Pet Parakeet Care : Buying a Parakeet Bird Cage

4 Important Things to Know

When people speak of wanting a parrot as a pet, many times they are visualizing a parakeet. It is the term that is loosely applied to many small and medium long-tailed parrots including budgies and conures. So if you are thinking of bringing home one of these birds, you should first buy a parakeet bird cage. It is important that you have a home ready for your pet before you pick it up.

When looking for a parakeet bird cage there are a few things that you should know.

1. Size: Although parakeets are relatively smaller than many other birds they should not be housed in a cage smaller than 24"x16"x16". This is because your bird will need enough room to spread its wings fully. You should factor in the wingspan and room to spare in all directions.

A parakeet should never feel crunched for space from having its wings or tail brush against the sides when it tries to spread them. This will negatively impact their physical, and eventually, their mental well-being. So, as is the recommendation with any bird cage, you should pick up the largest parakeet cage you can afford.

Since parakeets do like to nest with each other, you can get a really big cage and keep two or three of them together. Many parakeet cages come with multiple feeder bowls and water bottles to accommodate such an arrangement. But you should avoid housing a parakeet with other kinds of parrots as this can lead to behavioral problems.

2. Shape: Whatever size cage you are able to afford, it is key to note that parakeets benefit more from a wide rather than a tall cage as the birds tend to fly back and forth. Height almost tends to get wasted in regards to flight but it may come in handy if you have perches at varied levels to encourage climbing.

In terms of the recommended shape of the cage, a rectangular one with one side of the parakeet cage against the wall will probably make the bird feel most secure. Repeatedly, we hear parrot experts say that a round cage is not the best idea.

3. Bars: Given the small size of the parakeet, the cage you choose should have bar spaced no more than ½ an inch apart. A wider spacing may tempt the bird to push its head through and this can be dangerous as it can get stuck in that position. Speaking of bar spacing, experts recommend that two cage walls with horizontal bars may be ideal for parakeets as they love to climb.

4. Type of Material: The next question is what material is ideal for a parakeet cage. Stainless steel tops the list of recommendations and wrought iron and cold rolled steel are also candidates.

Stainless steel is easy to maintain and rust resistant and this is the reason it the material of choice. Avoid cages made of brass, lead, galvanized steel or zinc as these can be toxic for the parakeets.

Parakeets like to chew and explore and they may ingest poisonous tarnish or rust that can cause serious harm. This is the also the reason to keep a constant eye out for chipped paint or dislodged metal. Look for a cage that is made with naturally treated materials rather than ones that use too many chemical elements.

With this list in hand, you will have no trouble locating the perfect parakeet bird cage.