Buying a cage used or new
Make sure the cage is actually made for birds (no old fashioned cages the metal is toxic), and do not buy round cages - this is unhealthy for the birds as they need corners to feel safe in, a round cage has no corners and will cause the bird to go "nuts". Also make sure the cage(s) are Rust free - even the smallest amount of rust is toxic to birds. You can not re paint cages that have been covered in rust, the store bought paints are TOXIC to the birds , cages would have to be professionally powder coated and that is very expensive! You do not have to go buy a expensive pet store cage, there are plenty of places online to look for good quality cages, for your money if you chose to use any of these websites instead of a pet store, please ask the important questions if they're not answered in the ad.
and those are the people I tell " thank you, but No thank you" to and move on.
a few of those sites are
Craigslist
Hoobly
ebay Classifieds
- 1st question should be: Do you have a picture of the cage you are selling? - and Make sure its not from a few feet away ( I have noticed a lot of people do this then when you go to pick it up its a cage that really should be in the trash. Get more then one view of the cage (there are times the front looks great the back is awful)
- 2nd question should be: what size is the cage? and make sure its the correct size for the bird you're going to be buying (just because it says "parakeet size or Cockatiel size" does NOT mean it is.)
- 3rd question should be What is the bar spacing?
and those are the people I tell " thank you, but No thank you" to and move on.
a few of those sites are
Craigslist
Hoobly
ebay Classifieds
So you are getting a new bird, 1st time bird owner. and you're not sure what to get. Do NOT ask the Pet Store Employees they'll tell you just about anything to get you to buy it, they're seriously in it for the money & that's about it. Please do not buy those "starter kits" cages they are extremely too small!
Here is a list of MINIMUM cage sizes for ONE bird ,if you are getting 2 of the same species Then it'll need to be bigger than the list. The bar spacing is Very very important (the bar spacing is the measurement at the end of each species) You can go smaller then the recommended bar spacing but NOT bigger.If you get a cage for budgies with bar spacing of 1" they can squeeze out and this is not safe!
The links will show a nice cage for 1 single bird of the species it is listed under- there are many varieties the pictures are just for an example and to help with visualizing what each species needs
Recommended Cage sizes
* this is just recommendations , the bigger the cage is with out going over the recommended bar spacing is the best way to go *
Budgies, parrotlets, lovebirds, Finches & Canaries 18 x 18 cage - 1/2" to 5/8"
Cockatiels 20 x 20 cage - 1/2" inch to 5/8"
Conures 22 x 24 cage - 5/8" to 3/4"
Caiques, Small mini macaw 24 x 24 cage - 5/8" to 1"
Amazons, African Greys Medium Size birds 32 x 23 cage - 3/4" 1" bar spacing 4mm bars
Macaws, cockatoo, Larger Amazons 36 x 24 cage - 1inch bar space 5mm bars
Large Macaws, Large Cockatoos 40 x 30 cage - 1inch bar space 5mm bars
Here is a list of MINIMUM cage sizes for ONE bird ,if you are getting 2 of the same species Then it'll need to be bigger than the list. The bar spacing is Very very important (the bar spacing is the measurement at the end of each species) You can go smaller then the recommended bar spacing but NOT bigger.If you get a cage for budgies with bar spacing of 1" they can squeeze out and this is not safe!
The links will show a nice cage for 1 single bird of the species it is listed under- there are many varieties the pictures are just for an example and to help with visualizing what each species needs
Recommended Cage sizes
* this is just recommendations , the bigger the cage is with out going over the recommended bar spacing is the best way to go *
Budgies, parrotlets, lovebirds, Finches & Canaries 18 x 18 cage - 1/2" to 5/8"
Cockatiels 20 x 20 cage - 1/2" inch to 5/8"
Conures 22 x 24 cage - 5/8" to 3/4"
Caiques, Small mini macaw 24 x 24 cage - 5/8" to 1"
Amazons, African Greys Medium Size birds 32 x 23 cage - 3/4" 1" bar spacing 4mm bars
Macaws, cockatoo, Larger Amazons 36 x 24 cage - 1inch bar space 5mm bars
Large Macaws, Large Cockatoos 40 x 30 cage - 1inch bar space 5mm bars