Building a Suitable Pet Bird Home

So you’re looking to build a pet bird home, but where do you start? Birds need a lot of space to spread out their wings and they can be very limited by cages, so it’s very important to get this right. Other pets such as dogs who usually have free range of the house don’t have this problem as much!

What Cage Should I Get?

The main piece of advice to take away is that you should buy the biggest cage you can afford and have space for. Birds love to fly around and stretch out their wings, so the bigger the cage, the more freedom they will have to do so. The size of the bird will also change depending on the species of the bird and how many birds you are looking to fit in the cage, and how many perches/toys you are looking to add, which fills up space quickly. The space between the bars on the cage is another important consideration. If the gap is too big, some birds may try to squeeze through and escape and injure them self. Other things to consider for your pet bird home are cages with detachable litter trays which make cleaning easier, and cages especially built for multiple birds, which may have partitions to keep them separate.

Minimum Bird Cage Size for Different Bird Species

Dimensions are in inches and are width x length x height:

• Finch – 18″ x 30″ x 18″
• Canary – 18″ x 24″ x 18″
• Budgie – 18″ x 18″ x 24″
• Cockatiel – 20″ x 20″ x 24″
• Lovebird – 24″ x 24″ x 24″
• Ringneck Parakeet – 24″ x 24″ x 36″
• African Grey – 24″ x 36″ x 48″
• Macaws – 36″ x 48″ x 60″
• Cockatoo – 36″ x 48″ x 48″

Where to Put the Cage

It’s a good idea to put the cage away from areas where the temperature will change greatly, such as near radiators, sunlight and draughts. Also keep them away from harmful chemicals and anywhere that cleaning sprays may come in contact with.

Decorating the Cage

Be careful when choosing toys and perches for your pet bird home, as too many will make the cage more cramped for your bird. Remember that they need enough space to move around and stretch their wings comfortably. Bird toys and bird perches are important for mental stimulation, and without them they could become bored, irritable and even ill. When choosing toys try to go for bright bird toys and puzzle ones, these will bring out the best response from your bird. Birds love perches and also love being high up, to watch over everything, it makes them feel safe. Make sure at least one of the perches in the cage is high up, they’ll most likely use this one to sleep.

Other Bird Cage Essentials

Your pet bird home will need litter that is sand or wood based for their waste, sand sheets are most often used. Some species of bird may need a nest box. All birds will need water for them to drink from and bathe in, and alongside this a place to eat seed from. Other feeds to consider include millet, cuttlebone, egg food and an iodine block for budgies.]]>