Acrylic cages? Thoughts?

[Grey_Moon]

Hey all,

As you know I'm still cage shopping for the fids. And I came across acrylic bird cages. I had resigned myself to the aluminium kings cages but I'm intensely curious now.

The company I'm looking at http://www.acrylicbirdcages.com (as a starting point), will include filters/fans and will add in climbing bars so that cancels out the ventilation and movement issues that people commonly have.

I'm considering this cages because:

1. easy to clean (and considering my tiel's giardia issues and the dust from both---this will be *great*)
2. indestructible (acrylic doesn't rust or bend---and unlike buying a wire cage i dont have to worry about bent bars etc)
3. Economical (it looks expensive but its slightly less than the kings cage with more bang for my buck---i get perches etc)
4. Safety (because the cage is solid I feel safer---no toes getting bitten and if my tiel/grey lands on the other's cage I dont have to panic)
5. Noise (I'm a little embarassed about this one...but while I'm working on my tiel---this will help keep the neighbours from complaining seeing as I'd imagine it soundproofing a little)

I might go the ebay route to save a little---but overall what do you guys think of these cages?

I might be already sold lol.

[patdbunny]

I used to have an acrylic cage years ago. They get scratched up and look foggy pretty quickly.

[pirategene]

If used just for display, shows, etc. when you don't want anyone messing with the birds, they serve a purpose. Otherwise as the other post said, they will scratch and mar quickly, cannot be cleaned with any ammonia based cleaners. Most cloths, rags, or paper towels are abrasive enough to mar the finish of the plastic and makes them "foggy". Just cleaning away the poop will scratch the surface. I think you will regret having these cages
If noise is the issue, there are ways to "sound-proof" a room.
pirategene and tambo

[Grey_Moon]

That'd be great too....but how does one soundproof in a portable-ish manner (I'm moving in a few months) and without breaking the bank?

[lotus15]

I hate acrylic cages They are made for human convenience, not parrot needs. Parrots can't climb, they overheat, they scratch easily, a parrot might fly into the walls, etc.

[airicks1]

birds don't scratch acrylic; peple do. acrylic won't yellow if you use the correct clearner: water! www.acrylicbirdcages.com includes perches and climbing bars with their cages. birds can climb. your mess is contained. and airflow is great because of the wire top.

[captwest]

We swap cages around alot and the amazons don't seem to mind, however they all hate the acrylic cages and i don;t like them either, i'll never buy another.

[patdbunny]

birds don't scratch acrylic;

Apparently no one told my bird this. She'd rub her beak back and forth along the sides constantly, like an inmate dragging a cup back and forth across jail bars. She'd also scratch with her feet like she wanted to climb up the acrylic walls. So basically all along the bottom of the cage from beak high was scratched up by the bird.