HOUSING - SMALL BIRDS
(Finches, Canaries, Budgies, Cockatiels and Lovebirds)
General information
A bird is entirely reliant on you for everything in its life. Its happiness
and good health are provided by you, the caring pet bird owner. It is important
to continually strive to better your bird's life and help ensure the maintenance
of a long lasting, healthy relationship between you and your pet.
How big should my bird's cage be?
As a general rule, bigger is better. In the wild, a bird would spend much of
the day flying from tree to tree in search of food and at play. In captivity,
we must allow for some sort of exercise, self expression and entertainment.
The cage must be large enough for the bird to move easily from perch to perch
and be able to flap the wings without striking anything. There are numerous
designs to suit all tastes. Generally a rectangular metal cage, preferably longer
than it is tall, is the best. Tall, narrow cages prove to be rather impractical
as most birds do NOT fly straight up and down. Round cages create a situation
in which every perch across its width is in some way directly over the perch
below it. This leads to constant soiling with feces of all lower perches.
Wood, wicker or bamboo cages may be attractive or decorative but are impossible
to clean and disinfect effectively due to their porous nature. These cages may
be easily chewed apart by some birds.
An all metal cage is the most practical to maintain. The bars on the cage must
be close enough together to prevent the bird from getting its head through the
bars.
What sort of perches should I have?
A bird spends all of its time standing on a perch so careful consideration
must be given to this aspect of your pet's environment. Tree branches or wood
naturally make the best perches. Providing nontoxic, washed, fresh branches
such as apple, elm, ash, maple or willow will be both functional and attractive
in the cage. Natural branches should be selected so that a variety of diameters
are available to perch on. This affords various textures, choice of grip and
good exercise for the feet. Wood perches seem to help wear the nails down better
than other materials. Branches provide an entertainment value for those birds
who like to chew. Wood is more difficult to disinfect due to its porous nature
but can be washed and replaced often.
Sandpaper perch covers do little to wear the nails down and can lead to serious
foot irritation, sores or deep infections. No tree in the wild has sandpaper
covered branches.
Plastic perches are easy to clean and disinfect but may prove slippery
for gripping and seem to only be available in one size.
Natural hemp or cotton rope seems to provide a variety of textures but must
be monitored carefully so the fine fibers do not become entangled around
the bird's toes. This is a much more serious problem with synthetic fiber
rope and nesting materials which should never be used. |
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Concrete perches provide an excellent texture for wearing the beak and the
nails. Care must be taken that this is not the only perch in the cage.
What sort of food and water dishes should I provide?
Dishes are best made from sturdy nontoxic materials that are easy to clean
and disinfect every day. They should not be on the bottom of the cage since
this is the bird's "toilet". Position the dishes so that they are
easily accessible and will not accidentally be soiled with feces The dishes
should not be too deep or food will be wasted.
What about toys for my bird?
Being cooped up in a cage all day can be a very boring, frustrating experience.
Whether you are home with the bird or not, a pet must have some form of entertainment.
They love to play and explore. Toys may include ladders, rope, swings, mirrors,
bells, hanging toys, pieces of wood to chew on or rawhide chew toys.
Although most companies strive to provide safe toys, there are no quality controls
or regulations. Great care must be taken to ensure the toys you purchase are
free of potential dangers. Be mindful of snaps, clasps, bell clappers, open
chain links, removable parts, easily broken parts, glass or extraneous loose
fibers that may be chewed, swallowed or that the bird could become entangled
in. Rubber toys that are easily chewed apart can be very dangerous and must
be avoided.
Mirrors for small birds must have a covered back or frame so that the bird
will not be exposed to the potentially toxic reflective backing. Polished stainless
steel mirrors may be more appropriate especially for larger birds.
Some birds like to hide in boxes or paper bags. Experiment with toys and find
out what your bird enjoys the most. You may wish to have an assortment of toys
that can be rotated on a daily basis to keep the bird from getting bored. Some
birds may appear frightened of new items in their environment. These toys should
be introduced slowly to allow the bird to become accustomed to their presence.
Should I clean the toys?
Occasionally toys get dusty or soiled. Some birds develop such an affection
towards a toy that they may even regurgitate on the toy in a display of courtship
or sexual offering. All toys should be periodically washed and disinfected.
Remember to rinse them well with fresh water.
The following is a general guideline for minimum suggested cage sizes.
Finch, Canary, Budgie
1 ft x 1 ft x 2 ft (30 cm x 30 cm x 60 cm)
Cockatiel, Lovebird
2 ft x 2 ft x 3 ft (60 cm x 60 cm x 90 cm)
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