GCC Cage help for a soon to be baby GCC owner.

[Bert]

Hello Everyone! My Name is Bert. I hope everyone is doing well! I have put a deposit on a baby yellow sided turquoise green cheek conure and i am so excited to start off! I have not purchased a cage yet so I'm looking for recommendations on a cage. I really want a high quality cage with nice locks on all the doors and food bowls and it has to be big of course. I want one over 24inches up to 40 or more maybe ha ha. That is where the problem starts is on the bar spacing. I want a playtop square or rectangle shaped cage but My main problem is that i can't find many big cages with the correct amount of bar spacing that are nice and i don't have anywhere close to go look at cages besides petsmart and petco and none of their cages are set up. Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!! Thanks in advance!!!! I am not a total newbie. I have had birds all of my life and I'm in my late 30s now. I have had a cockateils finches and love birds but this is my first parrot so I will most likely have tons of questions. I posted this in the welcome part but i see much more folks on the conure part of the forum so i copy and pasted it to here.
Thanks, Bert

 

[Bert]

Anybody have any experience with this cage or brand?
They are all over the place online. I love the playtop! It looks super fun!
https://www.yescomusa.com/40-x31-x75-_Birds_Cages_Wrought_Iron_Birdcage.html

 

[Kalidasa]

I know what you mean...the bigger parrot cages usually have bar spacing that's too wide. The cage you posted looks pretty good. Another option is a flight cage, they're very roomy with small bar spacing meant for smaller birds but work well. Sorry don't have a link to post, but I'm sure someone will chime in with some more info. Good luck

 

[Agapornis]

This is the cage I got for my 2 GCCs. They love it, it's very well made, easy to clean, and plenty big! And look at that price!!! HQ Flight Bird Cage 32x21 - by BirdsComfort.com

 

[Minimaker]

This is my ggc cage. The bars are slightly more spaced out than I would want but it's been no problem for my conure. The only problem is that smaller bird toys won't fit on those bars without some modification. Not a big deal, and it's an awesome cage for a little guy like my Tazzy. He gets so much more room and toys this way, he really feels comfortable in there and it shows. I left the seed guards off though. I wanted it to sit closer to the wall. I think they have the same cage on walmart.com as well.
Large Parrot Bird Cage Flight Finch Macaws Pet Supply Aviary House w Free Toy | eBay

 

[Bert]

Agapornis thanks! Nice looking cage! HQ stuff looks nice and has some good reviews. What did you do about the food trays? Did you replace them?

 

[Bert]

This is my ggc cage. The bars are slightly more spaced out than I would want but it's been no problem for my conure. The only problem is that smaller bird toys won't fit on those bars without some modification. Not a big deal, and it's an awesome cage for a little guy like my Tazzy. He gets so much more room and toys this way, he really feels comfortable in there and it shows. I left the seed guards off though. I wanted it to sit closer to the wall. I think they have the same cage on walmart.com as well.
Large Parrot Bird Cage Flight Finch Macaws Pet Supply Aviary House w Free Toy | eBay

Thanks so much! So happy to hear from someone with that cage! Did you start your bird out in that cage from a weaned baby? i will be getting my birdy as a weaned baby and don't want it to be to big at first. i was considering getting a smaller cage until the bird gets older but i cant decide what to do so i came here looking for answers. Also Is the spacing just to big for the smaller toys or is the bird able to get through it partially or something like that?
Thanks, Bert

 

[Flboy]

Never can be too big! A small cage is great for outside expeditions tho!

 

[Bert]

Never can be too big! A small cage is great for outside expeditions tho!

I just meant so it wouldn't intimidate the little guy by the cage being so big. I had two people recommend not getting a cage that big to start off in case the bird hates the large cage. i just don't want any bad experiences i can avoid by planing ahead and i sure don't want a fearful bird.
thanks, Bert

 

[Flboy]

Fill it with toys!

FYI, unfamiliar with this site, but 185 bucks here.
BestChoiceProducts | Make Us Your Best Choice
If this site has a poor track record, anyone, please jump in!
I just looked at the cage thru Walmart, they are using best choice products as a supplier.

 

[Minimaker]

This is my ggc cage. The bars are slightly more spaced out than I would want but it's been no problem for my conure. The only problem is that smaller bird toys won't fit on those bars without some modification. Not a big deal, and it's an awesome cage for a little guy like my Tazzy. He gets so much more room and toys this way, he really feels comfortable in there and it shows. I left the seed guards off though. I wanted it to sit closer to the wall. I think they have the same cage on walmart.com as well.
Large Parrot Bird Cage Flight Finch Macaws Pet Supply Aviary House w Free Toy | eBay

Thanks so much! So happy to hear from someone with that cage! Did you start your bird out in that cage from a weaned baby? i will be getting my birdy as a weaned baby and don't want it to be to big at first. i was considering getting a smaller cage until the bird gets older but i cant decide what to do so i came here looking for answers. Also Is the spacing just to big for the smaller toys or is the bird able to get through it partially or something like that?
Thanks, Bert

I think it would be fine, honestly. Mine is filled with toys and treat holders, it's a happy place. He even has a double hoop fleece cuddly swing with toys dangling. He has a caitec foraging ball filled with nuts and dried fruit. He'd rather be with me wherever I am, but he has plenty to do while I am away or busy. If you put in a boing rope toy, and some different calcium, rope, and natural branch perches it'll be a great place for any bird including a baby. Everyone here recommends mysafebirdstore.com as a good place to pick up all your stuff for the cage. Good store, they have everything you could need. Your baby will do fine. I would never say a smaller cage is a better cage for any bird. I always go bigger for later on when they need the room to play and be happy. I have my two budgies in a 36 1/2 wide by 40 tall enclosure. Two tiny parakeets. They fly all over the place and they play all day long. They have tons to do because they have the room for lots of toys.

 

[Bert]

Thanks Minimaker! I really like that cage. Does Tazzy like the playtop? Also do the food bowls lock in place so the bird cant dump them? I was just concerned about the bird being young and being scared or possibly falling and hurting itself. I had a love bird years ago with clipped wings that fell and hurt its wing when it was young so trying to avoid that. I will have lots of toys and plan to alternate them weekly to keep interest up. i want a bigger cage than this honestly and i have the room for a monster size one but i cant find anything i really like over that size with the correct spacing. I will check out that website for toys! thanks again!

 

[Bert]

How about sleeping cages? Im thinking of getting a sleeping cage too. Any suggestions anyone?

 

[Minimaker]

Thanks Minimaker! I really like that cage. Does Tazzy like the playtop? Also do the food bowls lock in place so the bird cant dump them? I was just concerned about the bird being young and being scared or possibly falling and hurting itself. I had a love bird years ago with clipped wings that fell and hurt its wing when it was young so trying to avoid that. I will have lots of toys and plan to alternate them weekly to keep interest up. i want a bigger cage than this honestly and i have the room for a monster size one but i cant find anything i really like over that size with the correct spacing. I will check out that website for toys! thanks again!

Tazzy does like his playtop, although lately he's taken to getting up there and yelling at our new macaw for awhile because he can plainly see her from his cage. I give him treats up there to distract him from her, like the apple in the photo below. This is him up there right after I bought it and didn't have it very full of toys/perches yet:

But I soon realized it was easier to remove the playtop tray and let some light into that cage because it made it so much darker in there. I keep a scrub brush on hand to clean off the bars and it's easier to clean that way. I put a hooded water dish inside that was much smaller and easier to change than that large bowl that made me worry he'd fall in and not be able to get out-plus it keeps the poo out of the water. The deep dishes I use for pellets and dried fruit/nut mixes. That way he stays safe. The dishes do lock down until you open the little doors and remove them that way. They are well designed, the cage was just made for a larger bird so it has bigger bowls. I don't care, I know if I were locked up in a cage I would be happier in a larger one with more room and things to do rather than a small one with less in it if you know what I mean.

 

[Bert]

Thanks so much Minmaker! I really like that cage and thanks for the pic of it! Is the playtop lopsided or does it just sit like that? I couldn't figure out how the tray came out so i guess the ladders lift up? Thanks again for all the answers! Yes i do know what you mean about a larger one. I want the biggest i can get for my bird as long as its a safe cage. Thanks again!

 

[Minimaker]

Yeah unfortunately it did end up being rather lopsided once we got it put together. It looks worse in the photo because I shot it at an angle. But that's how the parts fitted unfortunately. Nothing sat straight up there but the rest of the cage was fine and went together perfectly. We checked and rechecked that we assembled the playtop right and that's just how it went together because nine times out of ten wire cages arrive with some bends to the parts. After awhile I didn't pay any more attention to it. It doesn't affect how well it works for the bird or how he enjoys it. It just bugged me for awhile at first but now I'm over it. No one who visits ever seems to notice, they're too busy looking at the birds instead. Yes the bottom ladders lift up and the tray slides out.

 

[Bert]

Thanks for your answers! I still like the cage a lot! Did cage arrive ok and unbent? I promise last question. Thanks again!

 

[zelliegirl]

HQ, A&E, and Prevue all have playtop cages of 30 in long by 23 in wide by 30 to 40 in inner height with 5/8 in or 3/4 in bar spacing. I personnally wouldn't want bigger than 5/8 in bar spacing. Pet co has a great nicely made cage that I got for $179 on sale ($200 or so regular). Search designer mink brown parrot cage. I love the color, a nice powder coat brown. It has 5/8 in bar spacing 30 by 30 by 30 inner height with seed catch, playtop and top and bottomw metal trays on wheels with secured feeder bowls and a big door with inner door. I love it. Problem is I had to get replacements shipped twice bc the first 2 cages were bent due to bad ship/packaging. I ended up taking the best pieces fromm the 3 sets to create one undamaged cage and returning the two other sets. Petco was great about shipping and free returns. However it was an effort bc the boxes were huge to pack and unpack. If I wasn't concerned about rust, I could have kept the second set with a few dents and scratches. Still the best big cage for a smaller bird. Good luck

 

[Ann333]

This is my cage for my GCC. I LOVE it! He loves it. It has so so much room (30x30x43) and very well built. He constantly tries to tip the food/water bowls, but he cant because there are lips over them(ha i win)! He enjoys his playtop and i enjoy that the play top has a tray to contain his mess. The top of the cage still has bars under the tray to hang furnishings. And the landing door in front gets used every single day. I only have to open the big front door when im rearranging the cage. It has a grate at the bottom to keep his busy beak away from old food and droppings. I cant say enough great things about it.

Petco Designer Mink Brown Standing Parrot Cage - Parrot Play Top Bird Cage from petco.com


Ohh and this is my sleeping cage: http://www.walmart.com/ip/35277804?...41757352&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78301369232&veh=sem

Then i have a small canary sized travel cage.

 

[Kyoto]

This is the flight cage we picked up for our GCC. Looks very similar to what others have posted. It's 36 tall, 32 wide, and 22 deep.