Bird Cage Buyers Guide

Polly Wants a Bigger Home The nice thing about upgrading your bird's home is the absence of banking. If, in the course of shopping for a bird cage, you find yourself considering financing options, either the shopkeeper is gouging or you have set your sights a bit high. Checkout our selection of bird cages and follow the forthcoming rules to determine which bird cage is best suited for your pet. Considering Size Obviously, you want at least enough room for your bird to stretch its wings fully without touching the sides of the cage. This is the minimum size to be considered and you should really consider something substantially bigger unless your bird will be spending a lot of time outside the cage. By raking its wings against the cage, your bird will end up with ragged and worn feathers, pleasing to neither the bird nor you. Common wingspans you may need to consider range from about a foot, for budgies and cockatiels, to up to 4 feet for the largest domestic macaws. Allowing these birds out of the cage for a time justifies smaller cages. Canaries or finches, however, can't be allowed outside the cage and need at least enough space to allow for some flight. Once you realize how much room your bird needs and what space allowance you can afford in your home, don't forget to put some thought in the bar spacing. It's nice to have the largest spacing possible to permit greater visibility, but safety is paramount. If your bird could stick its head through the wires, you should reconsider your choice.

A Word or Two on Materials

We want you to have an appropriate cage for your bird, one that is affordable, safe, and that will last a very long time. With that in mind, we encourage wrought iron cages with a non-toxic powder coated paint job that can withstand even the toughest, most curious bird. This variety is affordable for most and plenty durable for the vast majority of pet birds. If you prefer the very best, though, consider solid stainless steel. It virtually eliminates the possibility of your bird damaging the cage and offers a lifetime of up to 6 times longer than traditional cages. However, the prices for these are considerably higher with an increase in usefulness that you may not need.

Because most birds spend a fair amount of time chewing on their cage, especially if they can damage it, we don't offer cages made of wood or plastic. These decorative, retro-style cages may prove dangerous to the bird and would require frequent replacement when better alternatives are easily available.

Round Cages: Tweety was the Exception

As a general rule, round bird cages are discouraged. Contrary to popular imagery in cartoons and television, the iconic round bird cage is more often than not an annoyance to the bird. Birds are smart, but not so smart they realize they are going in circles. Without corners and other reference points, a bird will circle the cage thinking it is traversing space, only to find it has not. The resulting frustration is very distressful to birds and leads to a diminished quality of life. Round bird cages are scarce on our site, reflecting this new trend. If you are set on a round cage, it may be appropriate. Just make sure to research your bird's compatibility with such a cage.