How to purchase and set-up a great home for your bird

In general, you should obtain the biggest cage you can afford for your pet bird that has the correct bar spacing. Bar spacing averages 3/8 inch for smaller birds (parakeets, canaries) to 1" for large birds (macaws, cockatoos). Cages may be made of acrylic (plastic), painted metal, stainless steel, or wrought iron. If you are using a used cage, it should be cleaned thoroughly with copious amounts of hot water and bleach or chlorhexidine (Nolvasan®) or other bird-safe disinfectant. Allowing the cage to dry in the sun can also help eliminate any infectious organisms that may be present. Do NOT use a cage that has been repainted unless you are POSITIVE that the paint used is non-toxic to birds! 

A cage should AT LEAST be large enough to allow the bird to comfortably spread it's wings to all sides without hitting the sides of the cage, perches, or toys. In general, it is ideal to have a cage that allows room for several different types of perches, toys, areas for feeding, and still allows plenty of empty space for climbing, jumping, swinging and "flying". 

Plain newspaper or butcher block paper is the ideal cage bottom covering. Avoid corncob, woodchips, or other particulate bedding. These types of beddings can be dusty and harbor bacteria and fungi which can make your bird ill. Replace the cage paper daily, and note what your bird's droppings look like. A change in droppings could suggest illness. 

Cage Location

The location of the cage and/or perch in the home is important. Some birds thrive in areas of heavy traffic where they receive lots of attention and are part of the "goings on" in the household. Others seem to prefer more privacy and solitude. 

Cage Furniture

Birds are very intelligent and playful creatures, and living in a cage all the time can leave them prone to boredom and many behavior problems.  Keep your bird entertained and mentally and physically healthier by providing varied perches and toys. Perches can be made of real branches, rope, cement, latex, or milled wood (dowels). Avoid having perches of all the same diameter and material.  Varied diameters and materials help simulate your bird's environment in the wild and help prevent foot problems.  Keep in mind that birds may chew on or ingest bits of ANY kind of perch - keep a close eye on perches and remove any perches that the bird may be ingesting, or that have become frayed, splintered, or otherwise dangerous. When you give the cage a good cleaning, move all the perches around the cage to different locations.

Food dishes come in stainless steel, porcelain, and plastic. All are useful, if the porcelain is covered with toxin-free glaze (not lead-based glaze!). Stainless steel tends to harbor fewer bacteria. Always purchase an extra set of dishes so you can wash one while the other is in the cage. Hand wash dishes daily, or place them  in top shelf of dishwasher. Disinfect all dishes with bleach weekly. 

Toys

Toys can be purchased from bird supply stores, made at home, or even purchased from human toy stores! Common materials to make toys out of include plastic beads, vegetable tanned leather (ask specially for this kind of leather!), wooden beads or blocks, buttons, fabric, rope, and plastic chain. Human baby toys such as plastic keys are appropriate for medium-sized birds. Make sure that toys are sized appropriately for your bird. Keep in mind that birds will destroy toys -- this reason is why we provide toys.  If you bird tears them up, he is enjoying them. You just need to make sure he isn't ingesting the toys and remove them if they become dangerous. Buy or make multiple toys and rotate them around the cage, with some always tucked away somewhere the bird doesn't see them - an old toy brought out from a few weeks' "vacation" is a new toy in the bird's eyes! Avoid toys with lead or zinc fittings. If you are unsure about a toy, don't buy it. 

Click on the pictures for a bigger view!

	Properly furnished cage for a cockatiel, lovebird, parakeet or similarly sized bird. Note the varied perches and different toys. Note: this cage is a bit too cluttered!   Cage is approximately 18' x 18'
	Large wrought iron cage set up for a cockatiel (Can you find the bird in the cage?) Unlike the cage above, there is plenty of open space in this cage (but it is also 32' x 21 x 33'!) Note narrow (1/2 inch) bar spacing, multiple different perches (that's a real grapevine on top) and several colorful toys.
Picture to come	Here is a set-up for a large bird like a macaw or cockatoo...