller cages. Never buy a cage you believe might havezinc or lead in any part of the construction. Zinc and lead can kill birds quite quickly when ingested and parrots frequently have their open beaks on their cage bars for climbing, chewing, or just supporting themselves in some positions.
Wrought iron cages are popular for larger birds, stainless steel cages are great for smaller cages. Never buy a cage you believe might havezinc or lead in any part of the construction. Zinc and lead can kill birds quite quickly when ingested and parrots frequently have their open beaks on their cage bars for climbing, chewing, or just supporting themselves in some positions.
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Some cages have baked-on powder coated finished which are non-toxicand safe for birds. The powder coating will last for many years. Cages which are available in different colors usually have powder coated finishes because it is not wise to use paint of any kind o a cage and even nursery safe paint will flake off as your bird climbs around on the bars and chews on them.
Some cages have baked-on powder coated finished which are non-toxicand safe for birds. The powder coating will last for many years. Cages which are available in different colors usually have powder coated finishes because it is not wise to use paint of any kind o a cage and even nursery safe paint will flake off as your bird climbs around on the bars and chews on them.
Step 4: Determine the best shape for the location you want to place the cage:
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If you have space limitations, you may want a cage which is tall but not as wide or deep. If you would like a cage that maximizes the floor space,you may want a cage designed to fit into a corner. You might prefer a traditional square or rectangular cage. Avoid round cages because they are more difficult to clean and place toys and perches inside.
If you have space limitations, you may want a cage which is tall but not as wide or deep. If you would like a cage that maximizes the floor space,you may want a cage designed to fit into a corner. You might prefer a traditional square or rectangular cage. Avoid round cages because they are more difficult to clean and place toys and perches inside.
Step 5: Determine if the cage will be easy to clean and help keep the bird room clean
Classico XL Dometop Bird Cage – notice the flared skirt whichdirects dropped food into the cage instead of onto the floor.
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Cleaning your parrot’s cage is a task you must do daily. So, you want a cage which has a pull out tray under a grate. You also want a cage which does not have lots of little nooks and crannies where dirt will be hard to remove.
Cleaning your parrot’s cage is a task you must do daily. So, you want a cage which has a pull out tray under a grate. You also want a cage which does not have lots of little nooks and crannies where dirt will be hard to remove.
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Today many cages have flared skirts on the bottom to direct any foodwhich may be dropped back into the cage rather than onto the floor.This really helps makes cleaning easier.
Today many cages have flared skirts on the bottom to direct any foodwhich may be dropped back into the cage rather than onto the floor.This really helps makes cleaning easier.
Step 6: Choose Features You Desire or Need:
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The openings for food dishes should be easy to access through outsideopenings. The door of the cage may fold down into a “porch”. The doormay have a small door inside a larger door and this can be handy for placing food kabob in the cage, moving toys around, or other reasons when you might want to keep the parrot from leaving its cage while allowing you full access.
The openings for food dishes should be easy to access through outsideopenings. The door of the cage may fold down into a “porch”. The doormay have a small door inside a larger door and this can be handy for placing food kabob in the cage, moving toys around, or other reasons when you might want to keep the parrot from leaving its cage while allowing you full access.
Chiquita Playtop Stainless Steel Bird Cage - this stainless steel cage has a great playground on top.
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You may want a cage which features a playground on top. This prevents the need to purchase a play stand in addition to a cage. You might, however, prefer to have a cage without a playground on top and purchase a play stand to place in another part of the home or beside the cage. It’s all about personal preference.
You may want a cage which features a playground on top. This prevents the need to purchase a play stand in addition to a cage. You might, however, prefer to have a cage without a playground on top and purchase a play stand to place in another part of the home or beside the cage. It’s all about personal preference.
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If you have the option, choose a cage with both bars which go up and down and bars which go across (horizontal and vertical). This gives the parrot more challenges for climbing and having fun.
If you have the option, choose a cage with both bars which go up and down and bars which go across (horizontal and vertical). This gives the parrot more challenges for climbing and having fun.
Step 7: Ask whether you can buy spare parts and get support in order ways:
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You may want to purchase extra food dishes for the cage or you may want to buy an extra bottom tray so you can clean one while placing the other in the cage bottom. You could eventually break the flared skirt if itis made of plastic so you want to know whether you can buy replacement parts for your cage.
You may want to purchase extra food dishes for the cage or you may want to buy an extra bottom tray so you can clean one while placing the other in the cage bottom. You could eventually break the flared skirt if itis made of plastic so you want to know whether you can buy replacement parts for your cage.
Step 8: Find out if cage covers are available which fit this cage
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If your parrot likes to be covered in the evening for sleeping, you may want to buy a cage cover which is made to fit the cage you select. A custom made cage cover can be expensive if you have someone make one and it can be unattractive if you cover your parrot’s cage with blankets or sheets. Generally, cage covers are not extremely expensive and are very practical.
If your parrot likes to be covered in the evening for sleeping, you may want to buy a cage cover which is made to fit the cage you select. A custom made cage cover can be expensive if you have someone make one and it can be unattractive if you cover your parrot’s cage with blankets or sheets. Generally, cage covers are not extremely expensive and are very practical.
In Closing:
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Choose your parrot’s cage carefully because your bird will live there a long time. Invest in quality construction so the cage will last for years to come. Provide you parrot the largest cage possible because every bird has to spend some of its time inside its cage. Give your parrot only the very best! In case you want to consider a company that offers great parrot cages and playstands online, here’s a resource which might assist on you this:
Choose your parrot’s cage carefully because your bird will live there a long time. Invest in quality construction so the cage will last for years to come. Provide you parrot the largest cage possible because every bird has to spend some of its time inside its cage. Give your parrot only the very best! In case you want to consider a company that offers great parrot cages and playstands online, here’s a resource which might assist on you this:
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About the Author: Nora Caterino, known as the Mississippi Bird Lady, has trained, raised, and lived with birds for over 30 years. If you want to receive unlimited one-on-one coaching from her for ONE full year… and while you learn how to teach your parrot to talk and stop annoying bird behaviours like parrot biting, screaming and feather plucking, via the audios, articles and videos published inside the Elite Parrots Club, then visit this page now: