Opinions needed on bird cage please! (For single parakeet) Link provided for picture.?

Question

There's a birdcage I want that seems like it has a great design. It has a build in shield with a deep base and it looks like it really helps with the mess. But I called up a pet shop and the guy said they used to carry them, but don't anymore because it's not too functional and he didn't like that there is plastic used in it's design. I'm not sure what to do because I think it looks good. Is it bad to have plastic in the design? Please look at this cage and tell me what you think. It's for a single parakeet.

Here are 2 links:

http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/birds/bird_cages_and_accessories/parakeet_cages/42442

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441816397&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302035924&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023691&bmUID=1172615564696&itemNo=1&In=Bird&N=2047584+4294961643&Ne=2

As far as functionality, I think he said that the cage dorr didn't always open well or stay closed, and that it can be awkward to reach the food dishes. It says there's no tray, that the top just detaches from the bottom part. That doesn't sound bad to me though. From anyone with experience with cages (I'm a first time buyer), are detachable bases a bad idea?

Answer 1

The cage is fine. Its not bad to have plastic. The main thing is the plastic would be cumbersome and hard to clean. It would keep the birdseeds inside the base, but you could use a simple cloth-mesh bird guard that is laundry safe. The cage would not be suitable to hang from a hook but would have to be on a table or shelf. It is not lightweight. The plastic guard would become dingy and cloudy after a while and you would have to be carefull cleaning it because household cleaners can be toxic to your bird.. There is nothing technically wrong with it, if it fits your expectation. I prefer a light weight cage that hangs from a ceiling hook with a cloth mesh birdseed guard. The birds are protected and like being up high.

Answer 2

I have three very happy keets in a cage that's really, technically, only a single keet size. But my laundry room is like a small aviary, big windows, a veritable lattice of sticks and limbs for perches, small baskets from the thrift store to chew up, hanging toys, etc. and they have the run of the room on warm days.

I definitely like a lighter cage that hangs. I have several high-up hooks where I hang them depending on where the sunniest places are. They do love to be up high and talk to the outside wild birds. I do think a sliding tray is a must--I clean mine daily and use old telephone book pages as liners. A plastic cage is fine! And lightweight is good if you move them around and I hope you do. Keets love variety and different things to look at. They love to have their mirrors, perches and twisty rope perches rearranged, The lady that mentioned drafts is right-- I've found that an old flannel shirt fits around my cage perfectly! I button it up and flop the arms over the top or tie them in the front. On really cold nights I put 2 shirts on!
Be sure and provide a little plastic bathtub-- about a half inch of tepid water and they love to bathe and splash. If you have a covered porch, consider hanging them outside in the summer-- mine LOVE the fresh air and immediate vicinity bird noises! (Just be sure you've secured their door well, make sure it's not too hot or cold, etc) Above all, I say, let them out to fly around and keep that muscle tone. The clean-up is minimal (I keep a dustbuster at hand) and the cage IS their safety place. The cage is home, they'll go back in on their own, or you train them with a dowel in about thirty minutes and guide them in. Watch that ceiling fans are off! People told me, only let them out of their cages at night--during the daylight they'll fly into a window and kill themselves! Well, over time I let them out in the daylight and none has ever flown into a window in 5 years.
Finally, people disagree on this, but I think 2 or 3 keets is the most fun for THEM. I have 2 females and 1 male. They feed each other, sleep leaning against each other, etc. Many people want ONE bird so that it focuses on THEM. It's a matter of choice-- I like to watch the interaction among my three parakeets.
My feeling, you don't need a really fancy cage-- the one you show looks okay, but I DO like a pull out tray. Dr. Foster's Bird catalog has several good options. Here's a link to the simpler versions that will work just fine:

www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14417&N=2003+113268

Good luck! Vary their surroundings, keep the cage and feeding cups clean, and buy a quality food. And give them a variety of perches (thicknesses, textures) so they don't get sore feet.
You'll do great and find yourself watching "Budgie TV" in no time!

Answer 3

L x W x H: 45.7 x 35.6 x 50.8 cm. Is the size of the cage, which seems fine. PLastic is fine as well, a lot of bird toys are plastic.


10X12X12 is suitable for one parakeet. A 14" square or larger is suitable for two. The bigger the better. Rember to never put a bird cage where it is in a draft. A draft may cause your bird to become ill. It is also not a good idea to put their cage in the kitchen. May things in the kitchen could also make y bird sick

Answer 4

looks pretty nice. I would replace some of the perches though. And if your local PetSmart has it in stock, they do match prices, so print out what you have found online, and you could get a deal.
*One of the keys to keeping a cage cleaner, is the grate at the bottom of the cage. This makes the seed that is not consumed drop to the bottom of the floor and the bird can't make as big of a mess.
Good luck.

Answer 5

It looks like a nice cage, but the only thing with plastic is its hard to really get clean. Also if the parakeet does chew it it may leave jagged pieces of plastic. Other than that it looks ok! Hope this helps.

Answer 6

For a parakeet I would say this is a pretty good cage. The only thing to double check is that the bars are tight enough together that he cannot fit his head through anywhere. As long as the bars are tight, it looks good. Plastic is not a huge problem with parakeet, they chew, but they're not powerful chewers like conures or parrots would be.

Answer 7

Plastic can be fine however i find one big problem. Us birds dont walk on plastic all that well its like ice to us and bad for our legs. And those perches are plastic. Cage is fine but replace the perches with wood ones and get some covers for the perches to help trim the nails.

Answer 8

nah i think that cage would be pretty hard to clean. it doesnt seem big enough for toys ect. the food containers look hard to get at.
the plastic would make the cage very hot in the summer.and as someone else said its flimsy.
im sure you could find a better one somewhere. maybe one that is larger than that .

cya


lady

Answer 9

the first one at zoo plus is the best i have two parakeets but if i had one i would get that on beacause of the meass protecter they are called seed shields so the feathers and seed shells don't get everywhere and go to your local pe shop and get some wooden perches those plastic one a REALLY hard to hold on to and they could fall off and hurt themselves.

Answer 10

Don't buy it.

I looked at this cage myself, I liked how it looked. The plastic is VERY flimsy and would break easily. The size is okay, just remember that you need room for perches and toys too.