Bird Cages

Choosing the Best Bird Cage for Your Bird

Buying a bird cage for your bird is a very important purchase. Their cage will be their primary living quarters for a large part of their life, thus the cage needs to be the right size, have appropriate bar spacing and bar thickness, and be constructed from solid, safe materials. Not only is the cage construction a key factor, but cage features and accessories must also be considered when making a purchase. All of these considerations can be quite daunting, especially for a first-time cage buyer. To make it easier, we have compiled a list of criteria you should consider when making your next bird cage purchase. Armed with this information, you should feel more comfortable that you will buy the best possible cage for your feathered family member.

Bigger Is Always Better. Always purchase the largest possible cage that you can afford with the appropriate bar spacing for the bird’s size. This is your bird's home. For their overall well-being and mental health it is much better they live in the bird-equivalent of a mansion, not in a shack. Minimum cage size recommendations for different species are provided at the end of this article.

Bar Spacing. Once you have identified some cages that might work for your bird’s size, you should then consider the bar spacing and bar thickness. Proper bar spacing is important because having spacing that is too small or too large can potentially be unsafe for your bird. If the spacing is too large, birds may get their head stuck between the bars or they might even escape. If too small, they could inadvertently get their wing, beak or foot stuck between the bars. Bar spacing recommendations for many popular bird species are at the end of this article.

Bar Gauge/Thickness. The larger the bird you have, the thicker the bar gauge is required for the cage. Small birds with small beaks are fine with the smaller bar gauges. Medium to large birds need thicker bars because their beaks are stronger and can bend thinner bars more easily. Bent bars can lead to safety issues and possibly broken bar welds. Avoid these problems by adhering to at least the minimum bar gauge recommendations for your bird’s species.

Bird Cage Material. Cages are commonly available in plastic, steel with powdercoating, or stainless steel. Plastic cages are appropriate for only the smallest of birds and most do not meet minimum size guidelines. Steel cages covered with powdercoating or made of stainless steel are the more ideal cage materials to consider. A “mild’ steel powdercoated cage from a reputable manufacturer can last on average for 5-7 years with regular cleaning using mild cleansers and sponges. A stainless steel cage is typically 2-3 times more expensive than a comparably sized mild steel cage with powdercoating, but it can last 20-25 years if cared for properly.

Powdercoated Bird Cages. Ask the right questions. Anyone that has seen a bird play in its cage has noticed how easily they maneuver around by holding on to and sliding around on the cage bars, most often by their beak. Birds are different than other animals that use cages or crates in this regard because they have regular oral contact with the powdercoating that covers the steel bars on their cages. Because of this unique use of their cage home, powder-coated cage manufacturers must pay extra attention to the composition of their powdercoating so that it is not dangerous to birds. Lead and zinc must purposely be excluded from the powdercoating process of a bird cage because they can poison a bird. Consequently it is always a good idea to ask who actually manufactures the cage you are considering to buy and what sort of precautions does the manufacturer take to insure their powdercoating facility does not use dangerous levels of lead or zinc.

Drilled-Through Bars versus Welded Bars. The term “drilled through bars” is a process by which a thin round cage bar is fitted (drilled through) a square tube. The advantage of this type of bar on a cage is that it is almost impossible for a bird to break a bar on its cage when the cage has drilled-through bar construction because the bird would literally have to break the bar in half or be strong enough to pull the bar up and out of the hole it was drilled through. Not an easy task!! The term “welded bars” is a process by which a manufacturer takes two or more bars and uses a hot welding machine to essentially melt/glue the bars together at a certain point. Welded bars are typically easier to break because the bars are only connected at a certain point---not physically inside one another like with drilled-through bars.

There are pros and cons with both types of bars. Strength is the primary advantage of drilled-through bars, so they are especially ideal on cages for medium to large parrots that have stronger beaks. Cages with square tubing are also generally heavier in weight. The con cited by some drilled-through bar cage owners is that because the bars are fitted through a square tube they are harder to clean—you essentially have to clean around each bar one by one instead of being able to quickly run a sponge across an area. Cages with welded bars are typically easiest to clean, but can be considered less strong overall because of how the bars are connected. This is a factor to consider with a medium or large parrot, but tends to not be as much of an issue with small parrots.

Ease of Cleaning. Birds are messy, so their cages get pretty messy too. Since you will be cleaning your bird cage regularly, you should ask how easy a bird cage you are considering buying is to clean. “Ease of cleaning” factors include bar types (drilled-through or welded); whether it comes apart relatively easily so that you can wash specific parts by themselves; whether you need nuts, bolts and screws to assemble and disassemble the cage; does it come with easy-rolling casters so you can clean it in another room or outside, are the tray, grate and skirts easily removed (these are the parts that get the dirtiest the fastest)? Paying attention to these factors before buying a cage will save you much potential aggravation on cage cleaning days!

Bird Cage Assembly. Some bird owners may assemble and dissemble their bird cage often for cleaning purposes or because they need to move their cage to a secondary location in their home or transport it in their car, etc. If you know this may apply to you, it is important that you ask how a cage is assembled. A cage that has many nuts, bolts and screws holding it together is going to be much more difficult to assemble and disassemble, as well as take more time to do so, than a cage that fits together without such accessories. So if your home or lifestyle dictate that you take your bird cage apart on a regular basis, find out before you buy it how easy it is to assemble and how much time it takes to do so.

Dometop Bird Cages. When buying a cage, most bird owners struggle with their decision to buy a dometop or playtop cage for their bird. A dometop cage is not inherently better or worse than a playtop cage. Bird and owner preference should really dictate which cage top will work best for you. Dometop cages are best for when a bird is going to spend the majority of its day in its cage because his/her owner is at work, etc. and cannot properly supervise the bird outside of its cage. The inherent shape of a dome offers additional “headroom” inside of the cage that a playtop cage usually does not (because it sits flat across the cage top). This can mean an extra 3”-to-10” of room depending on the cage and what type of bird it is designed for. This extra room will be welcomed by a bird that spends a lot of time in his cage. If you do purchase a dometop cage for the extra room it provides, it is recommended that you also get a separate playstand that your bird can use when it does have “outside-the-cage-time”. Separate playstands can be of various sizes and many can easily be picked up or be rolled so that you can bring your feathered friend with you from room to room.

Playtop Bird Cages. Playtop bird cages are very popular with bird owners who are able to give their bird a lot of supervised “outside-the-cage-time”. With most playtop bird cages, you simply need to open the cage door and the bird can climb up to a fully “stocked” play area with perch, food cups and toys. This “all in one” cage with attached playtop is what most playtop cage owners rave about. With a play area already on top of their cage, it can save a bird owner from having to buy an additional/separate playstand or recreation center for their bird—a key advantage for bird owners who may have limited space in their homes.

You Get What You Pay For. In general, less expensive cages are likely to have fewer owner/bird friendly features than more expensive cages. That is, unless, you shop our Bird Cages on Sale section, where you will find great cages at extra low prices.  So when picking the cage that is most suitable for your budget, make sure you consider some of these features listed below:

• Bird Cage Weight. If you are having trouble deciding between two comparably sized cages, find out which one weighs more. The heavier one is more likely to be sturdier and better constructed.
• Bird Cage Warranty. Does the cage you want to buy come with a warranty? If so, what does it cover and how long does it last? Warranties inherently add cost to a cage, but may be worth it for your additional peace of mind.
• Cage Skirts/Aprons. Does the cage come with cage skirts? If so, are they easy to install and remove (for cleaning purposes)?
• Food Cups. How are they secured inside the cage? Many birds like to pick up their cups and make noise with them or simply throw them around the cage. Most medium and large bird owners would agree that well-secured food cups in a cage are a must!
• Area Around Food Cups. Birds are notoriously messy eaters, thus location of the food cups within the cage is important. Are the cups in the middle of the cage so that your bird’s food does not land on your floor when they decide to fling it? If the cups are on one of the “walls” of the cage, is there anything about the design of the cage that helps keep food on the inside of the cage—like solid food doors or Plexiglas?
• Cage Door Locks. Birds are intelligent creatures that can learn by mimicking what you do or say. Unfortunately this trait can lead to mischief if your bird learns to open his cage door on his own while unsupervised. So for medium and large birds in particular, it is important to ask how the cage lock(s) work so that you are confident they will keep your bird safely inside.
• Bird Cage Assembly. Lots of nuts and bolts holding a cage together usually mean it was less expensive to manufacture. But the downside to them is the cage will likely take much longer to assemble/disassemble, and to clean. A cage with fewer parts and no nuts or bolts is usually more difficult to manufacture, and thus, more expensive. But it will likely be easier to clean and assemble/disassemble.

Buying A Bird Cage Online. Because shipping a larger sized bird cage can be so expensive to ship, you should read the shipping, return/exchange and damage policies of the retailer prior to making your purchase. Once you have made your purchase, if at all possible, be present when the shipping company delivers your cage. Inspect the exterior of all boxes prior to signing for them, and note any noticeable damage with the delivery person. Once you open your box(es), assemble the cage as soon as possible. Never throw away any packing materials or cage boxes until the cage is fully assembled and inspected. Failure to do so can often hinder any shipping damage or warranty claim.

America’s Pet Store is proud to be an authorized dealer for the following brands of quality bird cages: A & E Bird Cages, Avian Adventures Bird Cages, Featherland Bird Cages, Blue Ribbon Bird Cages, HQ Bird Cages, Marvelous Bird Cages, and Prevue Hendryx Bird Cages (also known as Prevue Bird Cages).

Improve your bird's overall well being by adding a parrot playstand to your home.  Having a stand alone playstand separate from your bird's every day bird cage will make for a happier and more active bird.

We carry hundreds of cages so that our customers will find exactly what they are looking for; from small parakeet bird cages to extra large parrot bird cages, to even larger walk-in bird cages. Prices vary from higher-end to middle-of-the-road to discount bird cages. Keep in mind that industry-wide most decorative brass bird cages are not solid brass; they are usually either brass plated, or have a brass powder coat paint finish.

Bird Size	Bird Species	Recommended Bar Spacing	Recommended Wire Gauge Thickness	Recommended Cage Size Minimums
Smallest	Lovebird, Finches	3/8"	3/32"	20" x 20"
Small	Cockatiel, Conure, Senegal, Quakers, Budgies	3/8" - 1/2"	1/8"	20" x 20" to 24" x 22"
Small to Medium	Caique, Alexandrine	1/2" - 3/4"	3/16"	28" x 22"
Medium	Eclectus, Amazon, Timneh African Grey, Mini Macaw	7/8"	3/16"	34" x 24"
Medium to Large	Small Cockatoo, Congo African Grey, Small Macaw, Toucan	1"	1/4"	38" x 30"
Large	Blue & Gold Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Large Cockatoo	1"	1/4"	42" x 30"
Extra Large	Hyacinth Macaw, Green Wing Macaw	1" - 1 1/4"	1/4"	48" x 34"

This article was co-authored by America’s Pet Store and Erin Fenstermaker, former Director of Sales & Planning for Avian Adventures, and may not be reproduced without permission. It has been written to provide general information on product selection. It is not intended to be a substitution for the information that comes with your product.