Cages ? Right Or Wrong ?

[**KAZ** 0]

As we have had many newcomers who have been given bad advice with regard to cages for their birds, I will post some examples of cages...right and wrong cages.

A special note to mention is...that when purchasing your pet at the pet store, often times the staff at the pet store recommend a certain cage as being perfect for their budgie. Most often the perfect cage is really just the cage the store wants to clear out as they are truly unsuitable. or a cage that has a buy this cage and get a free budgie deal

When you are in a petstore and buying your first budgie it is often hard to make wise or informed decisions and you hope that pet store staff are giving you good advice. When you think aboout it most pet shop staff and just people and often young people who may or may not even own a bird.

Out of cage time comes into play as it frees the bird for flight time which really has to be a decent amount of time out of cage for healthy exercise.

Its always best to buy the biggest cage you can afford...wider rather than taller for a budgie. Pretty stands and pretty shapes aren't really a prime consideration as much as practical movement within the cage for the budgie or budgies that will live in it.

Always think budgie...like " If I was a budgie how much room would I have in that cage and what would my life be like in that cage ....prison or fun ? "

Bear in mind, as much as we would hate to live our life in a wardrobe / closet ...some of the cages on offer only give that kind of choice to a budgie.

Just as we have had many, many people on here asking why their birds arent breeding....no space....no fun times....no room to fly....does NOT make a happy healthy budgie nor will it feel like breeding for you.

Hope this has been of help.

 

Here is my idea of BAD CAGES

 

CAGE ONE no flight space, bars narrow at top creating hazzard

 

**** http://freespace.virgin.net/cobber.budgies...ter/cages2.html

Apart from this, it has to be said that round cages are a bad idea because, even if they look spacious from the outside, the occupant has no room to leap from perch to perch. The roomy appearance of tall, round cages is usually deceptive. This is not so much my own, obstinate opinion, as established advice, offered by many bird writers and bird lovers before me. In fact, the owner of one of my local pet shops refused to stock any round bird cages at all because she believed they sent birds mad.

 

http://www.budgiecages.net

No round cages - a budgie doesn't feel safe in a round cage - there is no back wall to retreat to. Along the same lines, be sure there is a wall behind at least one side of the cage.

 

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pets_great_small/109111

Do not buy the tall circular cages because it does not allow the budgie to fly and exercise.

 

*****It also has to be said that these cages have been responsible for injuries and death. In climbing around this type of cage budgies have had their toes and feet and even wings caught when they went through a wider part of the bars at the top and then where the cage narrows as it comes together in the top centre...the birds get their feet, legs, wings caught and they flap and flap to free themselves. Result broken legs, wings and more often than not a dead bird if it isnt seen and rescued quickly enough.

 

CAGE TWO too small. suits one canary

 

CAGE THREE same as cage one

 

CAGE FOURdecorative shape, congested...useless as cage for budgies

 

CAGE FIVEtoo tall and narrow. suits canaries or finches

 

CAGE SIXweird shapes interfere with space and flight

 

CAGE SEVENtoo small

 

CAGE EIGHT too small

 

CAGE NINE shaped top section useless. better with flat roof

 

CAGE TENtoo small

 

CAGE ELEVEN too small

 

CAGE TWELVE

 

GOOD CAGES

 

CAGE A Needs perches running front to back

 

CAGE BNeeds perches running front to back

 

CAGE C

 

CAGE D

 

CAGE E

 

CAGE F

 

CAGE G reposition perches front to back

 

 

 

Can anyone tell me why this birdcage isnt suitable for budgies ???

Edited October 19, 2008 by KAZ

[maesie 0]

oops... I got in too early. Sorry Kaz and thanks for the edit! The last cage is not suitable for budgies because the wire bars are too far apart?

[**KAZ** 0]

The last cage is not suitable for budgies because the wire bars are too far apart?

Excellent answer Maesie Yet it is sold as suitable for budgies

Edited January 28, 2008 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

The last cage is not suitable for budgies because the wire bars are too far apart?

Excellent answer Maesie Yet it is sold as suitable for budgies

 

 

It makes me cross when the sell these and the 'bad' cages for budgies and unsuspecting pet owners are none the wiser.

There are a lot of lies told about suitable cages.

Check this out

 

CAGE is 12 inches high by 10 inches wide

 

SALES PITCH.....

QUOTE " Besides providing spacious housing for your favorite small bird, the round golden shape of the bird cage elegance and charm to your home. It great for finches, parakeets, canaries, budgies, and love birds. This cage lets your bird stay healthy with lots of activity and exercise. A handy pull-out drawer makes cleaning easier, while one perches provide comfortable seating. It also provides two beautiful ceramic water pot. This bird cage is a home that both you and your bird are sure to love. UNQUOTE"

 

that cage show pictures of a blue and gold macaw, a mynah bird, a kingfisher and a finch or canary as possible options for birds for this cage

Edited January 28, 2008 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

This cage available for sale on ebay

 

apparently the first bird "flew the coop" !! and according to the owner QUOTE " Lovely Black Cage, ideal for several birds. "

[thk 0]

The last cage is not suitable for budgies because the wire bars are too far apart?

 

I found this out too... the hard way, although luckily not TOO hard!! my first cage, admittedly it was an emergency cage till i could find something better, had bars too far apart and first day I left Charley on his own all day, came home from work and there he was, walking around the lounge room floor (he had no flight feathers at that stage so didnt do himself a great deal of harm thank goodness!) I put him back in, grabbed the car keys and "flew" straight out to buy a "proper" cage. The distance between bars had not even crossed my mind!! I felt sick thinking he could have just got his head stuck and hung himself!! OUCH!! lesson learnt!! (now he just knows how to open the doors so every opening is pegged!!)

Edited January 28, 2008 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

Yes...I am in the habit of emailing the sellers on ebay asking that they state the bar width .......and the others that do state the bar width but then recommend a bird suits it when it doesnt....I email them too. Maybe if more of us did this on a regular basis then the descriptions of cages on ebay and other places would have some form of standard to go by ??

 

 

Here is another cage described as LARGE when not

 

This cage listed as suitable for finches

its dimensions are 8 inches diameter and I know a lot of finches which would escape from that bar width.

Edited January 28, 2008 by KAZ

[maesie 0]

GRRRRR! I went looking on ebay as well and found this one. It says suitable for small parrots, cockatiels and other smaller birds. OMG!!! I wouldn't house anything in there!!

 

 

I'd really like to know how a tiel would bend over and scratch it's **** let alone stretch it's wings!!!

[Bec Sta 0]

Excellent post, very informative .

My answer was the same as maesie's, the bars are spaced too far apart for budgies.

 

I will admit to having a 'bad' cage, but I use it as a transport cage when I buy budgie's from breeders, so they spend very little time in it.

 

I think that's a good idea about e-mailing the sellers on ebay Kaz, there are alot of unsuitable cages (as you guys have demonstrated) listed on there and as you've also mentioned their reccomendations for suitable birds tend to be way off alot of the time.

Edited January 28, 2008 by Bec Sta

[**KAZ** 0]

..............and now with Valentine's Day coming up these LOVE HEART cages are being advertised

 

 

:fear

 

 

and this one

 

is this for the owner or the bird ?

Edited January 28, 2008 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

As I have mentioned I have begun to email ebay sellers re their cages. One I emailed with regard to adding their bar spacing to their listings has replied.

My email

Hi there, as a bird keeper for years and a moderator on a bird forum I would like to make a suggestion. In any of your cage lisitngs could you also put down as part of your cage dimensions ....THE BAR SPACING. The correct bar spacing allows bird keepers to know which birds will fit and not ESCAPE from the cage. Many budgies can escape from cages often sold as suitable for them.

 

Cheers kaz

 

and their answer

 

Dear Kaz,

 

Thank you very much for your suggestion. Will amend our listing shortly. Truly appreciate.

 

Kind regards

Edited January 29, 2008 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

thanks kaz what do you suggest? i have time since the babies aren't born yet. the female hasn't laid her eggs yet.

 

Something like this would be perfect and better if you can redo the perches...one on each side and running front to back. Room to fly across the cage and room for toys Welcome

 

 

PS dimensions about 2 feet wide ( 60cms ) and about a foot and a half deep ( 45 cms ) and about 20 inches high ( 50 cm )

Edited March 13, 2008 by KAZ

[**KAZ** 0]

 

I just bought a pack of these cages for myself for breeding cages and they are brilliant. A pack of six of them cost me $155 from ebay ( I bought 12 ) :sad:

[**KAZ** 0]

very nice kaz... do they ship to melbourne?? lol

They ship anywhere JimmyBanks :sad:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Bird-flight-exercis...1QQcmdZViewItem

[**Liv** 0]

This is an ideal cage if you can get your hands on one...

 

PS dimensions about 2 feet wide ( 60cms ) and about a foot and a half deep ( 45 cms ) and about 20 inches high ( 50 cm )

 

RRP is about $60

Try Ebay... if you cant find one in the shops

 

 

This cage is better than the other one you have, but still quite small. you could probably use it for a short while until you can get your hands on a bigger one... Remember that eggs haven't even been layed yet so you have atleast 2 months before you will have your birds. Hope this helps

Edited December 18, 2008 by **Liv**

[Dorryswife 0]

We have cage C or D (both look same to me) we have 5 birds in it at moment, tomorrow 6, how many would be the max we could put in it.

 

thanks

 

 

Zoe

[Pearce 0]

Those cages are pretty big, personally I think you could have atleast 6 budgies in their, just put an extra water dish or food dish in their and it should be fine.

[**Liv** 0]

You could fit up to about 10-12 in there as long as you are not breeding :rofl:

[GenericBlue 0]

You could fit up to about 10-12 in there as long as you are not breeding

 

 

 

a six pack of bird cages fantastic im not sure on the size but do they sell the same cage another size up cause i been getting a larger one of those cages for my breeding ? how do i find out the size of the next size up

[Elly 0]

Call the company that you are purchasing from and ask them

[Isabellahills 0]

my budgie cage is 65 cm in height and 40 cm in length,

 

is that a suitable cage for a budgie? :budgiedance:

[**KAZ** 0]

my budgie cage is 65 cm in height and 40 cm in length,

 

is that a suitable cage for a budgie? :budgiedance:

 

 

Cage needs to be wider rather than taller. Taller narrower cages are for finches and canaries.

[**KAZ** 0]

Adding a good breeding cage photo

 

[Maddy 0]

I am ashamed to say that my budgies cage is one of those on the list.

 

I am new to budgies and was fooled by the apparent "expert" in the store. Though he did steer me away from the decorative and round top ones (but I already knew that lol)

 

What is the maximum width between bars that would be appropriate?

[**KAZ** 0]

I am ashamed to say that my budgies cage is one of those on the list.

 

I am new to budgies and was fooled by the apparent "expert" in the store. Though he did steer me away from the decorative and round top ones (but I already knew that lol)

 

What is the maximum width between bars that would be appropriate?

 

 

No wider than 12mm bar spacing :bluebudgie: