When caring for a pet bird, it’s essential that you take a personal interest in all aspects of your bird’s environment. Having a pet bird is quite a large responsibility, since there are many specialized bird care procedures that are needed in order to ensure that your bird remains in good health. However, one of the most important decisions that you will have to make is the type of cage you choose for your pet bird. Proper pet care involves paying attention to the factors that affect your bird’s overall quality of life, including their type of living space. Here is some general information about pet bird cages, which will help you to choose the best cage for your bird.
MATERIAL
Even though a cage may be marketed as being “safe” for pet birds, this does not necessarily mean that it does not pose a hazard to your bird’s health. There are many substances found in bird cage materials that can harm your bird, sometimes even resulting in serious health problems. The three main metals to avoid in bird cages are: Zinc, Copper and Brass. These metals can cause heavy metal poisoning in many pet birds, even if the bird does not directly ingest the metal. Another key point to keep in mind is that many anti-rust treatments used on some metal cages can harm your bird’s health. It’s always best to wash a cage thoroughly with a gentle fragrance-free soap before placing your bird inside the cage.
SIZE
Depending on your type of bird, you will have to choose the size of your bird’s cage accordingly. Many people opt for smaller cages for their birds, due to the additional expense of purchasing a larger cage. However, this can actually be a poor decision, as many birds can develop behavioral or physical problems if kept in an undersized cage. Most birds are in their cage for a substantial part of their day, and need to have ample room to exercise. As a general rule, the width of your bird’s cage should be approximately the length of three of your bird’s wingspans. This will allow your bird enough room to move around comfortably, while still allowing them to feel “safe” inside their cage.
CLEANING
Many pet bird cages are now equipped with features that make them much easier to clean. Since keeping your bird’s cage clean is extremely important, it’s best to look for this feature on the cage you are purchasing for your bird. Some cages have removable bottoms, which can be detached from the wire portion of the cage. Other cages have a tray that slides into the bottom of the cage, which can be removed without disrupting the rest of the interior of the cage. However, even though cleaning the bottom of the cage is the most important, it’s essential that you don’t’ neglect to clean the other portions of the cage as well. Wipe down the wire portion of the cage with a damp cloth on a regular basis, in order to keep it free from debris.