Bar Spacing and Cage Dimensions

[zazanomore]

I'm not sure if this topic has been covered already, but I think it's a good idea to have a list of maximum bar spacing, and minimum cage dimensions.

I'm wondering this because for Christmas I'm buying new cages. Well at first I was thinking about just replacing Einsteins, and giving the budgies his cage (bar spacing is 1/2 inch). But it still isn't a cage that I would have them in permanently.

I've been told before that for a cockatiel's cage, the bird needs to be able to spread his wings fully twice for the cage to be suitable. Einstein's cage allows him to do this, but I think my baby deserves better. As for the budgies cage, they have : http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2753629

It's not really a great cage, flimsy bars, plastic bottom. But it has space for them to fly back and forth.

Which leads me to say that I've heard that budgies prefer long cages, rather than tall ones. And that cockatiels would rather have a tall cage than a long cage.

Anyways, I think I'm beginning to rant.

So what are the the cage dimensions for cockatiels and budgies? And what are the bar spacing maximums?

[pchela]

All parrots need long rather than tall cages.

Bar spacing for budgies should be no greater than 1/2 inch and 5/8 maximum for tiels. As far as cage size, bigger is always better as long as you can provide proper bar spacing. Minimum for budgies would be 18 x 18 and for tiels 20 x 20 but bigger, again, always better.

There was supposed to be a list put up here but I don't know what happened. I was going to do it originally but somebody else volunteered. Michael? Did that ever happen?

[lotus15]

I think the minimum size for ONE budgie should be 18" x 18" x 18" with 1/2" bar spacing. Most online forums with list quote that as the minimum size for one, and then for two it would be 30" wide x 18" deep x 18" tall, for three an increase in height, for four a flight cage, etc.

My single budgie, for example, has a cage that is 27" wide x 18" deep x 33" interior height and he uses every single inch of it, plus he gets a lot of out of cage time everyday.

[pchela]

lotus is right. Sorry, I was thinking of one budgie.

[zazanomore]

Thanks!

I was browsing online and I found this list:

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/cagesper ... esizes.htm

I think someone should use that as a base and build on it.

[Shani]

I was very lucky and happened upon a 30" x 20" x 50" cage with 1/2" bar spacing for Barney. Was only $10 more than a cage that was quite a bit smaller (25" x 20" x 30") that had 5/8" spacing. Don't ask me why - both were made from the same materials. The smaller one had a larger stand so overall the height of the two cages was the same (stand included) /shrug. I got doubly lucky with the price - I found an identical cage at another pet store for $380 (vs the $260 I paid ).

What you found Zazanomore is pretty accurate for minimums, but in my opinion - bigger is always better (I'd also not want to go above 1/2" for a tiel in bar spacing to be honest, just to be safe). I went with the largest cage I could afford that had 1/2" bar spacing.

I think someone should use that as a base and build on it.

I'd be willing to try, but I don't have nearly as much experience with birds as a lot of members in this forum. I'd be going off of theory, not personal experience.

[ldallas04]

I suppose I can ad my question on here... How large would a cage have to be to house TWO conures?

[zazanomore]

Are you planning on housing your two conures together?

[ldallas04]

Yes since they have shared space before as babies and growing up together. They get along very well. Both males.

[largeparrot]

It doesn't look like anyone has answered your question yet about housing 2 conures in the same cage. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 20"x24". The larger the better especially when you add all the toys and perches into the cage. It can get cramped pretty fast so with a small cage you have to be more careful with two birds in there.