using the open-tops on the open-top cages... yay or nay?

mango is getting a new cage tomorrow, we sold his current one today to get him a smaller one. we're moving and to accomodate everyone, we decided a standard 18"x18"x24" cage would be best for space, since he never used too much space as it was anyways in the big flight. the cage we are getting him has an open top....

for a small bird, what are your thoughts on this?


this is the cage he is getting, just no stand:

http://img2.wfrcdn.com/lf/49/hash/2...p-Small-Parrot-Floor-Bird-Cage-with-Stand.jpg


we had to sell his current cage for the price of the new one so we could get him the new one anyways. he's camping out in the travel cage for the night until i go out tomorrow morning for his new cage.

we're putting it next to munch's in the window of our new place, so this is a better solution for everyone.

but, would you use the open top or would you just zip-tie it shut?

would like pros and cons, and experiences if any before we make our own decision on the matter. i just want to weigh opinions here.

I am so happy you are getting the cage tomorrow!
None of my small guys are in a cage that the top opens, but Talli is and he just uses the door. No specific reason except it is easier to hang his stuff inside if we don't open the top.

in the meantime, here is his travel cage, can you see his adorable little face peeking out of his hut?

You take such wonderful photos. Mango has a darling face. I have two dome top cages that open but they are heavier, both have balconies that the birds love but we keep the tops locked all the time. I worked as a vet tech and saw several accident victims. I know what a cautious mom you are, but I thought I'd mention it. It shouldn't be a problem if you make absolutely sure the perch cannot be dislodged by the bird.

I'm not a fan of the open top. I guess I'm paranoid it will accidentally snap shut and injure my bird.

alright, so either find a way to fully secure it (can do with a screw-on rope perch) or dont use it at all


i think that's a fair compromise, if i do use it, using one of these perches (have a few extra, few bucks at walmart even)

http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/03/01/72/03/0003017203678_500X500.jpg


yes, no?

I have never seen the rope perches at our walmart here...I had no idea they carried those!

theyre not too bad, if you find them at the store, check the attachment pieces before you buy it. some of them are loose and dont secure well LOL you'll see me unscrewing all of them until i find the best one before i bring it home. theyre only $4 at my walmart here, almost $5.

Rosie has a open top cage, but I have it secured tightly shut. I don't even want her to know it can open XD I've heard about birds who only get their head through, then become trapped and strangled.

this cage has a latch for the open top. that will be something i think about

Kiwi has a similar (but larger) cage like that, and we have the top open whenever we're home and he's allowed to be out. It's one of the features that made us choose the cage in fact and we have never had a single problem with it. Once the branch is in place, it is sturdy and won't close on it's own. The latch is also really secure on ours (not sure about your cage) but Kiwi isn't the brightest bulb with locks, so he wouldn't be able to undo the latch by himself even if it was on the inside. However, you could simply lock the top at night/when your away with a small padlock, and the problem of the bird potentially unlatching it is solved. The one thing is if they chew the branch, you have to keep an eye on the ends or it could become too damaged to securely hold it anymore. We go through a branch about every 6 months, but thats playing it safe since he's not a big chewer. A bird that chews might need a replacement more often, and it is really important to keep your eye on it (just use common sense). That is the only "con", branch replacement. Otherwise, Kiwi seems to really enjoy the open cage design.

i wont be using the perch that it comes with--i despise dowel perches lol

but i will be replacing it with a rope perch.

i have some mini plastic chain link i can turn into a small clip for it. mango isnt a big chewer at all. he shreds some paper, but ignores anything too difficult for him lol hes kinda lazy

I'm not big on dowel perches either, but Kiwi doesn't really use the one that props the top of his cage open. He more climbs around the outside of his cage like a nut, the perch is just a little bridge to him I would quadruple check the stability of a rope perch first, since they flex. I've considered using one before, but didn't think it would be quite as safe as a dowel. I could see it bending in the middle and Kiwi falling. I know the ones in his cage "move" a little when he walks on them, so I personally wouldn't use one to prop the top of the cage open (however, Kiwi's a lot bigger than your little cutie). Perhaps a natural wood perch would work for you? All you would need to do is size it down and notch it like a dowel, and it would provide that needed stability....

Kiwibird said:

I'm not big on dowel perches either, but Kiwi doesn't really use the one that props the top of his cage open. He more climbs around the outside of his cage like a nut, the perch is just a little bridge to him I would quadruple check the stability of a rope perch first, since they flex. I've considered using one before, but didn't think it would be quite as safe as a dowel. I could see it bending in the middle and Kiwi falling. I know the ones in his cage "move" a little when he walks on them, so I personally wouldn't use one to prop the top of the cage open (however, Kiwi's a lot bigger than your little cutie). Perhaps a natural wood perch would work for you? All you would need to do is size it down and notch it like a dowel, and it would provide that needed stability....

Click to expand...

the walmart rope perches have a sturdy bendable wire inside of them, so they wouldnt "give" like the boodah perches and such.

We have a couple of cages which open at the top. Where we actually use the feature, they're propped open with clips so that they don't fall when a bird lands on the top, as they do especially our large indoor flock. They do have the potential to do serious harm to the birds though, when falling shut from the open position. Some types have a perch which goes between both "hatches" but in my experience they're not very secure.

Mango is SO cute!! He is just as adorable as Munch! Aww that face...
Ps. I've always thought Lovebirds were one of the "cutest" parrot species.

Dominic's cage has an open top and, because he was rather stout when he arrived, he was heavy enough to dislodge the perch by pulling on it. We had a few close calls until I locked the lid shut forever with a SS carabiner! I found the open top to be a pain anyway. It was incompatible with a cage-cover (which would get caught when Dommie grabbed bits of it and pulled it inside his cage). If I needed to hang something from the 'roof' of the cage, it was an utter nuisance having to negotiate the clasp and the cage-cover and the (vampiric) bird inside. So, no, I didn't like it.

PS. Mango is extremely handsome. Please let him know I said so!

i'm going to get the cage after i feed everyone, and myself lol

will take me a few hours.