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How to house your bird

Part One : Cages

    When choosing a bird cage keep in mind that it will be the birds home, it should not only appeal to you but should appeal to the birds needs as well. Cages come in all shapes and sizes. The rule of thumb is the bigger the better. You wouldn't want to be cooped up in something the size of your bathroom all day and night and I'm sure your bird doesn't want to be either. A small cage will not only make him miserable but it is unhealthy. With out enough room to play and exercise your bird may become obese and sick. He will most likely be more prone to screaming due to the fact he is frustrated about being stuck in his tiny cage with no room. So for your birds sake and for your ears sake stick to the large cages, they are worth it in the end run.

Things to look for in a good birdcage.

-Good size for the bird. A bird needs to be able to move around easily and have room to play and a spot to sleep, make sure you are buying the biggest cage you can. (At the bottom of every bird profile in the Parrot Guide there is a chart for the min size of cage that certain bird can live in.)

- Stick to corners. You should always buy square or rectangle shaped cages. Round cages can confuse the bird and stress him out due to the fact there is no "safe corner" for it to back into.

-Safe Doors. Doors that slide upwards are dangerous for birds. These kinds of doors are called "guillotine doors" ands its easy to see why. They doors may accidentally slide down while you are taking your bird out and hurt him. Stick to doors that open to the side of from the bottom.

-Good Quality. The cage should be sturdy and well built. The bars (walls) of the cage must be sturdy enough to withstand your birds beak. Parrots love to climb and if it sense the cage is week in a certain spot it may try and chew through the bars.

-Bar Spacing. Bar spacing should be small enough so the bird cannot get his head through but large enough that it doesn't catch his toes when his is climbing. Use the chart bellow to determine spacing

Bar Spacing

Part Two : Perches

    You should place at least three different perches in your birds cage with slightly different shape and diameter. Walking on the same type of perch day after day can easily give your bird foot problems. You must regularly clean and disinfect perches in your birds cage.  There are many different types of perches.

Types of Perches

 -Wood Perches. Wood perches, specifically Manzanatia wood, are great perches for your birds. Wood is not only natural but can be fun to chew on. You can also use natural branches you find around your yard provided they have not been sprayed with toxins such as pesticide, weed killer, or a fertilizer.

-Plastic Perches. Plastic perches are another option when furnishing your feathered friends home. Plastic perches usually come in the form of PVC. It must be sanded or scored to place in a cage, smooth PVC can be very slippery.

-Concrete Perches. Concrete perches can be very useful because it can be used as a grooming tool. A concrete perch provides the bird with a surface to rub their beaks on and it trims toenails.

Perch Sizes

Created by Brandon Hamilton

This information is distributed in order to help you care for your bird, we are not responsible for any misuse of this information resulting in unforeseen consequences.

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