(Part 2) Best birdcages & accessories according to redditors

There is nothing morally wrong with getting parrots from a bird rehab center. They don't breed for profit, just rescue and care for birds. By adopting from them, you are supporting them and making more room for other birds. So, as long as you can adequately take care of the birds, it's not a bad thing to do.

My understanding is that lovebirds are pretty similar to parakeets (which I have), so I could probably give you some information. There's no need to file their talons or beaks, as long as you have the appropriate stuff in the cage. Typically, the kinds of perches that come with most cages are rubbish. Birds need perches with varying widths and textures. Stuff like this or this is awesome. These textures and width variations keep the talons worn down properly, so that they do not need to be clipped. It also is good for their muscles, I believe. Give them lots of things to chew on, and that should keep their beaks in line. This way, you won't have to touch the bird to clip their wings, talons, or beaks, which could really scare the bird if it isn't used to you.

Feeding them the food in those bird food bags at the petstore isn't a good idea in the long run. It's not good for their health. Try feeding them fresh vegetables and fruit if you can, as well as the generic bird food. It's likely they won't like the fresh stuff at first, but give it to them fairly consistently and they may give it a try.

A cage is absolutely necessary, simply because you need to have a place to put them where you know they'll be safe. Like if you're cooking or have all the doors open for moving furniture in or out. The birds should not be loose in the house during those events. I'm not saying you should lock them in their cage all day, just at certain times when it's necessary. Also, keeping them there at night gives them a sense of security in that space. Ideally, you would have a room in the house that you know is bird-proof, where you would feel comfortable leaving them out unsupervised, but you should still have a cage in that room, as a safe haven for them, where they know they will always have food and water. When out flying, they typically like to have a few favorite places to perch. One of these should be the top of the cage.

The cage should be large. One thing to remember, though, is that "tall cages are kind of useless. Birds will typically move to the topmost part of the cage and stay at that height. Instinctively, they prefer to be at the highest available location. So, a cage like this is, in all practical use, much smaller than it looks. A wider cage is better than a taller cage, as far as giving them space. A wider cage might mean that they could fly a short distance from one perch to another. A tall cage is basically a small cage. Also, you want the cage to have horizontal bars if possible, on at least two of the sides. Parrots are big on climbing, and horizontal bars, as opposed to vertical bars, are great for that.

I'm procrastinating right now so can't go into much more detail right now, but if you have any questions, just reply :)

I call these dildo perches. My birds have a few of them.

birdcage


This is the one I bought and it’s really easy to put together

Can you sew? I have a couple of these large sundecks for birds which I sewed covers for and my rats love them. A couple (or more) layers of fleece makes it safe and cozy.

Also everyone loves Lava Ledges, and I guess I sort of do too since I have like 20 of them, but lately the quality seems worse as they keep coming stripped which makes them spin on the screw which is not safe. I have returned one but also repaired a couple with glue, which hopefully is okay. My rats don't chew them all the way to the screw but it is a porous material so the glue might move further out than the screw hole. Also, Lava Ledges are much smaller than the perch I mentioned above, but rats still love to chill on them, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

Excuse the rambling, I'm high on coffee. :P Hope this helps a bit!

Get him a new cage asap. It's far too small, plus it's round which can contribute to their stress and anxiety (they need corners to feel secure). Something like this.

Get him plenty of toys, macaws are highly intelligent and will get destructive if bored. Also keep in mind he's going to need a lot of attention, the bigger parrots are basically toddlers in that they're loud, needy, but learn fast, and can be charming. Be careful of him bonding to you, if this is just temporary, it'll be devastating to him if he's taken away. I don't know about macaws specifically, but a lot of parrots when stressed and unhappy will pluck out their feathers, it's essentially like humans cutting themselves. And definitely keep him away from your parakeets, he can easily kill them. Singing to each other from their cages is one thing but I wouldn't let them interact other than that. Best of luck.

spiral bird rope

bendy bird rope

wooden bridge

Sputnik/space pod

foraging toy

wooden climbing platforms

2-pack lava ledges

foraging wheel

Also a good idea might be to look up some rat safe treat recipes and make a little ratty goodie bag for them (banana chips, oats, dried pasta, certain seeds, etc.)

Certainly!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OE3C1K6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

My favorite feature is the long screws attached the bowls. They can be removed easily for cleaning, but provide stability for the bowls. I often unscrew them and thread a toy on them, before putting them back in.

Also, the base provided a nice catcher for food and droppings. Lightweight and portable. Highly recommend!

Prevue Pet Products SP42614-4 Flight Cage, Brown/Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SK7HOYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V1fWDbQ6VWWKS

This is the cage I bought. So far no problems

Alright for cage you want something big, gccs need more space than cockatiels, my suggestion is 24 inch square or bigger in any measurement, my cage is like 24x24x30 with 30 being the height, they prefer taller cages. This is the cage I bought and I wouldn't recommend anything much smaller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SMC25E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A cage that size will generally run you between $100-300 depending on where you get it from. Most perches come with the hardware to easily install on the bars of a cage. You want many different styles of perches. Make sure it has several natural wood ones with varying thicknesses in the branches, get a bendable rope perch, and possible some time of swing perch that involves more coordination to sit on. You can get a perch that is rough to wear down nails if you want but make sure the perch is smooth on the top and only rough on the sides, and make sure it is cement and not sand or grit covered because green cheeks don't need grit like some other species of birds do and it can harm them.

For toys get lots of different things, plastic, leather, shreddable ones made from soft wood or palm fronds. Do your research and make sure anything you give your bird is safe and non-toxic obviously. Get him toys you could hide little treats in to help with foraging. If he is searching his toys for treats he won't be as bored if he has to spend a little extra time in the cage one day.

For food don't use seeds/seed mixes for anything other than treats really. A good pellet mix like Harrison's, Roudybush, or Zupreem is best. Try for something not colored/fruity flavored, I use Harrison's lifetime adult fine for my green cheek, the pellets are pretty small so they work well for a small conure like a green cheek. Here is the link where I bought those, they are also on amazon though: http://store.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/ADULT-LIFETIME-FINE/productinfo/ALF/

Other than pellets provide lots of veggies and some fruits. Its diet should be 50% pellets, 30% veggies, 10% fruits, and then the last 10% is spread among grains (cooked brown rice, cooked quinoa, cooked whole grain pasta) and treats (nuts, seeds, etc.). I make chop for my green cheek. I use a base of kale, spinach, or other healthy leafy greens, then I add in veggies like broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, jalapenos, peas, etc. I chop them all up somewhat small and then put it in a food processor until its very fine. If your bird won't eat the chop you make, mix it in with pellets and only offer pellets when it is mixed with the chop 2-3 times per day. You don't have to limit the amount of food your bird eats, they eat as much as they need. Just see about how much it is eating and offer that much so yo don't have a lot of wasted food. Don't offer the same chop/pellet mix after one day, the chop should be refrigerated so after one day it is best to toss it and offer fresh. You can also offer bigger chunks of veggies on a stainless steel skewer that you can hang in the cage. I do this a lot and put some blueberries, bell peppers, and spinach leaves so I know my bird is eating both his chop and his veggies in several ways, it helps with enrichment.

That's about all I got, sorry it was such a lot to read but I hope it helps! Let me know if you have questions :)

Thanks!

Its a Prevue empire macaw cage

Linked to Amazon for details but can be found cheaper if you search around.
Very easy to setup

Awesome! So a typical flight cage is usually 18-22 inches high and 2-4 feet long. It's just to let them fly around a little while they're not out. It's a totally acceptable all the time cage too :)


I'm excited for you! Budgies are great. I'll see if I can find anyone who's looking to get rid of theirs. I'm looking (eventually) to get rid of one of my flight cages in the near future, but I'm waiting a bit to find the right fit for what I want (double or stacking cage since I have two birds). It's really big for a budgie, taller than wider, and fantastic pricing, pretty decent construction to cost, not the best, not the worst, just don't transport it a lot like I do because it can get bent.

Feel free to message anytime!

I sometimes like to use bird shelves, you can find them on amazon. bird shelf
I put a piece of cardboard on it so their feet don’t fall through. Also just looking up supplies for birds in general, you can find a lot of good stuff .

I saw your other post. Is your budgies cage (near the window) in your room? If so, I would honestly just work on budgie-proofing the room and letting him fly around/wander during the day. If he just uses the cage to sleep or chill, it doesn't really need to be big.

Otherwise I found

https://www.amazon.com/You-Me-Finch-Rectangle-Flight/dp/B074P4T56Z/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1537148196&sr=1-7&keywords=flight+cage

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Parrot-Chinchilla-Cockatiel-Cockatoo/dp/B075T5Q4PF/ref=sr_1_19?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1537147014&sr=1-19&keywords=budgie+cage

Yeah I'm in the same situation, although I only had them for about three months. So what I have for mine is this bowl thing you attach to their cage and fill it up with water. I'll leave the room, go out and come back to see them drenched. Parakeets are very curious little things so I don't see why they won't try this.

Prevue is a popular brand, though they have a very wide range of quality and purpose.

Here is what I’d recommend:
Prevue Pet Products Square Roof Parrot Cage, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040QJ4Y8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VRiQAbN0ZKJXQ

Plenty of height to allow two “layers” as well as the bottom, sliding door access for food/water bowls (important for being able to change out food/water without disturbing a bird that’s not comfortable), slide-out bottom tray (again, same with regards to bird comfort but also convenience).

The size is above minimum. Bigger is better but honestly, a cockatiel combined with plenty of outside cage time make it unnecessary.

Ooops! That's what I get for trying to double task.
Real link: http://www.amazon.com/Perch-Clear-View-Carrier-Travel/dp/B002EO1OIW/

https://www.amazon.com/Yaheetech-Mid-Sized-Cockatiels-Parakeet-Detachable/dp/B07P94NY95?ref_=Oct_BSellerS_2975226011_30

I got it from a different website that I can't remember at the moment but it was this one.

Hi there! Parakeets are so misunderstood. Depending on how you train and raise them, they can act like a fun cuddly dog, or like a boring fish. If you want him to be a fun exciting pet, here's what you should do:

1.) Week 1, don't touch him. It's tempting to reach in there, but don't do it. He's scared as hell of being dropped into a new environment and you will only add to him being scared. Trust me on this, it gives him time to get used to the natural noises of your house. Instead, go about your normal routine around him, but stop and talk to him and get him used to your voice.

2.) After 1 week, start putting your hands into the cage - and by this I mean literally just putting your hand in and fiddling with things, getting them close to him, but don't touch him. This establishes that the cage is yours and he's just living in it. It will help with respect a lot later. Partway through 2nd week, work on getting him to climb onto your finger. Place your finger directly in front of his belly and say "up." If he does it, put him back on the perch, praise him, and give him some millet as a treat. Do this over and over. Birds LOVE repetition. Once he seems comfortable with this (about week of doing this), use this same method to take him out. Once you get to this point he will be more comfortable with the idea of hanging out with you.

3.) There are pros and cons of having his wings clipped. I've always clipped my bird's wings and that would be my recommendation (it doesn't hurt if a professional does it, it's like a haircut). So I won't give any advice on this except that you should definitely take into consideration if he has a safe enough environment to NOT clip his wings. If you do let him fly around your garage, make sure you "baby proof" it just like you would with a child, but vertically as well. Tools will need to be put away, check for holes or places he could crawl into where you won't be able to get to him.

4.) See #3.

5.) Parakeets are perfectly fine being alone during the day. Make sure he has 3-4 toys in his cage and that you rotate them every 1-2 weeks so he doesn't get bored. When you get home, give him attention. Aim for at least 30min of complete attention per day at a minimum. If no one in the house is home during the day, put the radio or TV on, they like the noise. Speaking of, they LOVE being the center of attention, I'd recommend you put him in a high traffic area of the house if you can.

6.) I have a very well trained parakeet and haven't been able to potty train. What you can do is try treating him for pooping inside the cage before he comes out which helps. You can expect he will go every 10 min or so. You can always pt a towel down anywhere you take him out if it bothers you.

7.) I wouldn't worry about it, he can probably get to it just fine especially since his wings aren't clipped.

8.) I agree with @FlyingPhotog for this. Also recommend searching google for foods that are ok and poisonous for birds. Giving him some human foods can extend his life.

9.) Additional tips:

-Be careful of drafts. Birds are sensitive to cold air blowing on them. Keep his area a consistent temperature and put a towel over the cage at night (this will also help with noise btw, they are pretty good about sleeping whenever it's dark.)

-Be careful of harmful chemicals. Any pesticides, air fresheners, candles nearby can be harmful

-Don't let him out if anyone is cooking. Seems self explanatory, but most bird deaths are caused by them flying into boiling pots of water because their owners were careless :-(

-Cages: Stupidly, every goddam pet store on the planet sells cages with vertical bars (like this:https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-Triple-Cockatiel-White/dp/B005S6V4QK/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1468628422&sr=1-2&keywords=parakeet+cage), but they very much prefer the horizontal bars (like this: https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Bird-Cage-Model-M01/dp/B000K67UF2). It will be harder to find but it is much easier for them to climb. I found my Vision one at PetSmart. This particular one also helps keep seeds in.

-I also totally recommend you put pellets on the bottom of the cage (like this http://www.petsmart.com//WFS/PETUS/en_US/-/USD/-zid36-4226/cat-0-catid-0?green=F0B73A16-ADD9-5A58-9BE0-EA09D3A310B1). It's something I've started doing within the last year and it's helped a ton with keeping the area around the cage clean.

-Get him comfortable with you before you have other people hold him

-Be confident. I'm not sure how they do it, but it always seems birds can tell if the person handling them is not confident and they will act up. It's like racing any other animal, you show them you're in charge and they'll respect you for it

-Give him kisses and chat with him. He'll start to chat back. Parakeets won't talk like big parrots do, but they do "chat" and repeat things you say. It's so cute.

Have fun! Parakeets make for fun, adorable, and convenient pets if you put the time in. Love him and he will love you back! Good luck!

I have the exact same perch. It's this one from Amazon.

Here it is! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075R7NGGK?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I liked it so much that I bought one for my budgies too!

We got our lovely girl from a rescue. We originally went for an african grey but after several visits she just won us over. Definitely go with a rescue that allows you to meet and learn about their birds, it is such a huge factor. Baby personalities will change, but an adult bird knows who they are.

We got the absolute largest cage we could afford, which is taller than my 6'3" husband, though we really wanted to get this awesome massive corner cage.

Many cockatoos are absolute woodchippers, our girl included. Our little goffin's only likes easy to shred paper and cardboard though, so it depends on each bird. These toys get EXPENSIVE if you don't make them yourself. Our U2 is content to chomp untreated wood blocks we buy at the home improvement stores and chop into smaller pieces.

Food is important to. A high quality pellet, plus fresh fruit and veg, is a must. A steady diet of seeds will shorten your bird's lifespan massively.

An air filter is a must, a stinking good one. Cockatoos are dusty! We went with the austin brand, and we're not disappointed.

They are NEEDY. They scream, and they scream LOUD. Our U2 makes our ears ring sometimes, the goffin's is quieter but she screams more often so it's still rough when you need a quiet moment. They want your undivided attention. Some get bored easily, but can be taught to keep themselves busy if ample toys and distractions are provided. They are destructive. A bite from a cockatoo can get you stitches easily. You can't punish a cockatoo (our really any parrot) the way you do a child. They can be taught, but it takes excellent, darn near perfect, consistency and kindness to reduce things like screaming when they just do it to do it.

Also keep in mind... exotic veterinary care is so dang costly. We just spent 3k on saving our U2 when her oviduct twisted and trapped an egg she was trying to lay. She had to have a blood donor due to her particular situation (which the rescue she came from provided, bless them) and it took over a week before she could come home. The day we realized she was in trouble all of the most trustworthy avian vets in our nearby area were out of town or unavailable and we had to drive 1.5 hours one way to get to someone who ended up giving her excellent care. Plus, many don't enjoy taking meds so the follow up antibiotics were... fun.

All in all, we adore our birds. In general they can be fun, funny, sweet, comforting, and if you get a rescue you can make sure you bring a bird home that fits your personality. They are a TON of work and a huge investment in both money and time. Find yourself a rescue and start meeting birds, stay a while if you can. You will learn quickly if you're ready.

Ideally you want perches with different diameters and different textures. In addition, consider an area in the cage where she can stand on a flat surface, if she doesn't regularly run around on tables/floors out of the cage (so she can stretch her toes out flat sometimes. Budgies in the wild actually spend a lot of time on the ground.)

I don't know where you are or where you shop, these are just examples to give you an idea:

Rope perches are very popular: warm and soft on feet, available in many different lengths, they clip to the bars or can be hung up.

Wood perches also come in various sizes and shapes and different kinds of wood. One thing I like about them is they only need to be attached to one wall of the cage so you have more options for length and placement.

Hope that helps. Beautiful bird!

It's a snap on bath tub. I found it at feeders supply but here is the amazon link.
http://www.amazon.com/JW-Pet-Company-Insight-Accessory/dp/B000HHS8QE/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376255671&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=cage+mount+bird+tub

Buy a cheap perch with a tray on amazon . Line the base of it. Every morning take them out of the cage as he wil have to go as soon as he wakes up. Verbally praise him and put him on your shoulder that is the reward.

Every time you take him out have him empty the tank as soon as he comes out and then put him on your shoulder to start a routine. If he just sits there then let him sit until he finally goes no matter how long it takes. ( I recommend placing the perch on the floor during his time as he will be anxious to get to higher ground)

Soon he will realize that he is stuck on a boring perch until he relieves himself and will get significantly faster.

Consistency is key.

This is the perch I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OE3C1K6?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd&th=1


I actually don’t use the bowls or side branches and screw the T shapes over a piece of bird cage liner. It’s portable and keeps everything in place.

This is what I have. It's awesome, and comes with everything you need. It's sturdy and durable and super easy to clean.

Idk what kind of bird you have but it's a big large for my lorikeet. You could fit an African gray or Amazon in it for trips to the vet, but not a macaw.

So glad you got your first gift and are enjoying yourself! Everyone is awesome :)

I would probably get myself a shower perch or a new cement perch for my parrot. His nails grow super fast so I have to keep a variety of perches so I can cut them less. It also helps to strengthen his legs :) Either those or a surprise =. Surprises are fun!

Conviviality!

You can get cage skirts pretty cheap from most pet stores in the bird section.

It's important to have more horizontal space than vertical because budgies are not vertical flyers.

Here's a cheap good sized one

You & Me Finch Rectangle Flight Cage https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074P4T56Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_R2dMAb30W4HYT

Here's a cage skirt:

Prevue Pet Products Mesh Bird Seed Catcher 13" H, Large Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LOEQDI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_U4dMAbVBR6247

Hey! I was able to get a big cage online through Petco for about $60. I don't have a specific link for you but I'd definitely check there. Basically, I would get a cage big enough for 2-4 budgies because, if you're like me, you'll definitely end up getting more. Budgies can get really depressed if they don't have friends.
Here's my number one rule for buying a cage for any bird: the bigger the cage, the happier the bird! It's also important to get one that doesn't have a rounded top, because it can make budgies anxious. Cages that open at the top are cool too because it's easier for your budgie to leave/enter the cage. It's also nice if there's a big door on the front so it's easier for you to train your budgie while it's still in the cage. I'll give you some links I found on Amazon for different sizes/prices:

Super tall cage, $65

Good for 2-3 budgies, $65

Very popular cage, would fit several budgies, also has wheels, $100

Flight cage for 1 budgie, $50

Petco links:
Cage for 1 budgie only, $30

I suggest this one, good for 1-2 budgies and has open top!!

Oh wow awesome, thank you!! They used to be in a smaller cage and I'd just go outside and get them sticks for perches, but we just set this new cage up and it's so spacious! I was thinking of getting one of those bird baths that you can attach to to the corner of the cage, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/JW-Pet-Company-Insight-Accessory/dp/B000HHS8QE/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1496173899&sr=1-2&keywords=parakeet+bird+bath

How do you get them to use it? lol

Here is one I have used in the past: https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Pedi-Perch-Medium-Color/dp/B0002DGYZK/

I have used pretty much everything to take my tiels to the vet. These are my top three that I personally used. :D

A) This awesome foldable travel cage. I love this because it folds and it is an easy travel cage when I take my flock with me on vacation, to the park, easy way to take them outside sunbathing with me, or to the pet stores ..etc. I also have used it during vet visits as well.

B) A simple, basic, plastic extra small dog/cat carrier. Sorry for the photo quality but I kindof wanted to give you a better idea. This is super light. It is easy for me to get my flock member and put them in there. I probably use this carrier the most for vet visit. You can drill a hole on the sides and insert a perch . You can get a mash for the front of the carrier so their heads don't get stuck between the bars.

C) A bird carrier backpack. This is worth the money. This is super study . It has a steel bowl holder, small animal water bottle holder, and slide tray for easy cleaning. I love this. You can use this for the vet visit and take your bird for a hike afterwards. Here's one of my birds using it at his vet visits

And to get your tiel in the travel cage, you can bribe him/her with millet.

Good to hear from you again! Leo is lovely and I'm so glad you are seeing her happy, chirpy, eating, etc. Your patience with her is especially good. One small suggestion: her perches are the standard wooden dowels and they are not good for her feet. It would be great if you could get one of those rope perches https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Rope-Perch-Small-Diameter/dp/B00K9PFR2W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511932527&sr=8-3&keywords=rope+perches+for+birds. As to bird toys, plastic rings with a bell on the bottom; chew toys, and another ladder or two to allow her more climbing exercise. That's all I got! I hope you did very well on your exams and I look forward to more updates on the both of you!

I don't have a Grey, but I'll throw my two cents in here.

A) Zephyr's wings quiver a little when he's nervous or in a new place for the first time. His chest and tummy feathers shiver a little when he's very relaxed and fluffed up on his perch. This is normal. If it's accompanying labored breath or trouble balancing, it becomes an issue.

B) I try to let my baby get about 11-12 hours per night, and that's what he likes. He goes to bed at 9pm, and usually wakes up between 8-11am depending on the day. He's usually happy to sleep in a little with us on the weekend. His sleeping cage is at the foot of our bed, and when he gets scared or wakes at night a little whisper from me will generally settle him down quickly. If you're not covering the cage at night, do that. If he doesn't feel comfortable sleeping away from you guys, maybe a sleeping cage could help? This is the cage we use for sleeping. (it also doubles as his carrier and travel cage!)

C) Just make sure you're washing your fruits and veggies very well before feeding. Teflon is what you're worried about, when heated over a certain temperature, it releases harmful airborne toxins that can easily kill a bird.

D) In the wild, birds split their days between foraging for food, and preening. It takes a LOT of work to keep all those feathers nicely zipped and flight-ready. Preening looks like they are combing their feathers out with their beaks in long movements from the base of the feather all the way to the tip. As far as I know, plucking looks more like the bird is tugging on the shaft of the feather violently to pull it out.

E) Molting is different for every parrot. Some go through seasonal molts, some molt continuously, and some do a big molt once per year. This mostly depends on the bird itself, but can be influenced by temperature, diet, and bathing.

You can get a small cage with bars, made of acrylic, etc. Generally a smaller travel-cage is better than a big one, as you don't want your bird trying to fly within there, or falling far and getting hurt. As traveling can be scary for the bird with scary sounds that can cause them to bolt in fright.

Here's a couple in your budget:

https://www.amazon.com/Perch-Clear-View-Carrier-Travel/dp/B002EO1OIW/

https://www.amazon.com/Pennzoni-Display-Small-Acrylic-Carriers/dp/B0043GCPQE/

I recommend this cage to everyone who ever asks.

I absolutely love it, I have 2 of them. One is for my GCC and one is for my 'Tiel. They love them too! It might be a tad on the big side for even a pair of Budgies, but I'm sure they'd love it (and you'd future proof yourself if you decided to get a bigger cage/more Budgies!).

If you're looking for those two cages specifically, don't buy them from Petsmart, they overcharge like nobodies business. I found 2 similar versions on Amazon to the ones you linked. 1, and 2.

Good luck and welcome soon to Parronthood!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002EO1OIW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ML1-Bb2CQHMA2

This is what I use it's plenty big enough for my gcc. It's kinda a bugger to put together but works great for short trips.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I would recommend this page for cockatiels. I have two and they can both fit in there, but it's great for a single bird as well. Easy to clean with a sliding drawer like you said, and I have moved it out to the porch at least once every year to clean my oven, since the fumes are bad for them.

Also, the cage is super sturdy and it'll last you a long time.

There's a rescue/breeder place in Houston that had a TON of rescued adult tiels that needed a home last time I checked. It's pretty "famous" as far as Houston bird places go, so you probably don't live nesrby, unfortunately. Just thought I'd throw that out there anyway.

You could possibly repurpose your old cage into something nice. It might also be a travel cage, but it seems a little too big for that.

thank you guys! would this one be good for one budgie?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074P4T56Z/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2LDZGFAGG1QXE&psc=1

Yeah, I mean, I would definitely go for a travel cage if I were you (plus, they are just super handy to have just in case). This is the exact one that my boyfriend and I have for our birds, and it's been wonderful.

And as far as food and water go, I completely forgot to mention that. With cat carriers you can get these little shallow bowls that will attach to the front grate, but I imagine most of the water will slosh out within 5 hours. Having a real water bowl and food bowl for your little guy seems like a better option for him and your car =P

My mother has this travel cage for her grey. I personally think that it's way, way heavier than it needs to be, especially considering how small it is. I've had this travel cage for my grey for years and have been happy with it. It is a little on the heavy side (but still not as heavy as the one above) and offers a good amount of space, especially for overnight trips. It's also not as durable as the one above, but still think it's more bang for its buck!

link to cage

I have this cage for my cockatiel and I love it.

I've changed her bedding since this gif, but back then I think it was Kaytee soft granule bedding.

This one: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000JLPIWU?cache=0c13fc5e1e870d17060330f85dead697&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1414250935&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002SMC25E/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1542498550&sr=8-15&keywords=playtop%2Bbird%2Bcage&dpPl=1&dpID=512Xw1m7F7L&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

Is this cage too small/bad choice?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VVP0KU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

Nope, it's this cage https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07P94NY95/ref=ox_sc_act_image_9?smid=A3AN9QJNQ0FYAY&psc=1

When you say "squeaky hammer," I'm immediately reminded of the Lesson of the Guinea Pig Thumbs, an allegorical tale from the long forgotten Sissimee Indian tribe in the Texas lowlands. The Sissimee, of course, occupied only a brief moment in history, as their incredibly lame traditions and dolorous nature made them easy targets for the more fierce Comanche and Apache tribes. Even the Kickapoo kicked the shit out of the Sissimee, no pun intended.

The Lesson of the Guinea Pig Thumb was a great example. Soon after the world (i.e., Texas) was created, on an evening of the full moon Guinea Pig spoke to the Night Sky: "Oh, great Night Sky, If only you would grant me my heart's desire, a hammer, I could break these rocks into [odor-absorbing pellets] (http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Granule-Blend-Bedding-2-Liter/dp/B000JLPIWU/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1395929282&sr=8-13&keywords=guinea+pig+bedding) which would make my nocturnal emissions so much less noticeable. Hence, I would be more welcome among the other creatures of the world, and perhaps could aspire to King of the Beasts. Please, O Night Sky, grant me a hammer!"

Of course, since Guinea Pig was, after all, a guinea pig, what really came out was, "Squeak squeak squeak squeak hammer squeak squeak hammer." But of course, the Sissimee gods understood any language of the natural world, guinea piggish included. Some even spoke the more ancient language of guinea pig Latin.

Unfortunately for Guinea Pig, his plea was heard not by Night Sky, but by the trickster god, Hahashithead. The trickster god knew quite well that often the worst thing you can do to a person is give him or her exactly what he or she asked for. Hence, Hahashithead descended to the marshy bottomland, appeared before Guinea Pig, and said, "Here's your hammer, sucker."

Hahashithead vanished again even as Guinea Pig squeaked his thanks. Guinea Pig turned eagerly to his rocks, only to find that he couldn't lift the hammer, because guinea pigs lack opposable thumbs.

And that's why on the night of the full moon each month in Texas, of one listens (extremely carefully) one can hear Guinea Pig howling squeaking his eternal rage.

I swear to puppies I'm going to throw a psychotic fit!

It's going, don't worry. It's being replaced with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EH6ELKW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I agree with you - I recognize the bedding though, it's Kaytee soft granule bedding. I've used the stuff, and it works very well!

So, this could be a good time to start potty training him if that interests you. I say that because you ideally want to mix up what happens when you return him to the cage. It sounds like he's learned that going back to the cage means he's probably going to be closed up in there and he doesn't like it so he bites when he realizes you guys are heading there. I suggest potty training (and I use the term very loosely) because I return my bird to the cage to let him poop pretty often and I pick him right back up after he does his business. So you get the double benefit. Getting him used to going to and from the cage often without being locked away and being rewarded for pooping in his cage and not on you or your things.

Ways you can mix things up. Walking my bird back the cage doesn't mean he's going to get locked up, it could mean a couple of things. One, we are going to work on him stepping up for me, in which case he'll get some treats (showing him the treat jar before we start does a lot to get him motivated to train), two that it's time to potty and I'll pick him right up again after he poops, or three it's time to hang out in the cage and entertain himself for a few hours. So I think what you are just going to have to do if the target training doesn't work to target him back into his cage is just work on rewarding him around the cage and hanging our near it when you aren't going to put him away for awhile. It's going to be annoying initially. I think you can make it work through because I was able to do the opposite with my bird when I needed to get him out.

Can he fly? That was another thing I did to get my bird to return to his cage. I'd tell him "Go to your cage" and give him a little boost towards his cage. He'd naturally launch from the momentum of my moving my arm gently towards the cage and fly back. Then I'd call him back to me and reward him, launch towards cage again. Benefits from this are, he returns to his cage, he sometime poops when he gets back, it gives him some exercise and we practice recall flight training.

Last thing I can suggest picking up is this. If he still is stubborn, you can set him on this perch away from the cage. Pick up the perch, and use it to transport him back to his cage. Make sure you reward him a bunch when you return to his cage and he goes back in.

Naya is mostly potty trained. I have a designated "poop perch" that I have trained her to use as a permanent and portable potty. When she needs to go, she gets antsy and flutters her wings in an effort to fly to the perch. I take her over to it, instruct her to "go potty" and she goes. I can take it wherever I go inside my place and she knows its her place to go.

A couple other things to consider:

Ever heard of the canary in the coal mine? Birds are INSANELY sensitive to toxic fumes. One of our cockatiels died because it was near an open window (2nd floor) and one of our apartment neighbors decided to smoke a cigarette on the ground floor below. We also lost a Sun Conure to Teflon poisoning (the non-stick coating on much of today's cookware - if it gets too hot, it will gas off, and that stuff is like insta-death for birds). So, if you or anyone you live with is a smoker, don't get a bird. If one of your neighbors is a smoker, be very conscious of where they like to take their smoke breaks, and mind your windows. Get rid of all you Teflon pots and pans (go for ceramic instead, just don't use metal utensils with it or you'll ruin it). Be careful with paints, cleaners, aerosols, etc. Seriously, don't fuck around with fumes.

Prep your house for your bird; not your bird for your house. I'm talking about wing-clipping. Don't do it. 100% of a bird's body is optimized for flight. Take that away from them and they'll start getting health issues from top to bottom due to inactivity; it'll also kill their mental health. We clipped our Sun Conure's wings due to some behavioral issues with it, and regretted it immediately. Seeing a depressed Sun Conure is fucking heartbreaking... and that was shortly before the Teflon thing, so it never got the chance to grow them back to fly again. That was over 10 years ago and I still feel guilty about it.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT PARROTS ARE A PREY ANIMAL! The biggest mistake I see in new bird owners is to treat it like a cat or dog - both of which are predators and respond well to dominance (i.e., they need to know who's the leader of the pack). If you try to show a bird "who's boss" all you'll do is teach it to bite and fear you. You are part of it's flock - you have to gain it's trust, not 'win' its loyalty. Respond to good behavior by giving it positive attention/treats; respond to bad behavior by ignoring it - NOT punishing it (don't ever flick its beak, blow on it, etc). At worst, you can give it "time outs" if it's displaying really bad behavior, but don't use it's main cage for that (or it will start to despise it's cage / misbehave intentionally when it wants to go home) but a small travel cage with nothing but food and water; and don't leave it there for too long (after 10 mins or so, it won't even remember why it's in there anyway).

And finally: parrots can be potty trained!! Get something like this and give it a treat every time is shits while perched on it; don't give it a treat when it shits anywhere else. Eventually it will catch on and actually fly to it when it needs to drop a load; and cleaning shit off the smooth plastic surface is a lot easier than off your clothes/furniture/walls/ceiling (yes ceiling... one of our parakeets managed that, judging by the size of the turd... no idea how the little bastard managed to pull that off). I never did have luck potty training any of our parakeets; but 'tiels can learn it if you stick to it long enough (talking months here). Both of my conures picked it up within a few weeks. Best trick you'll ever teach your bird!! ...I've met folks who have owned parrots for like 30 years, and never thought to try potty training them - just not something some people consider with birds, but now you know, so don't neglect it!

> I appreciate your time and answers!

/salute!

Pardon the wall of text (holy shit, I got carried away with that!!). Lots to consider though!

you do have a very good point i have not thought of, i could leave the pet at home because there will be my two parents, two younger brothers, and my older sister to take care of the animals. also when i do go to college i plan to work also. thanks for responding. you are now making me think more of which i should buy then before

EDIT: also i just called a place near me with beardies and i might be leaning towards a beardie because they are cheaper. also after that i might just get something like a cape parrot or budgie. i have seen some channels on youtube that do use cages like these : https://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products-Cockatoo-Birdcages/dp/B002SMC25E/ref=sr_1_13?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1494018256&sr=1-13&keywords=bird+cage for smaller birds and might just get one of those after i get a beardie.

I use the same thing and just hang normal toys. I actually have the same cage as you, and I have one one the left side about 1/3 from the bottom and then I have another about halfway up on the opposite side that I place a bunch of foraging stuff on periodically. Haven't had any trouble with weight.

https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Pet-Products-X-Large-Hammertone/dp/B00KYQUJME/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=macaw+cage&qid=1558040164&s=gateway&sprefix=macaw+cage&sr=8-17

Thanks for the response!

The budgies I bought were 1 month ago and two weeks ago.

Do you have any suggestions for cages? I have this one: https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-Triple-Cockatiel-White/dp/B005S6V4QK?ref_=ast_bbp_dp

Do I need a bigger one?

Woah yeah way too strong. Bleach is a no no. Use this stuff . Their little lungs are super sensitive. You have to be real careful with strongly scented things.

It was similar to this:

Prevue Hendryx Travel Bird Cage 1305 White, 20-Inch by 12-1/2-Inch by 15-1/2-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VVP0KU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BB.HDbT37Z5B9

He didnt like it much, so how he has a soft-side travel cage.

So a vision large cage (I think it's an L12) would be the most appropriate of those size-wise for your Sun. But it really offers more vertical space than horizontal space for your parrot and folks normally recommend the opposite, to have more horizontal than vertical space.

I had an L12 I used for my GCCs when we're visiting relatives. I don't really like the design (having to life the entire cage off to clean the bottom - give me a pull out tray anyway) and my elderly, blind, and disabled GCC could break out of it through the bottom food areas. She figured out if she hit them long enough it'd knock the dial and she could get out. My parents were watching them while I was out of the country and had to jury rig some ties around the cage so they couldn't get out. My GCCs are shrimps compared to Sun Conures, so if they could break out, chances are your guy could too. I was also always kind of wary of adding the snap on taller section onto the cage, as it didn't seem very solid to me.

I wound up replacing that cage with this and it's much easier to clean because of the pull out tray. It's a home-away-from-home cage so it's good that it's easy to disassemble and reassemble. I also like that its sides are solid pieces, rather than the vision ones you have to snap together.

I did a search for 'flight cages' on Amazon and there were a couple that were around the $70 range that you had listed for one of those vision cages. They tend to be larger and more sturdy, you might look into those and see if any are in your budget.

I like this stuff

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SK7HOYA/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_track_package_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is a great one for two budgies/parakeets and is affordable IMHO.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005S6V4QK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JcMNDbM24ADCA

I picked up a few new toys and then another water dish. I recently broke his dish plastic dish and it’s a perfect time to grab another metal one. So far he’s been bouncing all over his cage with excitement :)

Booda Byrdy Bush

Rope Perch

Shaggy Kabob

... Don't get another parrot. I'm gonna say this in the nicest way possible, but there are so many things wrong with what you want.

​

"I want the parrot to be around the same size as an Indian ring neck that's 100-300 dollars and can live in a medium sized cage that isn't high maintenance and quiet"

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A parrot about the size of a ring neck likely isn't going to be less then $500, especially if you're getting one that's hand tamed.

​

Budgies? Aren't that loud. Anything bigger? Screeches. They throw fits like children. They're also not going to be low maintenance because larger birds tend to live for about 40-60 years (Conures and ringneck sized birds) and they're super messy.

​

A medium sized cage isn't big enough especially if they're aggressive and can't be held. They need at least a large cage like this one; an ideal cage for a larger bird