Monthly Archives: June 2015

This is fairly standard. You would have come across any site that recommends a cage as big as possible or at least big enough for the bird to flap/extend its wings completely.

Except that we’re talking about Singapore. Tiny country with equally tiny land space and the majority of parrot keepers live in apartments. I do not like putting birds in small cages (or what Western countries would say micro!) but unless someone gives me 5 million US dollars to buy a landed house, I won’t be putting my flock into macaw cages.
_______________________________

Standard medium-size parrot cage: (I only have this picture, so it’s being overused haha. I also acquired the bird in the picture!)

Just about everyone who buys a medium size parrot starts out with one of the above. That’s the cage that every medium size parrot is kept in too, in every bird shop here.

Now, that cage is big enough if the bird were allowed out most of the day. Unfortunately let’s face the fact, most of us have to work. So that cage is not big enough for anything larger than most conures.

I keep my birds in dog cages. Bite me if you will, haha. Because parrots don’t use the bottom half of tall cages. So I prefer the width and length given by dog cages. Mind you, dog cages are cheaper than ‘bird’ cages.

That’s a 3 feet (90cm) dog cage. The male is also the same bird in the smaller cage before this pic 🙂

Personally I feel that the minimum cage size for an eclectus is 2.5 feet (75cm) dog cage. 3 feet (90cm) is optimum. Enough for wing flapping, climbing around, lots of toys and perches. Not all birds like a big cage though. I had a pair continuously fight and chase each other until I switched to a 2.5 feet cage. And I’ve seen Amazons/Greys breed in tiny spaces and still be able to flap in that cage in the topmost photo.

Stainless steel cages are also very affordable nowadays. If you count that most are non-304 grade which means they DO rust (all SS cages rust unless they are marine grade 316) but generally they last longer than painted or powder coated ones.

Thanks, China. All the cheap stuff is coming from there.

Do be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals from sellers claiming to have 304 grade cages though. It’s very hard to determine if a cage is actually 304 or not unless it rusts quickly…

Marine grade 316 is incredibly, incredibly expensive.

Another thing about stainless steel cages is that they are super heavy! That is partly why I am reluctant to get one, to push it out to washing area or even changing the newspapers (tray is SS too!) is a real test of strength.

If you want to buy a SS cage, I recommend online sellers. Shops charge way higher but of course you get to view it physically.

Also beware of sellers listing *chrome* cages as stainless steel. The difference is in weight. Chrome is also a lot shinier.