can a cage be too big?

Colorguarder08

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Riley-white faced grey cockatiel (hatch date 6-28-2014) RIP Halloween-pied cockatiel
I threw away the cage and everything else I had for Speckles except the brand new bag of food I bought when I got him. So since I am on the waiting list for a new baby from a local breeder (well she's about 4 hours away but as local as I've been able to find) I am going to start getting the cage toys and dishes for my new bird I still have time as the baby still needs to hatch and be weaned. There is a cage at a local pet store that I am interested in however I'm concerned it may be too big and make it nearly impossible to get him/her to remain hand tame especially since as we all know new birds need time to settle in and build that bond between owner and bird. The cage I have been looking at is 70 inches wide x 20inches deep x50 inches tall it has the proper bar spacing for a cockatiel. It might even be a little wider than that I'm not sure. The price isn't bad either its about $120. The cage I had Speckles in measured 30inches wide x 18 inches deep x 36inches tall. I've been told in the past to get the biggest cage you can afford but the cage I'm looking at just seems like a lot of cage for one bird.
 

Selestine

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My beautiful SI Eclectus Zephyr and my handsome B&G macaw Vandal, daughter's Sun Conure Loki and son's GCC Blaze
Sometimes I can't even see where my ekkie is in his cage because it is so big! He really loves having all that space though -- he uses every inch of it. He gets down on the floor sometimes and runs back and forth (when he's mad I haven't taken him out, usually) and it gives me tons of room for toys.

He always comes out when I ask him to, and he's been in his big cage since day one. He was super shy when he first came home. I spent the first several days just sitting near his cage reading to him and passing him treats through the bars. After that I made sure to always have a little snack for him when I wanted him to come out, and by now when I open the doors he practically lands on my head. I've never had to try to catch him :)
 

labell

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Feb 17, 2014
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The only thing about a cage that can be too big is bar spacing. If you are getting a smaller bird you don't want the bar spacing so wide that the bird could be injured.
 

riddick07

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Dec 22, 2011
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Blue & Gold Macaw (Titan) & Yellow Naped Amazon (Kelly)
Sometimes they can be too big but a normal baby should be fine. Maybe he will need something a little smaller to feel comfortable at first but usually they are fine in the huge cages. I've had two that have had problems with cages being too big. My gcc Monster wouldn't eat or drink in a big cage when I brought him home but calmed immediately in a smaller cage. I tried the big cage again in a week and he was fine. My other one probably isn't worth mentioning because he was abused and has a lot of issues so he isn't exactly a fair example:)

I do go by the saying that you should get the biggest cage you can afford! Monster now believes the house should be considered his cage so I think most birds get over the open space nervousness pretty fast (if they even have it) :)
 

Terry57

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I also believe in the bigger the cage, the better:)
With a baby, I would put a towel on the bottom of the cage to break any falls in the beginning, though, or start with a smaller cage at first then move into the bigger one as Victoria mentioned.
Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new baby!
 

Birdman666

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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Once in a very, very great while, you get a super neurotic parrot, that feels safer in a smaller cage.

It's rare, but it happens. (I've seen it twice in 15+ years - both were pluckers.) So, 99.9% of the time bigger is better.
 

randy

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A smaller worked for me when trying to tame neglected or wild birds. They are glad to get out & you are their ticket to freedom. This takes alot of attention, several times a day. Then graduate to a bigger cage.
 
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Colorguarder08

Colorguarder08

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Riley-white faced grey cockatiel (hatch date 6-28-2014) RIP Halloween-pied cockatiel
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I'm hoping to make several visits while the baby is being weaned so it will be somewhat used to me before I bring it home. Also since this cage has sliding doors I will be using mini pad locks so the doors can't slide down and injure him/her and when the bird is caged ALL doors will have the mini pad locks so neither the bird nor the dog can open it. My dog has a high prey drive but he did leave Speckles alone for the short time I had him but I still don't want to chance it. Anytime the bird is out the dog will be crated and probably covered just as extra protection.
 

Birdman666

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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
A smaller worked for me when trying to tame neglected or wild birds. They are glad to get out & you are their ticket to freedom. This takes alot of attention, several times a day. Then graduate to a bigger cage.

:eek:That's a bit akin to sensory deprivation in my book. Intelligent minds can disagree, but I would hope this would be a method of last resort... :eek:
 

DanR

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Tango - WBC
Just chiming in that I have a massive cage for my WBC and he LOVES all the space, but still immediately hops on my finger and shoulder since day 1. My cage is 30 x 36 x 60.

Your cage is indeed a king kong size cage, but I would be more worried about how I would get it out the back door for the occasional pressure wash than if my bird is OK with it ;)

Dan
 

randy

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another reason for a smaller cage, we used was with breeders, amazons, macaws, & toos was to enhance breeding. It worked pretty good. That also goes with reduced human contact.
 

thekarens

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I would agree that reduced human contact would help with breeding, but a small cage isn't going to improve breeding. If that were the case they'd never breed in the wild.
 
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Colorguarder08

Colorguarder08

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Riley-white faced grey cockatiel (hatch date 6-28-2014) RIP Halloween-pied cockatiel
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Just chiming in that I have a massive cage for my WBC and he LOVES all the space, but still immediately hops on my finger and shoulder since day 1. My cage is 30 x 36 x 60.

Your cage is indeed a king kong size cage, but I would be more worried about how I would get it out the back door for the occasional pressure wash than if my bird is OK with it ;)

Dan

Its on casters/wheels so getting it in/out of the house is no problem. However depending on if they have one that's not already assembled then we might have issues with getting it home.
 

Sterling1113

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Feb 15, 2014
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Just chiming in that I have a massive cage for my WBC and he LOVES all the space, but still immediately hops on my finger and shoulder since day 1. My cage is 30 x 36 x 60.

Your cage is indeed a king kong size cage, but I would be more worried about how I would get it out the back door for the occasional pressure wash than if my bird is OK with it ;)

Dan

Its on casters/wheels so getting it in/out of the house is no problem. However depending on if they have one that's not already assembled then we might have issues with getting it home.

I feel your pain.. I've gone into the store with a tool set before so I can break down a cage to get it home! Lol.
 
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Colorguarder08

Colorguarder08

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Riley-white faced grey cockatiel (hatch date 6-28-2014) RIP Halloween-pied cockatiel
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OK so I got the actual measurements for the cage I was off on the measurements but the cage is still huge. Its 58x18x35.
 

ShaunaR

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Jun 5, 2014
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Pixie the White Bellied Caique
Hi All,
I read this thread with baited breath in a way here because I believe I purchased a cage that is too big for our petite White Bellied Caique. I too had read alot about the notion that one should purchase the biggest possible cage. Our baby came home Satuday just before supper and aside from posting a few pics I have not even had time to properly charge my tablet much less read anything! This little ball of fire has kept us so busy I am glad I took 10 days off from work! She is quite small for a caique but completely fearless! The cage is by A&E, has a dome top, 3/4 inch bar spacing,and measures 32" x 23"x63". I knew immediately it was too large when she climbed the bars to the top and couldn't get down safely. Well long story short she has fallen several times. I caught her as well once and since Saturday I have been working for basically 12 hours a day switching and adding perches, taking all toys out, giving her lessons on how to maneuver providing, and placing layers of towels to break any falls. I have come to the conclusion that I cannot use this cage as it is safely for her until or unless she becomes stronger. This afternoon she sustained a bruise to her beak catching herself as she tried to jump off a perch to my head as I worked inside the cage. She hasn't been back in it since. Interestingly she is very clean and poops almost always on cue so keeping her with me will work during the day and I will use her carrier at night until our Pac o Bird arrives in a couple of days. She could stay in there for awhile as we bought it larger for use while camping. I know she wil gain and mature and be fine in time. My hubby is designing a system of dowels through the horizontal side bars with cardboard to sit on top so as to block the top half of the cage until her leg strength improves. I wish now that I had bought a cage with a top and bottom half but I have never seen one. I also noticed the gauge of the bars are too large for her beak to comfortably grab. Again since she is only 3 months old , hopefully this will improve as her beak hardens more.
So thats what I have been up to for the last 2 days...working on this exact issue!
 

veimar

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gcc Parry; lovebird Coco; 3 budgies (Tesla, Franky and Cesar); cockatiel Murzik, red rump parakeet girl Onyx
I don't think cage can be TOO big, but my lovebird only uses about ⅓ of her cage :) So I dunno, LOL!
 

Nocturnal

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A smaller worked for me when trying to tame neglected or wild birds. They are glad to get out & you are their ticket to freedom. This takes alot of attention, several times a day. Then graduate to a bigger cage.

:eek:That's a bit akin to sensory deprivation in my book. Intelligent minds can disagree, but I would hope this would be a method of last resort... :eek:



Interesting sights and adventure are the rewards for interaction. A smaller, more bare cage does not keep the bird from feeling, seeing, touching. Nothing like sensory deprivation. When my sun conure gets to big for his breeches I make him less independent (take away hiding places and trim his wings) so he is reminded how to behave, haha.
 

henpecked

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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
I like big cages, my amazon breeder cages are 4'x4'x6'long. The inside pet birds are in relatively large cages also. The main issue is,,, can you get the cage out though the door in an emergency??
 

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