Cages for a parrot: requirements, types, selection rules

Not only convenience and comfort, but also health, as well as the life span of a feathered pet, depend on how correctly the cage for the parrot is chosen. When choosing a cage, some inexperienced breeders of these funny birds often pay attention to the aesthetic component, evaluating, for example, how it can fit into the interior of the apartment. Other novice parrot owners even believe that the main parameter of a good cage is high cost. What criteria should be considered when choosing a cage for a parrot?

In choosing a cage for a feathered pet, it is important to focus on a number of significant criteria relating not only to the dimensions and design, but also to the individual characteristics of the parrot. So, some birds are distinguished by mobility and increased activity during the day, while others are characterized by power and a tendency to solitude. The general criteria that should be followed when selecting a home for a parrot are usually:

• variety of feathered pet and its features;
• type of cage (floor, table, hanging);
• cell size and shape;
• device functional parts (roof, doors, sides, pallets);
• the materials from which the parts and the body of the product are made;
• name of the manufacturer.

Special attention is required to purchase additional accessories and accessories.

Trying to diversify the leisure of the parrot with the help of gaming accessories, it is important to maintain balance, avoiding cluttering up the space. Also, when choosing a home for a feathered pet, you need to pay attention to the functionality of the design and the features of its structure. The convenience of cleaning and washing the cage, removing debris and cleaning the pan will depend on these parameters in the future.

Among the general requirements that a birdcage must meet, experienced breeders note these:

• reliability;
• security;
• durability;
• hygiene.

The reliability of the design should not be in doubt. This applies to the strength of the structure and its functional elements. The cage must be securely locked, without leaving the budgie the opportunity to independently get out of it. The same condition applies to cell sizes. If the cells are too large, the feathered pet will be able to get through them out. In addition, it is known that parrots really like to check the strength of the cage's rods, and some individuals even manage to gnaw them. For this reason, in choosing a bird's dwelling, it is worth giving preference to structures with strong and moderately thick rods.

The cage for the parrot should be safe. This applies to the environmental friendliness of the materials from which it is made, and the features of its device. In the internal space of such a design there should not be any elements hazardous to the pet about which it could be injured. The durability depends on the quality of the materials from which the cell is made. Preferably, the structure is made of materials that are resistant to moisture, light, corrosion and rotting. Of great importance is the resistance of materials to mechanical stress.

Hygiene is another significant requirement for the construction of a bird cage. This design should be convenient for washing and cleaning garbage. If the configuration of the bird house will include complex functional elements, this will significantly complicate the procedure for cleaning the cage.

In modern sales, you can find bird cages of various shapes and sizes. Assessing the potential home for a pet by these parameters, it is important to consider the individual characteristics of the parrot. In the natural habitat, these creatures are able to travel huge distances during the day, so roomy cells are most preferable for their maintenance. In very small dwellings, parrots feel depressed, often get sick and even suffer from depression.

It should be sufficient so that the parrot can move freely, fly from perch to perch, stretching its wings. It is worth considering the number of pets that are planned to be kept in one cage. The dimensions of the dwelling, even for a pair of small birds, should be significantly larger than for one individual. It is noticed that in tight cages parrots not only experience severe discomfort, but also often fight with each other.

Even if the owner plans to continue to provide his pet with the opportunity to fly around the apartment, using the cage only as a place to sleep, the design should still not be small. The internal space of the bird's dwelling should be enough for the parrot itself, and for functional accessories (drinking bowls, feeders), and for toys.

The shape of the cell is also important, which, according to experienced parrot owners, is also able to influence the psychological state of birds.

Round cages, according to breeders, are not able to provide birds with a sense of security.

Parrot breeders recommend placing the cage in such a way that one of its sides adjoins close to the wall. This arrangement also affects the psychological comfort of birds. In the case of a round cage, this condition cannot be fulfilled. Disorient birds in space and polygonal designs. Their other disadvantage is the difficulty in washing and cleaning of debris accumulating in hard to reach places. At the same time, the angular shape of the house for a feathered pet is considered preferable to round.

Most often in the manufacture of bird cages materials such as are used:

• wood;
• plastic;
• metal.

Each material has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. So, wooden cages are considered the most environmentally friendly and fairly durable, but the least practical and durable. Wooden pallets and rods of such structures can accumulate moisture, which eventually leads to deformation and destruction of elements. The irreversible deformation process, in turn, is the reason for the distortion of the entire structure and, as a consequence, the need to purchase a new cell. Other disadvantages of cells with functional elements made of wood include the complexity of washing and cleaning. In addition, wood swollen from moisture is a favorable environment for the propagation of pathogenic bacteria.

Plastic cages are more convenient in terms of washing and cleaning procedures. They are easy to clean, treat with detergents and disinfectants. Another advantage of plastic structures is their low weight. The disadvantages of plastic dwellings for feathered pets, in turn, include the increased fragility and vulnerability to mechanical stress, as well as sensitivity to high temperatures. In case of careless handling, plastic pallets often crack and break.

The best, according to experts, are nickel-plated structures. Among the minuses of metal dwellings for feathered pets, noticeable weight, bulkiness and noise are usually noted. In addition, the price of such structures is quite high.

The best option, according to experienced parrot breeders, are combination cellsin which plastic and metal elements are combined. Such models are easy to use, practical, hygienic and financially affordable. The lower part, including the pallet, in combined models is made of plastic, the rods are made of metal. All this leads to a low weight of the structure, simplicity and ease of washing and cleaning.

Preferably, the cage rods are made of steel and coated with a non-toxic and persistent lead-free paint. Cages with bars coated with gold and white paint look spectacular. Strongly forbidden for keeping birds structures with rods made of copper.

In choosing a suitable cage for a feathered pet, one should focus on its size. So, for keeping one small bird (budgies, lovebirds), the recommended cage dimensions (length, width, height) are at least 40x30x30 centimeters.For a medium-sized parrot (nandaya), it is preferable to purchase a home with dimensions of at least 50x40x60 centimeters. For the maintenance of larger feathered pets (cockatoo), cells are recommended whose dimensions are at least 70x60x60 centimeters.

The largest and most spacious cages are required for very large parrots - macaw. The recommended length of their home should be at least a meter with a height and width of 80 centimeters. The thickness of the rods should also be determined in accordance with the size of the feathered pet. So, for budgies, a dwelling with metal wire rods, the thickness of which varies from 1.5 to 2 millimeters, is suitable. Moreover, the distance between the rods should be no more than 15 millimeters.

Medium-sized birds need cages whose rod thickness is at least 3-4 millimeters. The gap between the rods in this case should not exceed 20 millimeters. Given that parrots are extremely mobile and active creatures, they need to provide the ability to move around the cage in all directions.

Choosing a suitable home for a feathered pet, you should pay attention to the door. Their device, size and shape are different. The best option, according to experienced breeders of decorative birds, are simple doors, swinging open to the side and equipped with a reliable latch or bolt. The dimensions of the door must be such that a hand with the bird passes through it without hindrance. Most bird cage models are equipped with retractable pallets. This functional part greatly simplifies the procedure for cleaning the home of a feathered pet. The most practical pallets are plastic, which are easily washed with warm water and cleaned of dirt with a scraper or brush.

Studying the features of a cell you like, you should pay attention to the height of its sides. High sides in the future will significantly reduce the amount of garbage flying around the bird's house. Another aspect that deserves attention when choosing a bird cage is the name and authority of the manufacturing company. Quite well-known brands are Italian manufacturers Marchioro and FOP, the Belgian company Savic. In addition, the well-known European brand Ferplast offers quality products.

Cages from Chinese manufacturers are also in demand, affordable and characterized by quite decent quality. However, when choosing Chinese models, one should independently evaluate the strength of the product, analyze the composition and environmental friendliness of the materials used. Experienced decorative bird breeders do not recommend purchasing suspiciously cheap models. Even a very beautiful cage, sold at a questionably low price, can be fraught with many threats to the health of a feathered pet. When buying a home for a parrot, it is advisable to worry about purchasing a special cover. This accessory is often very useful in keeping hyperactive and shy birds.

In order for the parrot to feel comfortable and not bored during the day, you should approach the arrangement of his home with responsibility. Mandatory interior details of the birdcage are perch, house, drinking bowl and feeder. Drinking bowls and feeders are positioned so that bird droppings cannot get into them. Other desirable accessories and devices are:

• mirror;
• bell;
• ladders;
• rattles;
• ropes;
• swing and rings.

Many species of decorative birds, including parrots, are very fond of water procedures. Bathing not only gives birds a tremendous pleasure, but also helps to prevent the appearance of parasites in them. For this procedure, it is recommended to purchase a capacious container suitable for the size of the parrot. Very convenient to use are the models of baths, which are suspended from an open door.

Equipping the parrot’s dwelling, it is necessary to carefully monitor its reaction to new objects. Some birds can be very frightened by the reflection in the mirror, the noise or sounds of a new toy. If an unfamiliar thing causes anxiety and panic in a feathered pet, it is better to hide it for a while.

It is very important to determine in the house a suitable place to place a cage with a feathered pet. It should be a light, dry and warm corner, protected from drafts. It is not allowed to put the cage near heating radiators, televisions and radios. You can not place it on the windowsills, where the bird can catch a cold due to a draft or overheat in the sun. Another extremely inappropriate place to place a cage with a parrot is the kitchen. Most often, this room is the hottest and stuffy in the house. In addition, in the process of cooking in the kitchen, odors and unpleasant sounds begin to appear, which can cause stress in a domestic bird.

Experienced parrot owners claim that these creatures really like to watch their owners. For this reason, a cage with feathered pets is best placed in a room where family members spend a significant part of their free time. In this case, it is desirable that the cell is approximately at the level of human eyes, due to which constant visual contact will be maintained with the pet. If there is no suitable place where the cage with the feathered pet can be installed in the house, the problem can easily be solved with the help of a special stand. Modern models of such accessories not only allow you to place your bird house in the most suitable place, but also help to diversify the familiar interior of the apartment.

See how to choose a cage for a parrot in the next video.