Finally...!

[marjet]

So finally, Bibi has her new cage and she accepted it much better than I feared (or even hoped!)
It is at least twice as big as the old one -though not as big as Chippers!:) - and it has made her already more active!
We're both very happy with it :p
Always when the weather is nice, I take her out in the garden with me (in her cage) and she is enjoying the sun and the breeze. Today for the first time she really took a long en joyfull bath in her 'swimming pool'. She used to splash a bit in her waterbowl but it always seemed so 'marginally' if you see what I mean. I gave her a much bigger bath some weeks ago, but she never ever took any interest in bathing in it untill today. I was a joy to look at :)

[memmey]

Go ahead BiBi.....how cute.

[Sally]

I'm so glad. We underestimate how much room they need! They are wild animals! They need a big place to play, fly, and jump. They need to fly and be out with us on playgyms. Just picture yourself in a small cage. I try to put myself in her shoes.

How big is the new cage? It seems to change them right away, after they get used to the space. Chipper was SO happy with her new roomy cage and big toys.

[AndreaFahy]

When I first got into parrots I was working in a small pet shop. The owner was BIG into parrots. She always said "Be prepared to spend just as much on a cage as you spend on a parrot" but the parrotlets selling point was that they are so small you don't have to spend so much on their cage b/c it can be small. This is so not true!!! You really should follow that same rule as for the larger parrots! I am thrilled, Sally, that you understand the need for a large cage. If only more people understood... It is even harder with the medium and large parrots to get this message across.

[Sally]

Yes, I feel so sorry for birds with small cages. Once you get a large one, you REALLY understand! I would hate to live in a closet. We all need ROOM to move, explore and feel good.

Whether we get a doggie, hamster, bird, they are all the same. The price is the LEAST of it. Vets, medicine, foods, cages, toys, books (if we do it correctly) are the expense. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Sally11/ChipandTrudysaying400.jpg

[Azale]

I agree, every bird needs a large cage.

I am getting a new cage in the near future for a Quaker parrot I am planning on getting. I went as large as I can afford, and I was hoping that if I got the cage first, and decided to change my mind, I could always get something else instead of a Quaker. Like have my lovebird stay in it. (Though my sister has my lovebird now at her house).
But what I find, is those large gorgeous cages never have the right bar spacing! It makes me so upset! I think if I kept a parrotlet in the cage I bought, it would be drifting in heaven. Or even if I kept a couple of budgies, but the bar spacing is far too large for smaller birds.

[Sally]

You should be able to find large cages with 1/2 bar spacing. There are lots of good sites.

[Linda Lee]

The following is the cage I bought last Feb., at a Bird Mart. I currently have only one Budgie in it, but have a second Budgie, I purchased nearly four weeks ago, still in quarantine. I love this cage!:)

http://www.windycityparrot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=19302242042&Category_Code=dome&Product_Count=11

[wiggletail]

I've noticed that when you do see the larger cages with smaller bar spacing they tend to be referred to as "avian" or "aviary" cages. Presumably they are designed for multiple birds.

Question for those who have bird pairs: What cage dimensions are you currently using?

Note Sally's set-up in the photo. I have the same table-top gym. Made by Pink Parrot, I think. Costs about $20.00. I believe that PETCO online sells it. I point that out because, along with cage space, out-of-cage time cannot be over emphasized.

Gotta go, Wednesday is chirping. Time to make coffee (she loves to supervise:) ).

[AndreaFahy]

I like to keep a pair of parrotlets in the same cage that Sally has Chipper in. I have a pair in a nice King's cage of a different style as well, but it is smaller and I know that they would like more space.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-63706253670771_1951_2994300

The dimensions are 20" x 26" were the other cage is 21" x 32". Plus the King's 21 x 32 only costs a few dollars more! The 20 x 26 is just a bit heavier duty and has the nifty platform door at the top. I never see this pair fight in the cage though, so that is a good sign that it is large enough.

[AndreaFahy]

You know what is really disgusting??? Look at the birds pictured on that cage! As if they think it is large enough for an Amazon or that blue parrot (what is it??) Birds that size would be MISERABLE in that cage.

[marjet]

Bibi's new cage is approx 32'' x 28'' x 20'' ( I mesured it in centimeters and 'translated' it in inches). You think that's an acceptable size?
She still is out of her cage most of the day, as before, but when nobody's home and during the night she stay's in.
She's is very fond of our 11 year old son, and yesterday he (our son that is...) fell asleep on the couch. Bibi just guarded him there. When I came to give him a kiss, she run to me => all fluffy and angry! Later when he was awake again, she was friendly again to who came close. So cute; I felt that she guarded him when sleeping because she recognizes the vulnerability (is there such a word?) when one's alseep. (Am I telling this a bit clear or am I messing up?)

[AndreaFahy]

The cage sounds just fine! I think your story is very cute about how Bibi protected your son! But advise him to be SOOO careful b/c she could get crushed by snuggling too close when he sleeps! There are many sad endings like this :( Sweet story none the less though :)

[ArtS]

Marjet,

Your cage sounds just fine, especially based on Bibi's response to it!


Wiggletail,

Our pair is in a double version of Sally's cage. I think our cage is referred to as an aviary in the ad literature as well - to me it just means a cage that birds can fly in.

Regards,

Art S.

[marjet]

Andrea, I understand your worry about Bibi getting crushed while my son is asleep, but our couch is só narrow that our son would roll off it if he moved too much :D And Bibi surely wouldn't join us to bed :p

[Pado]

I like to keep a pair of parrotlets in the same cage that Sally has Chipper in. I have a pair in a nice King's cage of a different style as well, but it is smaller and I know that they would like more space.
The dimensions are 20" x 26" were the other cage is 21" x 32". Plus the King's 21 x 32 only costs a few dollars more! The 20 x 26 is just a bit heavier duty and has the nifty platform door at the top. I never see this pair fight in the cage though, so that is a good sign that it is large enough.

Andrea - you have no problems with two in this size cage? - my males cage is a Kings Cage 32x22x34 I was thinking this might not be big enough for them both when I place them together. If you aren't having any problems - maybe I should try it? -

[AndreaFahy]

No problems at all! I actually put a male and female together that previously despised each other, but each recently lost their mate. They are waiting for their new cage, but in the mean time their cage only measures 18 x 30 x 18 and they are doing wonderfully. They have not bonded, are interested though. I have seen a couple of little spats, but even this small cage offers enough space for them to keep the peace! So, yes, I feel that your 32x22x34 would be adequate. The cage you have is just bigger than Chipper's (the size I like for my pairs) so they should be good in it!

[Pado]

Thanks Andrea – that’s very encouraging. :) I love the cage I have and had plans on adding another one just like it and linking them together [as the sides are removable] but when I seriously began looking into it – a problem arose with linking them.

How the two act together now I don’t see a problem but I didn’t know what to expect as they mature.