All I Need Is a Cage

Parrots make colorful, comical pets, and many people simply can’t resist them. Above all, they can’t resist the idea that someday, their parrot will talk. A dog can’t do that! Neither can a cat, a goldfish, a hamster, or a ferret.

“Besides,” they reason, “a parrot is very low maintenance. All I need is a cage.”

But do they know how parrots live in cages?

Cage, Sweet Cage

Your parrot’s cage will be his home. He will spend most of his hours there. He will flutter around, stretching his wings. He will fly straight across from one perch to another. He will play with toys, walk around, and eat in the cage. He will climb around the bars, and hang upside down from the roof. He needs a cage that is large and safe. Although price is certainly a factor, and large Parrot Cages can be as much as $3,000 USD, you should not sacrifice these four things to save money: size, construction, safety, and placement.

All I Need Is a B-I-G Cage!

Parrots need a big cage. They don’t all need the same size, but they cannot be kept in small cages. Large parrots need large Parrot Cages. Multiple parrots also need large Parrot Cages.

1. Size

Parrots such as African Greys, macaws, and cockatoos are large birds. Their cages must be large Parrot Cages. Inside dimensions of such cages average 32″ x 32″ with a height of 68″. Large Parrot Cages should be at least one and a half times the parrot’s adult wingspan and 3 times its adult length. Your parrot should be able to sit on the perch without touching his head on the cage top or dragging his tail on the bottom.

2. Construction

Large Parrot Cages must be very sturdy as parrots have strong beaks. Steel is recommended. Powder coat also is good. Other construction may be toxic to your parrot.

Check inside and outside corners and edges to be sure there are no small places that could catch your bird’s leg, or sharp edges that could injure him. Test doors to be sure they close securely. Large Parrot Cages should also have a strong chain and padlock, since large parrots will learn to open or break cage doors.

Large Parrot Cages should have bars strong enough to withstand the bird’s abuse. The bars should be close enough that your parrot cannot get his head stuck between them - three-fourths inch to one and a quarter inch.

Your parrot’s cage should have a bottom grate to keep him from walking in droppings. Finally, the cage should be easy to clean - a bottom, sliding drawer will let you clean up droppings and spilled food.

3. Safety

Large Parrot Cages must be safe in every aspect. We talked about sharp edges, small corners, and bar placement. In addition to these, be sure the cage is hygienically safe. Clean your parrot’s cage with a recommended disinfectant before placing the bird in it.

Check used cages carefully for damage and rust. If your bird eats rust particles, it could injure his crop.

4. Placement

Obviously, owners need ample space for large Parrot Cages. You will want to place the cage in a safe corner, sunny area that is free of drafts. Choose a room where your parrot will be part of the family’s activity so that he can socialize freely.

Very large Parrot Cages can be placed directly on the floor. Your parrot will feel safe and have fewer worries if, when he is on his perch, his eyes are about at your chest level. So not let him perch higher than your chest level, since “higher in bird talk means “superior”.

Large Parrot Cages are bare, and your parrot needs a number of accessories to make a cage a home. You will want to research the specific needs of your breed for perches, toys, dishes, and cage covers.