Anyone else get depressed looking at cages?

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,349
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Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
Parkers palatial cage has rust here and there. He's not a chewer so he's not in imminent danger (it came with him so I think it's been in this condition for a while), but it has made me cast an eye at new cages for him.

I find cage hunting so depressing! No matter how big a cage I find, my immediate reaction is its not big enough and he'll be so confined and bored. It was one thing when I was looking for a temp cage to keep at my moms, but his main cage? Nothing's good enough for him:smile040:
 

itchyfeet

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Nov 1, 2014
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Middle Earth
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Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
Lol it's tough huh! So stop looking for the worlds best cage. Look for a 'good enough' cage, and then with the $$ saved from not buying something extravagant, make the worlds greatest play areas around the house :D
 

MonicaMc

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Sep 12, 2012
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
The first cage I bought my mitred conure, Charlie, was a 40x30 "macaw" cage. He weighed around 215 or so grams. It was great, until I had to move and change things up, and he was rubbing the feathers off between his beak and eyes when he stuck his beak through the cages bars.... so I down graded him to a 32 x 23 cage of the same brand. It felt *SO* tiny!


I have my cockatiels and an ARN in a 5' x 5' aviary and I'm looking at putting them back into an A&E Double Flight cage (what they were in prior to the aviary). I'm dreading this, but I kind of need a little extra cash atm due to unforeseen circumstances... I'm dreading moving them back, but if I do, I just have to tell myself it's only temporary! I can always buy another one! Actually, I wanted to buy two of them! One for my Australian species (i.e. cockatiels + ARN) and one for my South American species (conures - assuming they could get along in such a large space! which would require figuring out a diet that they could all eat.... )
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
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College Station, Texas
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Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Last year, I got Robin his first new cage in 20 years. His old cage was very well made, but was a brand that had since been discontinued. I had trouble finding one that was constructed well enough, and where I was satisfied with all the features. I ended up getting him a King's cage off their website (never saw it in person first), but the specs seemed fine as far as I can read and see in the pic, so I ordered it. When I put it together and started using it, I found... I hate it!! :(

I hated Griffin's first cage even worse. An A&E I bought on sale at Petco.com. Long story short, the playtop was lopsided, so it had to be sent back, and I waited for a new one (Petco customer service was great). It also had sharp metal pieces here and there that needed to be filed down, grate sat crooked, everything was crooked, etc, etc. Complete piece of crap! I got him a King's aluminum cage instead. After buying all those cages, now I can't afford to get Robin a different one.

I got lucky with Raven's cage. Yet another one I ordered without seeing in person, from King's cages.

I hear you Chris. It's hard to find exactly what you want when you're looking for something. I can't wait til the day I can convert a room into an "aviary" and either not use the cages, or just for sleeping. I think it would be so much easier to keep a room clean rather than cleaning individual cages.

Good luck!
 

OOwl

New member
Oct 12, 2010
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Texas
Parrots
Rosebreasted Cockatoo, Congo Grey, MRH Amazon, Lovebird
Cages are so frustrating now. They used to be built so much better (or seemed that way), lasted longer, had more features, and we had more choices. Now, they just all seem so cheaply made. I, too, have ordered and returned more than I care to admit. What I ended up doing is re-powdercoating an old one, which turned out fantastic! So much so that I'm going to be doing the same with the three old-style cages I have when they need it (they're almost 13 years old now and no rust; although I have replaced door hardware that wore out).

My lovebird and parrotlet have newer Kings and Avian Adventures cages. They're finally okay (after getting reships on damaged and ill-made ones). But they aren't worth having repowdercoated, so I'm looking into the Kings Aluminum ones when their cages are ready for replacement.

The best thing I've used for keeping cages in good condition is my outdoor aviary. It's on a covered porch so protected from most dangers (no marauding cats or hawks dare come close with my dog on watch duty). I work from home so have it in view and can put the birds in rotation out there. They get all their energy expended out there and when they come in, their cages are for eating and sleeping. They are expensive but it sure has been an expenditure that I have never regretted. Something to consider. . . .
 

GreatBlue320

New member
May 5, 2015
771
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Parrots
Baxter - Illiger's Macaw (hatch date 5.1.15);

Taylor - Black capped Conure (RIP 3.14.15 - miss you every day little "Girlie")
I completely understand your pain/frustration! I had such a hard time choosing a cage for Baxter - seemed like everything was too small or had some sort of "problem" which made me worry for his happiness and safety.

I am happy with the cage I finally purchased - he has plenty of room to move around, climb, play. BUT, I still feel like I would like him to have an even bigger cage.

Like you said, nothing is good enough for my boy.
 

kq_fan

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Jun 26, 2013
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Seattle, Washington
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Lilo - Female Green Cheek Conure ~ Pal - male cockatiel ~ Pheobe - female cockatiel
Oh ya. At the parrot rescue I work at, it's cages after cages. It so so sad. But what else can she do? Thank goodness she rescues or all those parrots would be who knows where! But I so wish they were never maid pets so they could fly free without much care. But now most of the parrots in America are stuck in a cage either good sized or too small for them. :( i wish Lilo could be out of her cage all day but it is a bit dangerous since the room she is in isn't totally bird proof. So many small spaces she could get lost in. :(
 

Christinenc2000

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Oct 8, 2014
3,320
4
North Carolina
Parrots
Big Bird _ Blue & Gold Macaw
I love BB's cage. I have a few rust area's around his water dish but lucky the did send Touch up paint. After a year he is not trying to break out so had to install a lock on the outside of the door. Hate doing it but would hate it for him to get out while I am at work


[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TZ3P6W?keywords=large%20macaw%20cage&qid=1453575204&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2"]Amazon.com : Prevue Pet Products Silverado Macaw Dometop Cage 3155S Silverado 46-Inch by 36-Inch by 78-1/4-Inch : Macaw Bird Cage : Pet Supplies[/ame]
 

DiscoDuck

Banned
Banned
Jun 9, 2012
405
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Wilmington DE - Landenberg PA
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Rudy - Hybrid Ruby Macaw Born 6/6/15 Scarlet Mother/Green Wing Father - Oliver BFA RIP 3/15/15 @ 34yo. Without you, I would not have Rudy. Thank you!
Confession. There are times when Rowdy Rudy needs to go time out. 60x60 by 72 high is punishment. I have a 16 foot wood custom ladder cantilevered towards a window zip tied to the top of the cage where he had full view .Including the TV, A Roll of heavy human traffic under the ladder gets switched regularly and rinsed. Been studying potty training, I think he is still too young at 8 moths for me to catch the subtleties of his forth coming bowel movement. Besides, interestingly enough he passes most 75%? at night. under his night perch.

Please do not let your Macaw have free reign of you house. unless the things they will mark, nibble , bite, carve or just turn into splinters are things of inferior desecration. Not to metion if you have picked it up , so will they like magic markers...

If anyone is interesyted in my ladder design, let me know. Drill, bit dowel glue one 2x4 ( or save all the borken broom handles/ rip a 16' 2x4 ) spruce in half, clamp together,drill the the dowel size(s) holes 4, 5 6 spacing- titebond III glue liberally both hole and dowel qucikly and pound together. Rinse squeezed out glue drips etc, I don't believe it is toxic, it just makes for a better job.
\ I bought those 3 foot wide carpet runner rolls. The rungs . think hang ornaments on a tree. trapeze. Coffe cup lids manaze jar with a string tied to plastic ball. His favorite toys are make form some the most unlikely stuff Ive got a monkey and a rubber checken he is terrified of on abungee. amazing what the cab do acrobatically withjust two claws attached upside dowm

Those large dog rawhide bones. Soften in water wrap them around whatever he wants and let dry. amazing how hard they ill work at something . OLd kitchen scrb brushes, the best@
 
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plumsmum2005

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Nov 18, 2015
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Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Well, there is an answer to this conundrum .... what is it you may ask ...

give Parker the house and you live in the cage! See all sorted! :11:

You can rest easy now, depression all gone, as you don't have to worry about it being not big enough.

:):):):):)


Parkers palatial cage has rust here and there. He's not a chewer so he's not in imminent danger (it came with him so I think it's been in this condition for a while), but it has made me cast an eye at new cages for him.

I find cage hunting so depressing! No matter how big a cage I find, my immediate reaction is its not big enough and he'll be so confined and bored. It was one thing when I was looking for a temp cage to keep at my moms, but his main cage? Nothing's good enough for him:smile040:
 
OP
chris-md

chris-md

Well-known member
Feb 6, 2010
4,349
2,119
Maryland - USA
Parrots
Parker - male Eclectus

Aphrodite - red throated conure (RIP)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Hi Disco duck, I'm sorry I'm confused. Was that meant for another thread? I don't see anyone talking about giving a macaw free reign of the house?

Oh plumsmum, do I have to be locked away all day? I might start plucking my own hair!
 

plumsmum2005

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Nov 18, 2015
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Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Hi Disco duck, I'm sorry I'm confused. Was that meant for another thread? I don't see anyone talking about giving a macaw free reign of the house?

Oh plumsmum, do I have to be locked away all day? I might start plucking my own hair!

As long as you share your pics, whatever man:)
 

DexMom

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Jul 18, 2015
429
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New Jersey
Parrots
Dexter, SI Eclectus
I've been looking at larger cages for Dexter. DexDad is not in agreement that he needs a larger cage (he's in a 36 x 28 x 48). So, the depressing part for me is that the good ones cost so much that I could never bury the cost in my budget (not that I would try to hide a purchase from my husband, noooooo).
 
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plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
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England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
I've been looking at larger cages for Dexter. DexDad is not in agreement that he needs a larger cage (he's in a 36 x 28). So, the depressing part for me is that the good ones cost so much that I could never bury the cost in my budget (not that I would try to hide a purchase from my husband, noooooo).


Nooo what female would ever do such an underhand thing eh? :11:
 

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
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San Antonio, TX
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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.)
Only on cage cleaning days when I want to be doing something else...
 

coopedup

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Apr 8, 2016
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CA
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7y/o eclectus Wrangler
Chris,

Have a look at Rowland (RLWholesale) on Amazon. I live close enough to go there and pick mine up but I dont know what to look for in terms of quality...I could be your scout
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
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San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Lol it's tough huh! So stop looking for the worlds best cage. Look for a 'good enough' cage, and then with the $$ saved from not buying something extravagant, make the worlds greatest play areas around the house :D

This is a great compromise! Depending on your work schedule and Parker's habits, having one or more playpens is a great alternative to purchasing a cage as the be-all of accommodation.

Cage-shopping is much better if you have a few brick-and-mortar stores to peruse. For some, on-line is the only alternative, and pictures may not do justice to construction or paint quality.

Prices really have risen, and shopping for quality is more difficult. I bought a few last year from a large specialty bird store. The manager stated his belief imported cages were "dumped" at low prices over the years until most domestic competition was destroyed. And then the prices soared......
 

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
I know what you mean. Try looking into the largest one you can possibly fit/afford. Just a suggestion, I noticed how much "airy-er" Kiwi's new cage is than his old cage because we ordered it in white (his old one was black). Light colors always make a space feel more open, bird cages included:)

Not sure if Parker's behavior or other pets you may have make him a candidate or not, but have you considered working with Parker to be more "free range"? Kiwi has done really well as a "free range" parrot and it was a very natural for us to stop closing the cage. Though, he sticks to his area unless we move him and we have no other pets. Not very bird or situation is right for a free roaming bird, but it's something to at least consider if it's something you may be able to do.

P.S. Wanted to add, we got Kiwi's cage from birdcages4less.com. It is nice quality and doesn't have that strange texture (or at least I'm not fond of it) so many cages have. They have Kiwi's cage (poipu palace) http://birdcages4less.com/page/B/PROD/Large_Bird_Cages/PA5710 and a larger version "Maui mansion" http://birdcages4less.com/page/B/PROD/Macaw-Bird-Cages/PA5711. The "eggshell white" is a really nice color and makes it seem much larger than it is! Oh ya, and if I can fit in it, it's probably a good sized cage;)

DSC_6744_zpsf7d73d35.jpg
 
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plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
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England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
What are you like, ha ha ha ?

I hope Kiwi's as happy as you are with the cage? I have just purchased a Montana for Plum and it is very disappointing in terms of quality. I couldn't let Plum be a free range parrot I'd have no plaster on the walls or wood door surrounds but he'd be one happy parrot.
 

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