Housing & Set-Up

A good parrot cage should be large, safe, sturdy, easy to clean, and enrichment-friendly. Before buying, ask:

✔️ Will my bird be able to fully stretch and move?
✔️ Is the metal safe and rust-free?
✔️ Are bars correctly spaced?
✔️ Can I clean it easily?
✔️ Can I fit good perches and toys?
✔️ Is it sturdy and secure?

The following images are good examples of suitable set-ups for the birds they're designed to contain:

Ultimately, you want:

• A cage that is rectangular in shape (wider than it is tall) and large enough that your parrot can fully extend its wings and move around comfortably, taking into account space that will be occupied by perches and toys

• Cage bars that are appropriately spaced (Small parrots: ~1–1.5 cm (½ inch), Medium parrots: ~1.5–2 cm (½–¾ inch), Large parrots: ~2–2.5 cm (¾–1 inch))

• A material like powder-coated steel or stainless steel (avoid anything rusting or galvanized/zinc-coated)

• Natural perches of varying widths and shapes, placed at varying heights, in order for your parrot to be able to exercise his or her feet

• The cage located in a social area but away from drafts, the kitchen, and with good natural light (but not direct sun)

The cage set-ups below leave serious room for improvement. Can you identify why these examples are inadequate?

A: Any combination of overcrowding, cage too small and/or shape not suitable, rusting cage bars, or no enrichment available