Changing cages...good idea or bad?

I came across this cage which seems much bigger and better than my current one....not that they are in the cage a lot...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roof-Top-L...708166?hash=item5913871106:g:gD0AAOSwKEFbtCss


Has anyone ever done a cage change and do the birds take to it, or will this just piss my girls off?

I think the like their cage so I don't know if this would be a good idea.

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I have changed Syd's cage 3 times each time going bigger and each time he has made the change without a look back. I made each one and set it all up right in front of him. He watched with great interest. I then just left it open and let him make the move rather than put him in it. I expected him to take up to a week but he did it in a few hours.

I did use a little bit of bribery by putting some seeds in the feeders!

they love bigger cages, i have also moved my two into another bigger cage, they love it.
with lots of new toys.

I wouldn't worry about changing cages. They get used to it. But the one you showed us seems a bit narrow. I would go with something wider, that's all.

I was worried about how my very timid cockatiel would react when I had to replace his cage, and then I had to chuck out the brand new one when my lorikeet chewed off some of the powder coating and I had to buy him ANOTHER brand new cage ... but he took to both of the changes perfectly fine.

That one pictured though doesn’t look like a suitable cage for a conure - I think maybe the advertiser was pushing the boat out a little too far there.

I must admit that each new cage I have got has been wider than the last rather than taller. The one I have now is 35 inches wide and 20 inches deep and 39 inches high with an arched top. Syd has seemed happier in this cage rather than the tall narrower ones he had before.

Kiwi has been through 3 cages since we’ve owned him, each a different shape and size and color than the others. In addition, he has also had 2 playstands, 3 travel carriers and 4 different styles of portable perch. He has never had any issues taking to his new cages, stands, carriers or portable perches. This last cage was from birdcages4less.com and I really recommend you look there. They have a great cage selection and it’s held up much better than the other powder coat cage he had. I expect a good 5-8 more years of service out of this one. I also have to say, this cage is white and by far my favorite color. The cage feels so much more open and airy than his prior cage did (which was black). Go with a lighter color if possible.

Just wanted to get into a little about the wider than tall thing- with big bird cages, you don’t find them wider than tall, unless maybe some aviaries might be close in dimensions. You also can’t really follow that 1.5-2X the wingspan “rule” either when your bird has a roughly 28” wingspan (or bigger for Big Macs and cockatoos). As a big bird owner, I’m limited to taller than wide cages. I know you have a smaller bird, but I just wanted to give firsthand experience that my bird uses every inch inside and out of his taller than wide cage, top to bottom. I know not everyone has room for a wide cage either, 32” is really pushing what we can offer space wise and I know some small bird owners, the space the bird would take up was a consideration when choosing their bird. Kiwi doesn’t just use the top half of his cage while the bottom half collects poop and cobwebs. His cage is 32x24x62. The lowest perch is only about 12” off the cage bottom and he sits on that branch to preen sometimes, he also goes down to the floor to retrieve fallen toys and treats and slides down the outside of his cage to the very bottom (about 8” off the floor” to say hi to us and see what we’re up to when we’re on the floor. I have found if branches and toys are offered at every level of the cage, birds will generally (eventually) explore every level of the cage. It’s we humans who tend to put branches in the top 1/3 and leave the rest barren, giving the bird no reason to use the entire space. Obviously, getting the largest, widest cage you can is always the best bet, but don’t feel bad if you choose a taller cage due to space constraints or cost or something. As long as the bird can comfortably open it’s wings with plenty of room to spare, the bar spacing is correct and there aren’t any obvious safety hazards, whatever you choose is fine. Any additional width you can fit into your space is a bonus, but not 100% necessary.

If I were you, I would put the birds out of sight when you do the assembly/transfer (preferably out of ear shot too)---I would also make sure that you do this on a weekend (or a non-work day) in the morning/early afternoon-preferably at a time when they are hungry so that food is a stronger bribe. Once they are out of dodge, set up their new cage so that it is totally ready to go and fill it with their same toys, foods, perches etc (in roughly the same location). A avoid any new perches/toys initially, because that will add to the unfamiliarity. Move the old cage before you bring them back in, so that it is out of sight when they return. Place them on the top of the cage (if you can) and leave the door open (with all of their familiar stuff inside). If they refuse to go on top, leave the door open and let them see you putting fav treats in and on top of the cage. Then just let them spend the day getting used to it/going in and out etc. In my experience, this will likely ease the transition.

SIDE-NOTE:I made the mistake of putting together a cage around my bird once (granted it was a travel cage) and she never got over it...We couldn't even walk past it without drama---so I wasted $100 + bucks on a stainless steel cage--- At the time, I thought she might be less frightened if she saw me interacting with it and constructing it, but I think all of the clanking and changing angles etc really freaked her out. Obviously this won't be the case for all birds, but I will never put anything together in her presence again if my intention is to give it to her afterwards. I also have a duplicate cage at my parents' house for visits and when it was put together, she was in the other room, but she was not a fan of the giant box that it came in, nor the clanking sounds we made while assembling it 3 rooms over...

I may end up putting the stainless steel cage on ebay or something... I will let you know guys know if I do.

noodles123 said:

SIDE-NOTE:I made the mistake of putting together a cage around my bird once (granted it was a travel cage) and she never got over it...We couldn't even walk past it without drama---so I wasted $100 + bucks on a stainless steel cage--- At the time, I thought she might be less frightened if she saw me interacting with it and constructing it, but I think all of the clanking and changing angles etc really freaked her out. Obviously this won't be the case for all birds, but I will never put anything together in her presence again if my intention is to give it to her afterwards. I also have a duplicate cage at my parents' house for visits and when it was put together, she was in the other room, but she was not a fan of the giant box that it came in, nor the clanking sounds we made while assembling it 3 rooms over...

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Guess every bird is different? Kiwi is intensely curious about new things being assembles in front of him and can hardly wait to check them out. I always put together new things for him where he can see and he’s always hanging off the cage trying to get at it- current cage, pakobird, beloved stainless swing, heck even his PVC shower perch (and often things that don’t belong to him too lol).
Whenever a package arrives at our house, he comes charging out of the cage to check out what’s in the box and is it for him

I WISH Noodles were more like that--- She can be quite timid at times (but quite bold at others)! I sometimes wonder what happened to her in her 3 previous homes. I highly doubt that there any physical abuse in her most recent home (aside from allowing her to eat a bunch of junk), but I am not sure about her 1st 2nd homes...She is TERRIFIED of unfamiliar sticks (especially in-hand)---she could just be a baby, but I am not convinced that she has never had bad experiences. I just figured I should mention her cage assembly issues in case she isn't the only one out there who doesn't appreciate the art of construction lol.

I am her 4th home, so again, take it for what it's worth.

Kermit, Ducky, and Pearl have all gotten bigger cages. I wouldn’t change Blubell’s because she’s a very skittish bird who is scared of going into my other birds’ cages (something the others do a lot!)

The cage you were looking at is tall and narrow... parrots, especially conures which are very active, prefer wider cages. The bottom part of the cage ends up being wasted and suddenly the cage isn’t very big anymore. That cage was only 18” by 14” length and width, which is way too small for even one GCC. Honestly it looks flimsy and it has those doors that slide up and down that a smart conure could easily figure out. Not suitable for a conure or even a budgie. I would get at least a 24” by 24” if not bigger (if they’re in their cage during the day for any decent period of time). Kermit’s cage is 32” by 23” by 40” not including the height of the stand.

If you're looking to upgrade size I would definitely recommend one that's much wider and less narrow. You end up losing all that extra space down on the bottom when the bird spends all their time at the top section.

I highly suggest this sort of cage...



It's $115 shipped on Amazon. I have a double version of this and my birds LOVE IT!

I have never had an issue with changing cages with any of my birds, except for my grey, and even he was okay after the initial OMG IS THIS GOING TO EAT ME? He does that to absolutely everything he has never seen before though, so there really is no avoiding it.

My Amazon can't wait to get into or onto anything new whether it's a cage, play stand, or especially not for him. The other birds I have or have had all pretty much didn't even seem to care. I have my lovebirds and my other littles in similar sized cages and I've even just swapped their cages as a way to rotate toys and perches to make things interesting for them.

For the most part, I think if your birds are exposed to change regularly, they should take changes in cages pretty easily. It isn't that much different than if you were to strip down their current cage to deep clean it and put everything back differently.

I will also agree with April that a bird will use the entire height of their cage as long as uou give them a reason to. My birds have toy boxes full of foot toys and occasional treats on the bottom of their cages and have no problems going to the bottom to play with their toys and perch on the lower branches.

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My flock has always responded positively to cage changes, though the end result may take some time. I typically assemble the new cage in their sight and place adjacent for a few hours to a day depending on bird. Slowly move toys, food/water/treat dishes and they sense the obvious. Depending on response, official move made within hours or one day. Some of my goffins are game for immediate change.

All 5 of mine have switched cages easily, I’ve upgraded a few times and the conures are usually exploring before the bolts are in to hold it together (I don’t let them explore until there is no danger of them getting hurt, but they love to be part of the process).

Jen5200 I think your right with zod, clark doesn't like change a lot. I'm NOT going to get that cage.....

I'll just keep shopping for stuff and if a good deal on a wider cage appears I might have a go at it.


Side note....what about those plexiglass box type cages....are those good for anything or.... I didn't even knew they existed till I saw one in a Parrot specialty store.

I assume it would be quieter but......they like climbing around randomly......

Personally I’d worry with the plexiglass cages - airflow would probably be worse and when it’s hot? Mine also love to climb all over the place and there’s no way to do it without bars. Mine love their flight cages and they are all over them while I’m at work.

The cage you have linked is too small for a conure

noodles123 said:

I WISH Noodles were more like that--- She can be quite timid at times (but quite bold at others)! I sometimes wonder what happened to her in her 3 previous homes. I highly doubt that there any physical abuse in her most recent home (aside from allowing her to eat a bunch of junk), but I am not sure about her 1st 2nd homes...She is TERRIFIED of unfamiliar sticks (especially in-hand)---she could just be a baby, but I am not convinced that she has never had bad experiences. I just figured I should mention her cage assembly issues in case she isn't the only one out there who doesn't appreciate the art of construction lol.

I am her 4th home, so again, take it for what it's worth.

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My female U2 Baby is the same way she is TERRIFIED of unfamiliar sticks especially in hand. She even flew down a couple of block a couple of weeks ago because I had a new blower which is shaped like a large stick to her.

She did get use to it and no longer scared of new blower, but any thing that shaped like a large stick/tube shape and she never seen it before she want to go as far as possible from it, or argues and yell at it. Usually take her a couple of days to get use to it. stuff like assembling a cage she will come down and investigate trying to take parts.

Jen5200 said:

Personally I’d worry with the plexiglass cages - airflow would probably be worse and when it’s hot? Mine also love to climb all over the place and there’s no way to do it without bars. Mine love their flight cages and they are all over them while I’m at work.

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Plexiglass also keep the particles and dust they create in, which isn't good as they breath it in.