size cage for 2 parrotlets??

[YWallpaper]

Wondering if anyone has knowledge of the appropriate/ideal size for a cage for two parrotlets. I am happy to hear reasons about the why/why not for another bird, but the information I am really looking for at this point is about the procedure for introducing 2 birds and how to provide for them, if I decide to get a mate for Ike.

[Koki]

Here are a few articles about introducing a second bird.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=672

http://www.africangreys.com/articles/relationships/withmerlin.htm

Parrotlets have been kept healthy and in top breeding conditon by in cages as small as 24" x 16" x 16".

However, most people who keep parrotlets as pets, including myself, would strongly recomend something like this;

http://www.queencitypets.com/details.asp?prodid=HQ-GA13221&cat=139

-Ronnie

[Pado]

The link posted by Koki is the smallest I would keep a pair in. I personally would not keep even a breeding pair in a smaller cage although I know some breeders do - our pet birds I think need a much larger space - the breeding pair have a "job" to do and are not sitting idle as our pets usually are looking for mischief. Breeders may separate the breeding pair when they are not raising a clutch (at least I would hope they do).

My pair (non-breeding) do bicker from time to time and the one on the losing end of the argument needs a place to move away to. If in too small a cage the argument could escalate if the bird can not move far enough away from the other bird. My cage is 32x22x34 and I would not keep them in a smaller cage during the day - Mine do sleep in an 18x18x18 at night - but they never bicker at night. When my birds do bicker one just jumps away and the argument is over - they will be preening each other seconds later but if there was no space to move away and tension grew there could be problems.

Two birds permanently in a small cage together will be under stress and their arguments would be much worse than two birds in a large cage that have their own space. In too small of a cage the aggressor bird may chase the other bird as it could feel the other bird is not backing down and could even kill it because of this.

IMO two Parrotlets housed together must have a large cage its not a choice but a necessity.

BTW Ywallpaper - I commend you on considering getting a second bird - as everyone knows I'm big on same species companions for Parrots :) ... and if done correctly can only benefit the birds in the long run even if they end up being housed seperately (which as I said if done correctly isn't likely).

[YWallpaper]

Breeders may separate the breeding pair when they are not raising a clutch (at least I would hope they do).

Do you say that so that they will take a break from laying? I do not plan to breed my birds. This is something that I still have to figure out; if I do get an opposite sex couple "to work off frustration", I will need to keep them from laying. I am not experienced enough to raise chicks, at least not yet.

[Pado]

I've read and heard that it’s not necessary to split up a pair to prevent them from laying. That if they are not supplied with the "nesting" setup the female will not be inclined to lay. No nest box - 12 hours of dark uninterrupted sleep etc -

I don't know first hand if this is so - I'm going off what I've read and what has been posted on this site - I'm hoping this is so as I have no plans of ever breeding mine. They can mate all they want but I'm hoping my female doesn't lay - only time will tell. Currently mine mate numerous times a day and have done so for months but so far no eggs and I hope that continues to be the case. If mine does lay I will freeze her eggs and return them to her or replace them with dummy eggs until she tires of sitting on them.

What I meant in my last post is that I would hope breeders didn't leave a non-laying pair in a small cage together - I'm "assuming" they may be okay with this small breeding cage set-up (although I don’t agree with it) as long as they are caring for chicks and have a job to do (raising a family). If they are just left together in a small cage with no family to raise I believe they would be inclined to argue and this could be disastrous.

[ArtS]

FYI, our cage is double the size of the one posted above. One of the nice things about this cage is that the birds can fly around INSIDE the cage while we are at work.

Regards,

Art S.

[Sally]

Please get a large and wide cage. Especially for two. You can't fit the larger toys and perches in a tiny one. A tiny cage for an active, energtic, playful bird is not fun like a good sized cage. Even with the out of cage time, they like to fly and exer. when they feel like it. The minumum cages sizes always surprise me. Very odd. I have a Kings Cage. I love the customer service and quality. http://www.kingscages.com/shop/view_product.php?product=ELF-3221

[YWallpaper]

FYI, our cage is double the size of the one posted above.

Art,

Where did you find a cage that large with appropriate bar spacing? I have been looking around (not very long, I admit) and anything that size has at least 5/8 bar spacing.

I guess I wasn't sure which cage you meant, either. Did you mean the cage in the link, measurements 32L x 21W x 35H?

[ArtS]

YWallpaper,

The chinese factory that make all of these cages also makes a double. here is one listing for it (I have no experience with this vendor): http://www.qualitydiscountcages.com/proddetail.asp?prod=LC%2DGA16421&cat=19

It's nice because it comes with a divider so the cage can be split into two equal spaces. The divider is of similar construction to the rest of the cage; I replaced this with a custom made Plexiglas divider, so the little sweeties wouldn't bite each others toes through the bars if I needed to separate them :rolleyes: . Unfortunately due to Sparky's condition, the divider is in for the time being :( .

Without the divider, it is over five feet wide; which really does allow for flight! It isn't much more expensive than the single. If you have room for this cage, I highly recommend it. Besides, it's twice as much fun to put together with the wordless single picture they call directions ;) :D .

Regards,

Art S.

[Koki]

Queen City has the same cage. This is the one I have. It's exactly a double of the other. The vendor shipped immediately and didn't mind answering questions on the phone. You can put a divider in (included) and have two cages same size as the other. My only suggestion is to measure out where you're going to put it before you order. Excellent cage and I'm very happy with it.

http://www.queencitypets.com/details.asp?prodid=HQ-GA16421&cat=139

This cage is 64" L x 21" W x 36" H (internal); or two cages with 32" L

[Blake]

My parrotlet, Lily, has a cage similar to the one found at the Queen's City Pets website. However, she didn't seem to care for it... it was too large for her. Instead, I purchased a cage similar to ELT4-2217 (found on the King's Cages website). That has worked perfectly for her. We use the aviary cage as a outside play cage in the warm summer months.

Regardless of which cage you actually end up getting, remember that bigger is probably always better and always buy from a quality manufacturer. (Koki was excellent to provide information on introducing the birds as well.)

[YWallpaper]

YWallpaper,
If you have room for this cage, I highly recommend it. Besides, it's twice as much fun to put together with the wordless single picture they call directions ;) :D .

I may order the cage just to see the directions.:D

[Koki]

I may order the cage just to see the directions.:D
Don't buy the cage just for the directions. I can scan and email them to you if that's all you want. However, for the money, the size, and the quality, you will not beat this cage!

[LyndaM]

I just put the cage together using those directions....ugh!