How to determine proper cage bar size and gap

[gregt]

Could I get some tips on how to know what size bars and how far apart they can be? My biggest concern is the gap. I found a cage I really like but it looks like the gaps might be too wide for my bird. How can I tell without trial and error?

Thanks!

[Islandzoo]

I believe the rule is he shouldn't be able to fit his head through the bars.
I'm sure someone'll set me straight if not!

[gregt]

LOL Ok, so short of taking him to the store and trying to shove his head through, how can you tell that? ;)

[Islandzoo]

errrr.......!!
measure his head?

[Shirley]

I'm not familiar with conure heads, or Sun Conure heads... but 1/2" spacing works fine for cockatiels and Bourke's and their heads are small... much smaller than our Red-belly Michelle's head is, and she's sort of conure-sized.

What's the bar spacing size?

[gregt]

Shirley, it was more of a generic question. I didn't measure the bars but I'd guess more than 1/2"

[Islandzoo]

Sorry greg I wasn't being very helpful!

But many cages suggest what kind of birds they're for? although some are too small for my liking - Bob's cage is meant for a bigger bird, or for several tiels...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/kristiehaydon/Captured2002-11-2800007.jpg (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/kristiehaydon/Captured2002-11-2800007.jpg)

[SadennaAndFlock]

shirley is right no more than 1/2 inch spacing and you want thicker bars not tiel sized bars...if you can find a cage anything much bigger than 18x24 cage size with thick sturdy 1/2 inch bar spacing go for it sun conures are very active and will need lots of toys so lots of space is necessary..24X20 is also a good size but make sure the bar spacing is half inche or less but thick sturdy bars..sun conures can pop the bars on a cage with bars designed for a tiel or smaller bird. 1/2 is pretty easy to eye ball at least for me it is I have so many 1/2 bar spaced cages..just take a measureing tape with you to measure dimensions and bar spacing..done that several times.

[Islandzoo]

But as you see the bars are Ideal for small parrots - this would be ideal for a conure too :) It's a montana cage btw.

[Shirley]

For parrots, there's 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", and 1".

Also, for most parrots, any of these sizes works, and it's whatever aesthetically you like, plus some parrots have smaller feet and they climb a lot, so 1" may not be favored for the smaller foot parrot.

Also, some people may not choose the 1" spacing if they think the cage may be used for a smaller bird at some point.

Another point: Little fingers can go through any of those bar spacings, but it's harder for the big beaks to reach through the 1/2" and 5/8" spacing... even though most larger parrots will have a cate with 1" spacing, one with small children may opt for the smaller spacing IF they can find a large cage with smaller bar spacing. They can be found, they just aren't easy to find.

Bottom line: You don't want the head to fit through. Beak is ok, not not the head. It's not a shoulder fit, it's a head-bone fit. ;) The bars should stop the head at the point where the beak and head, or beak and nares meet.

~ Shirley

[Shirley]

Also, when you buy the cage... it's always nice to get as large as you can, but be sure to adjust the perches to fit the birds' feet. The perch diameter should not be so large that the birds' feet don't wrap around so that the toes are about 75% around.

Sadenna, what's the proper wording on that?

Toes not touching, but not too "flat" either.
The perches look quite large in Bob's cage to me... is that just me or are they OK?

Skyler has very small feet (RB2s have small feet) and we had to get slightly smaller perches for his large cage. Greys have larger feet, and BE2s (bare-eyeds) have large feet, so we didn't have to modify the perches in their cages.

[harleybaby]

Kristie Bob is a lucky little bird to have a cage like that:D

[Islandzoo]

Thank you, and he thinks it's his castle too!

[vmtwriter]

Okay, we're still looking at cages. Bailey (Sun Conure) needs some space, I know that. Now, I've found two cages I like.

One is rectangle (tall) and has a play space on top. It has pull out shelves for under the play area and under the cage, so they're easy to clean, plus the bottom rack pulls out for easy cleaning as well. The only thing is that there is no "cage" access to the play area. Bailey would have to come out the front door then be put up on the play area. It has a small "footprint" and would be easy to move around.
http://www.saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/cages/05-27-05_1730.jpg

http://www.saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/cages/05-27-05_1731.jpg

The second cage is rounder, and the top opens up so that he can climb right up and out of the cage onto a perch. No play area, just a perch on top. It has a bigger "footprint" so it's not as easy to fit in various rooms and move around like the other one.
http://www.saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/cages/05-27-05_1735.jpg
Now, here are my needs. I want to be mobile. I want Bailey's cage to move around the house and to fit into my office.

And, I want it to be easy to get Bailey in and out of. The second one would do that because he likes to climb out the top of his current cage.

What about these cages am I missing? What questions haven't I asked yet that I should and don't know? What should I be looking for in a cage?

[Shirley]

I personally like the first one with the flat playtop. He'll come out the door and climb up on the top. He won't have to be "put up on the top".
Also, you'll get rid of the tray and either just leave the bars, or put plexiglass there so the light shines through to the rest of the cage. I'll post pics in a few minutes.

The climb out the top idea is neat 'til you own one. It's not a "playground", it's a perch.

Unless you have hardwood floors, it's a royal pain to roll these cages around. Water goes sloshing everywhere, and the jerk and wiggle around.

I prefer a stationary cage and moveable play stands that I can just pick up and carry. We made one for $40 from manzanita branches and plywood base and adhesive shelf paper and zip ties and screws.

I'll put a pic up shortly.

Play-Doh, our Senegal, has that first cage you showed, I believe the very same cage. He loves it!

Pics coming.

Shirley

[Shirley]

I gotta ask... how much is that cage? You have a bird show in Tampa in June... you can get the HQ cage Play-Doh has for about $129 or so there.
That looks like it's not an HQ. In fact, the lock looks like the brass lock that Sue had the recall on. Is there a little animal on the latch? A rabbit? If so, it's been recalled for metal toxicity...

[vmtwriter]

I like the first one as well. Don't know about any animal on the lock. Will go back and look closer at it. :idea:

As for the bird show.. I guess we could wait. We've waited this long, right? Bailey's been with us 2 months now, and he really needs a bigger cage.:foot-tap:

Oh, the other thing is that we would still have to watch Bailey and not let him out of his cage unsupervised. Jack would be on him in nothin' flat.:eek: But, I like that the cage is tall, so that if Bailey was good and stayed up on his play area, he'd be well out of Jack's reach. :eek:

[Shirley]

OK... here are some pics. Now, Holly is not a playful bird when she wants to be with me or outside of her cage, so the small tree stand is hers for the most part, and built to fit through the doors easily.

[harleybaby]

I agree too. The top one is much better and I think Bailey would like it a lot more. Like Shirley said. they learn fast how to climb up to the top themselves. I'd wait to go to the bird show too, the prices are really low and great for the same cages, definitely worth it!!:)

[SadennaAndFlock]

the first one is nice, yes thats how it works with the playtops open the birds door and they can climb out on their own...as for the second cage not one of my faves one our tiel came in one same shape but smaller made for tiels..all he did was sit in the rounded part and poop onto the dresser where the cage sat..this is not designed for the birds needs, it is more designed for looks than anything else. play tops are nice gives a place for the bird to sit and play. Now all my birds are in dome top cages I prefer them over playtops, more room for toys and allows alot more light into the cage..This is the cage I have for both of my conures it is a california cage...just excuse the mess in the bottom have not gotten cages done yet today..hubby is busy putting new windows in and I am on cat duty to make sure none get outside...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sadenna/Misc2/merlinnewcage.jpg