Whether you have Finches or a Macaw they need the right cage for them to dwell in. Some birds will spend more time in cages than others & this needs to be kept in mind. Most of us rent or buy the biggest place we can afford & we should do the same for our birds. The location where we live is important to most of us & so is it for our pet birds. If you are a night owl the family room is where you have a TV on late into the night, may not be the best place for a bird’s cage. Most birds feel safer in a corner where 2 sides are surrounded by walls, so predators can’t sneak up on them from behind. If you can’t put a cage in a corner, consider covering part of the cage for added mental security for the bird.
Birds move horizontally more than vertically so a cage that is longer than wider is best for most birds. Cages with pointed peaks may be cute, but few birds use this space. Rectangle or square cages are much more practical for birds. Round or oval cages & most corner cages are again made for humans preferences(looks) but not what is best for the bird that will live in it. It can take some research to find a cage like this, as many are made tall & thin to fit better in our humans homes, but not the best cages for birds. I will make some suggestions as I describe cages for different types of birds.
Finches are active birds & most will spend their lives in cages, few enjoy or want to be handed. They really do best in a flight cage made for small birds. Finches are community birds and do not like being single birds, they like living in groups.. Bar spacing in cages for Finches should be approximately 1/4-1/2″ apart. You don’t want a bird’s head to fit through the bar spacing. This link shows a cage like the cage I had for the Finches I had: https://amzn.to/3X44Uzk
Canaries are not as active & don’t require as much space (a note: many Canaries will not sing if another bird is in the same room they are housed in). My canary is active but jumps/ hops more than he flies. He resides in a cage like this one: https://amzn.to/3QnsX8B
Parakeets are active birds & curious & many like toys & things to chew on so they need a cage that can accommodate things for them & give them room to fly or hop around. This cage is good for 1-2 Parakeets: https://amzn.to/3QnsX8B If you’re housing 4+ parakeets this would be a better option. https://amzn.to/42UheGe
Keep in mind if your housing several of the smaller birds together they should have several food and water dishes so they can’t guard food or water from other birds in the cage. Yes, there can be bullies in the bird world. Please don’t house different species together unless you have done your research as to what species can safely live together. There are different toys, food, & perch sizes for different species & some will fight.
Conures, Quakers, & Cockatiel size birds need room to move around, as I stated above if they are going to be out of the cage daily or at least 4 times a week they can dwell in a little smaller cage. I still recommend the biggest cage you can for the species you have. These birds like to spread their wings so no dimension should be less than 20″ to allow for full wing spread. Especially because Cockatiels can be delicate in that they are prone to night frights & can injure their wings if they are in too small of a space. A play top is a nice feature to have, especially built in. https://amzn.to/414bSFL
Lovebirds & Parrotlets are very active & need room to move around & to like little places for them to tuck away in(huts,boxes), so even though they are smaller birds a large cage is better for these adorable & busy birds. https://amzn.to/414bSFL
Amazons, African GreyParrots, Cockatoos & Macaws size birds need room to stretch & for toys & chew items. They are not extremely active in their cages, but Amazons can be prone to being overweight so need exercise . African Greys & Cockatoos can get bored & then they can self mutilate (feather pluck). Some Macaws will scream & be louder if bored. https://amzn.to/414CyWN https://amzn.to/4hIAhry https://amzn.to/3EEDY2K
Birds need toys that stimulate their minds, & beaks, good food, exercise, clean water, & love. Not all birds are tame & can safely come out of their cages to play. If that’s your bird then please give them the biggest cage that you can that has the proper bar spacing, so they are not at risk of injury by getting their head stuck between the bars. Make sure they have new toys frequently, many birds prefer the new toys to be kept at a distance at first before you put them in the cage(most of my birds do). Some birds are more skittish than others, know what is best for your particular bird, its better to error on caution with new items.
Echoing Great Pet Care 