Cage Question...

[beefenhauzer]

Ok, as I said in my introduction post, I had cockatiels in the past and just got a Maroon Bellied conure just over a week ago. I'm using the same cage i used before which is big enough. The problem i have found is that Kiwi keeps escaping from it. Really isnt a BIG problem, because he only breaks out first thing in the morning to come wake me up. To wake me up he grabs my eyelashes and pulls... lol

Originally i thought he was getting out through the space where the tray slides in and out, but I watched him squeeze through the bars this morning. The bar spacing is one inch. I never even considered the bar spacing when i got Kiwi because i never once had one of my other birds even try to squeeze through. The cage is perfect for him other wise.

Is there anything I can do to prevent him squeezing through the bars, or do I just need to bite the bullet and buy a new cage? Please give me your thoughts...

[Cage Cleaner]

New cage. This is pretty dangerous. If the bird were to decide to pull BACK at any point, he could get his head stuck and panic, and eventually break his neck or injure himself in some other way in doing so. Not to mention that if he does get out, he may land himself in some other household danger such as the toilet. It was too wide for your cockatiels, as well.

I suggest 3/4" max. I think that 3/4" is a good spacing for the pyrrhura conures because it's small enough to avoid his head squeezing through, while at the same time allowing you to give them treats/pets through the bars.

That's generally speaking. To be absolutely sure, you should take your bird and measure its head width. It needs to be narrower than the resulting measurement.

In the meantime, try to minimize household risks. Or let him sleep in a travel cage or something that will contain him while not under supervision.

[beefenhauzer]

UPDATE: After Kiwi became an escape artist i got a temporary cage that was too small for him, but was all i could afford at the time. It worked fine, but he wasnt too happy in there.

Well, today i was searching craigslist and found an amazing deal!



It was an hour drive each way to get it, but well worth the $40!

[beefenhauzer]

I think i am going to rename Kiwi to Harry Houdini.

He discovered that if he grabs the bars with his beak and pushes the plastic tray, he can slide it out enough to fin under. I'm in the garage now making a cabinet front to block it....

[rebeccaturpeinen]

hehe smart birdy you have there!! you could put that to great use with some complicated foraging toys

[Mum2rory]

Clever Kiwi. The things these little guys do to escape that we would not have thought about. HeeeHeee. PS My cinn gcc was getting out of his cage alos, bar spacing 1inch. I went out next day and got a new cage, we have 2 cats and 1 dog, birdys safety must come first.