A number of considerations are involved in the purchase of the "right" cage. Review the following topics to help guide you in the bird cage selection process.
- Should allow birds to comfortably spread wings
- Should have ample cage base depth for birds who do not sleep on perches
- Should have added cage height for climbing birds.
- Should provide ample room capacity for toys and related treats
- 3/8" suitable for finches and extremely small birds
- 1/2" general purpose for parakeets, canaries and all medium-sized birds.
- 5/8" suitable for cocktaiels, doves
- 1" suitable for all medium-to-large birds such as African greys.
- 1"+ suitable for macaws, cockatoos and other large birds.
- Vertical Bars: for Finches, Canaries, and All Climbers
- Horizontal Bars: for Parakeets, Parrots, Cockatiels, and All Climbing Species.
- Proper dowel diameter for species
- Proper hanging depth from top
- An appropriate size that will not over-crowd cage
- Possibility to be sturdily secured to top cage bars
- Seed guards
- Soft wood perches with proper accessibility to feeder cups
- Multiple feeder cups with ample holding capacity
- Sufficiently large doors for easy access and to accommodate bird's size
- A practical method of locking and securing doors
- In most cases, cost does dictate the amount of quality put into cage construction
- All plastic parts should have thick walls, especially in corner areas. Look for warpage and hairline cracks.
- Metal parts should not have any sharp edges. They should encompass solid multi-welds and should have an adequate application of plating or paint coverage.
- Generally speaking, all-steel constructed cages are preferable due to their longevity value and their ability to withstand more shock and cleaning than their plastic counterparts.
- Clear Lacquer: Should be applied to all plated parts for safety.
- Painted Finishes: Should always be baked on during the painting process.
- Non-Toxic: All epoxy liquid paint, epoxy powder coatings, and all plating finishes should be laboratory-tested to be child-safe and pet-safe. Lead-based coating materials should never be used.
- Plated & Powder-Coated Finishes: Easy-to-clean with a soft, damp cloth and immediately dry with a soft, dry cloth. Never use abrasive soaps or abrasive cleaning pads, and avoid cleanign with extremely hot water.
- Plated Finishes: Brass or nickel have a protective clear lacquer coating applied during the plating process. If this clear coating is worn off by excessive abrasive cleaning (or by years of use) the base plating will begin to oxidize. If oxidation does begin, you may need to replace the entire cage or — at a minimum — the part that is oxidizing.
- Painted Finishes: These should be baked on during the painting process. To avoid future rusting, immediately use touch-up paint on any chipped or scratched areas.