Is the cage you're considering
made of materials that are safe for your bird?
Have you considered the
toxicity levels of minerals like Zinc and Lead in the cage you are
looking at? This is your #1 priority when shopping for a bird cage.
This is the very first question you have to ask! If you can't get
a straight answer, then it's time to move on, and this is why some
cages are priced so much lower than other cages. All powder-coating
on regular powder-coated cages have Zinc and/or Lead in them, but
companies like
A & E Cage Company,
Prevue Hendryx and
Avian
Adventures have
taken the time to discuss this issue with veterinarians
and other bird experts to determine a safe level for both of these
minerals and they demand that their cages are manufactured in a
manner that meets or beats these standards!
-
Is
the cage you're considering large enough to keep your
bird safe, happy, and healthy?
This
is a tricky issue to consider when shopping for a bird cage, but
here is the rule of thumb; the bigger the cage the better, as long
as the bar spacing isn't too wide. So what is too wide of a bar
spacing for your bird? Basically you don't want your bird to be
able to put it's head between the bars, because this can cause major
injuries or even death to your bird. But you also want to consider
that the bigger the cage the better because studies have shown that
the larger the cage, the happier and healthier the bird. We have
created a chart that shows you what bar spacing and cage size is
appropriate for your species of bird.
View
this chart by clicking here.
Please keep in mind that all bird's are different, even bird's of
the same species can be significantly
different sizes (for example, a small Conure might fall into the
Small Bird Category and a regular-sized Conure would fit into the
Medium Bird Category).
How
easy is the cage to clean?
People
tend to overlook this when shopping for a bird cage and this is
arguably the most important factor to consider beyond the toxicity
levels in powder-coated cages. Let me tell you why; when a cage is
easy to clean it not only cuts down on the amount of time you need
to spend on cleaning, it also increases the lifespan of your cage.
If your cage is a major pain to clean and it takes multiple hours
you will tend to put off cleaning it for longer spans of time and
this will drastically shrink the lifespan
of your cage (especially a powder-coated cage). Bird droppings can
actually become an erosive chemical to your cage and the longer that
sits on your cage, the more damage it can do. Even the best of
cages will only last 3 or 4 years if not properly cared for. And on
the other hand, a properly cared for, good quality powder-coated
cage can last over 10 years.
So what makes a cage easy to clean?
The biggest thing to look for is a cage that is sturdy, but can
still be broken down easily in a matter of 1 or 2 minutes without
the need for tools. All of the top quality cages, like
Avian
Adventures Cages, have this feature. Even if you don't plan to
break your cage all the way down, it's nice to be able to remove a
portion of the cage to clean it without having to get out a tool box and spend an afternoon getting that part off
and most likely
damaging or destroying your cage. The Avian Adventures Cages literally snap in
and out of place with no tools required!
Another great feature to look for is
drainage holes in areas where moisture tends to collect, like on the
bottom of each panel. This makes it so the moisture drains into the
tray rather than sitting on the panel itself and eroding
it.
You should also shop for cages that have optional-use grates. Here's why
this can be important; if the grate is optional use that
means the bird cannot escape when it's out. Here are two reasons
that you may want to remove the grate: 1) Some people think it's
a more natural living environment if their bird lives in a cage that
has a solid bottom and 2) Nothing gets dirty faster than the
bottom grate. If it can be removed and quickly cleaned without
creating a gap for your bird to sneak out of this is a very nice
feature.
Please
don't buy a cage to fit into a specific tight spot in your home!
When you get caught up with trying to squeeze a cage
into a specific spot in your home this tends to take away from the
well-being of your feathered friend! Birds are a lot
like humans, in that, they need space, they need sunlight, they need to be
able to look around. We recommend buying a cage with wheels so you
can move your bird from time to time and give them a change of
scenery (wheels are also a great feature
that could be put under the ease of cleaning topic above).
Does
your cage give your bird enough stimulation?
The two best
ways to give your bird stimulation are toy hooks and removable
playtops. Avian
Adventures was the first manufacturer to introduce the removable
playtop and the reason we are so fond of this is because it can be
pulled off the cage without any tools and placed in a spot away from
the cage. This is so great for your bird. This not only gives the
bird a change of scenery, it also encourages your bird to exercise
and it can give your bird a chance to get some sunlight if he is
regularly in a room without that.
What's
the quality-level of the materials used on the cage you are looking
at?
Avoid
hollow bars at all costs! Any decent sized bird can bend or even
chew through a hollow bird cage bar. If you are looking at quality
bird cages they will be constructed of steel (the powder-coated
cages should be steel underneath the powder-coating and the
stainless steel cages should be 100% stainless steel, not plated).
There's no such thing as a flawlessly manufactured bird cage, but
there are huge differences in quality levels. Companies like
Avian
Adventures,
Prevue Hendryx and
A & E Cage Company include long-term warranties
against manufacturer defects. And since there's no such thing as a
flawlessly manufactured cage, you should buy from a company that
will back up their product. Don't buy a no-name cage that will come
with no manual, no support phone number, and no warranty.
Functional
Features and even more attention to detail!
First time bird cage buyers
usually aren't the type of people that take features and
functionality into account like they should. They've never owned a
cage so they don't know what to look for and what to watch out for.
Bird cages are the type of item that “you never buy cheap
twice”. If you buy cheap once, the second time you'll be sure
to shop for cages that have features that save you from the
nightmares you experienced with your first cage!
Here's a feature
that's commonly overlooked:
bird-proof
locks. You need a
cage that your bird can't open. Just imagine what could happen to
your bird (or your home) if your bird escaped and roamed free the
entire time you were out! The bird-proof locks on
Avian Adventures'
cages are unlike any you've ever seen, they actually screw down
tight (a movement that birds can't imitate). Here's another
functional feature you'll fall in love with; stainless steel bowls
that are only accessible through external solid locking doors. If
your bird is a “biter” this is a must-have feature!
Once you get
your cage carefully inspect every centimeter
of the cage to assure that there are no sharp edges or
“traps” for your bird. The smallest imperfection in a
bird cage can be disastrous for your bird.
Bird's are the type of animal that will panic when they get stuck.
If your bird gets its foot caught in a small hole, or gap, it will
flail around until it is free and feels secure. Sometimes this is
at the cost of your bird breaking it's leg, it's wing, or something
far worse!
