Housing for your new friend

These are just a few tips that we have learned through the years.  Hopefully you will keep these things in mind when you get your new family member.


Cage Living

Provide your new bird with the largest cage that you can. I know in these times that many people do not have a lot of space or money, but your bird needs the largest cage that you can afford. They need to be able to at least stretch their wings out and flap them without hitting anything in the cage.  The larger the cage the more choices you can provide in the way of perches and toys.  They should also be able to make short flights.  Horizontal bars on the sides of the cage are very important for birds that like to climb, such as Parakeets, Cockatiels, Conures and many of the playful parrots. Bar spacing needs to be small enough that the birds cannot get it's head through them.  Metal bars are great for those that like to chew.  It is really nice if the cage is easy to clean.  Most cages now are made with slide out trays and easily removable bottom grates.  The cage should be placed in a draft free area that is well lit, but not in direct sunlight.  To make your new friend feel more comfortable, place their cage against a wall, corners are perfect.  This makes them feel more secure from possible predators.  Round cages do not give this kind of secure feeling, because there is no corner to hide in.

Aviary Living

Aviaries are beneficial in providing large areas for birds, often with the intent of breeding.  They can be either indoors or outdoors.  Some birds are noisy and can be a nuisance to close neighbors.  So, if your birds are loud, you may want to keep them in an indoor aviary or in a remote area.
Indoor Aviaries give you the ability to control temperature, lighting, noise and humidity.  An indoor aviary is often a room in a home devoted to birds.  The windows are covered with wire and the door often has a wired porch with two doors to pass through.  These are to keep your birds from flying out.  Some indoor aviaries are simply a bird room with extra large cages.  Doing it this way, the doors and windows don't need to be screened in.
Outdoor Aviaries can provide your birds with a natural environment and are designed in a wide variety of styles.  Because the birds are exposed to the weather, they must have indoor sheltering, possibly heated or cooled, if conditions get extreme.  Outdoor aviaries always need a shaded area and wind breaks.  Trees or large branches can fit in nicely to create a comfortable home, but must be made of non-toxic woods. (I will get into that in a separate blog post.) 


Accessories
Bowls, Perches & Toys

Bowls are needed for food and treats, water, grit and crushed shells.  Small birds, such as parakeets and finch, can use plastic bowls.  Ceramic or stainless steel are generally needed for medium or large parrots.  These bigger birds will often chew up plastic bowls, or even pick them up and dump or toss the bowl and contents.  Built in bowl holders are often a part of the cage and may be designed to keep the bird from removing the bowl.  Other bowls are attached by hooks, bowls or clips, and may mount inside or outside the cage, depending on the design. 
Perches not only provide standing places for birds, but also give them and opportunity to exercise their beaks and keep them trim.  Perch size and shape can vary depending on the species of bird, but should fit their feet.  A 1" perch is comfortable for most medium parrots and 1/2" perch suits smaller birds.  Round and oval perches are often used.  We do not recommend the plastic perches, they are simply not good for the birds feet.  Variety in both size and shape is important for exercise and can help delay or even stop the onset of arthritis. Natural branches are great for providing this variety.  Concrete perches make nice additional perches for parrots (do not use on finch & canaries) to help them keep both their nails and beak trim. (I will address more about perches in a separate posting.)
Toys for birds are designed in lots of combinations of woods, leathers, ropes, chains, bells and even acrylics.  Toys such as swings and ladders are designed for chewing and climbing, while stainless steel mirrors are good for viewing and comfort.  The wide range of non-toxic colors, fun textures, shapes and sizes, sounds (and even smells) that you'll find in bird toys will keep both you and your bird interested in checking out new ones.  This is a great way to combat boredom and provide exercise.  Birds are highly intelligent creatures.  As such, they need a varied environment to stimulate their mind.  Keep this in mind when creating or selecting toys for your bird.  Pick toys they will keep them occupied while you are occupied elsewhere.  They need to learn the art of play early on, and then have plenty to stimulate them as they grow.


I hope that at least some of this helps all of you bird lovers, whether you be new friends or old.  Check back later for more postings.

Have a Great Day!