The Cage



This is R2 in his cage. He has his bedtime blanket partly on his cage to help keep him warm during the winter. R2 is in the top right corner if you want to see him.

             

              When owning a parrot one needs quite a few supplies, more supplies than cats and dogs. Probably the biggest and most important need a companion parrot needs is a cage. Many people might think that keeping a bird locked up in a cage is cruel but if you did you’re shopping and research right getting the best or proper cage for your bird then this is far from the truth. It is best to see a parrot’s cage as not a cage but his own room, bachelor pad or castle. It is his own personal home where all his toys, perches, food, water and bed is held and where he will likely spend a lot of time each day for his own personal needs and alone time. Positive experiences should always happen in and at the cage and your parrot will quickly learn not to feel unsecure or fearful of the cage. My parrot R2 loves his spacious cage and loves to hang out on and in it and he especially hates if someone moves things around in the cage or even cleans his cage. He wants no one messing with his castle.

Size and materials  



This is the exact cage my
parrot has. Black stainless steal.

Wicker may look pretty
but it doesn't work.

Parrots cannot do well in a cramped poorly constructed and designed cage. Ideally a cage should be at least twice your birds’ wingspan though larger is usually better.  It doesn’t have to be huge but it has to give the parrot plenty of space to move about and play in. The cage also has to be large enough to hold not just the bird but also all his toys, dishes and his bed. Also how long is your parrot? Parrots such as Macaws or my parrot R2 who have long tails should have enough space that they can easily turn around and move about without getting his tail caught in the bars or hitting the other side of the cage when he turns around.  

A parrot’s cage should always be metal and never have rough edges, sharp pieces, poor soldering or cracked areas. Wire cages are good for small mammals and birds but not for a parrot, they can easily crush through the bars to get out. Stainless steel ideally is one of the best options and is both affordable, easy to clean and durable. Wood or wicker is the worst material for a parrot’s cage. It would take them only a day to chew through these cages and get out. That’s why you never see wood or wicker cages in pet stores. Cages that have a powder or paint on a cage is not a good idea. The powder is often dangerous to birds and does eventually come off. Paints also often only stay on for a limited time and parrots always put their mouths on the cage bars especially when climbing so can ingest the harmful paint flakes. Any cage that is made from galvanized metals means they have been treated with Zinc, a highly lethal chemical.  



Some cages like this one can be placed in

corners. This is a stainless steal cage.

Probably the best cage material is some form of stainless steel cage. They are often expensive but are well worth it since they are easy to clean and rust resistant. Stainless steel cages can come in a couple different colours (largely steel, black, white and brown) which are a paint that is spayed on then baked into the metal with high temperatures so it doesn't flake off.

The best shape for a cage is rectangular or square with either a flat or rounded roof, these are ideal for the mental well being of your bird. Circular cages are terrible choice and will drive your parrot crazy as they try to find a corner which gives them a reference point and makes them feel secure.  

Other things to consider

A very good investment for a parrots cage is to have a grate on the bottom so the parrot never has to walk on the mess that will accumulate on the bottom in the tray. This tray should be able to be slid out without opening the cage up to get them out. You should be able to pull the tray fully out without disturbing the grate.



Remember the bigger your bird is the bigger a cage it needs.

Also during your parrots life you might have to get a new cage. If your cage is old, chipped, rusty and/or you can’t scrub it clean anymore then the likely hood is you need to get a new one. Also if the bird who was originally infected with a serious disease will also mean you need a new cage. Other reasons to get a new cage would be that it can no longer safely hold your bird or maybe they need more space to accommodate their toys. Also elderly parrots might benefit from a shorter but wider cage since as they got older they no longer climb up and spend most of their time now moving horizontally throughout the cage.

            Also you might want to have a separate smaller cage used just for the parrot to sleep in at night. This would be especially useful if you or your spouse or roommate stays up late or has shift work. This cage would be placed in a quite room with just a bed or perch in it. Not many people though have sleep cages for their birds. Most find ways to accommodate their birds bed time schedule and only have space for one cage. For example my father works shift work and finds he can’t stay in the same room as R2’s cage cause when he wants to go to bed he wants to go to bed. He screams, yells what sounds like early attempts to speak “Good Night” and throws a temper tantrum till he gets my dad to leave the room. To accommodate R2’s schedule my father set up a small entertainment room in another room where he wouldn’t bother R2. This works so we have no need for a sleep cage but whether or not you want one for your bird is up to you. Besides a sleep cage really isn’t necessary most of the time.

Accessories

This is R2's summer cage cover, comes in real handy
during the hot summer nights when it is over 20C.
He even has a little holein it so he can peek out
from in the morning to say hello from. If you look in
the hole you can see him.



A good idea is to have a stand or table for the cage to sit on that ideally has a place to store the supplies for your bird.

A cover for the cage to put over the cage at night time is ideal as well. Though they can be bought in stores often it is cheaper to make your own. An old bed sheet is the cheapest and easiest to use. They can also add some flare to the room when they have a pattern or design on them.. I have about two old bed sheets that I use to cover R2’s cage. Each one has a different thickness. One is a thin Leopard print sheet that we use during the summer months when the weather is hot and humid. Then we have a thicker one that we use in the winter to help keep him warm during the colder months.

The cage will be your parrots most important equipment and you should do your research well to get the best cage for your avian family member.