How many parakeets in this cage?

[Ella11]

How many parakeets can fit in a cage that is 2 feet wide, 20 inches long, and 29 inches high?


Thanks!

 

[charmedbyekkie]

How many parakeets can fit in a cage that is 2 feet wide, 20 inches long, and 29 inches high?


Thanks!

One at most. They need to be able to stretch their wings comfortably and be able to get away from each other if they want space. The size you mention is the minimum requirement for a single parakeet in a cage.

 

[Smerft85]

Two absolutely maximum, I've got about 4x that size for 6 of them. Two would be a touch tight as was stated above, but they are small birds, your cage would be full with 2 budgies. However unless you are investing in a second, or far larger cage one budgie would be enough for sure.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

For 1 bird, the bare minimum for width is at least 1.5x their wingspan (this is the legal limit is some countries); ideally the minimum is 2x their wingspan (a more humane limit). Say we list the parakeet's (am assuming budgie) wingspan as 12 inches. 'Legal' minimum would be 18 inches; humane minimum would be 24 inches. This is for 1 single budgie.

Now considering you want to house multiple birds, that limit of 1.5x and 2x is no longer valid. You would be looking at more than 3x the individual wingspan. One place recommends 39 inches long, 20 inches wide and 32 inches high for two budgies that don't spend a lot of time in the cage - they explicitly say to get a larger cage if the birds will not be spending the majority of their time outside of the cage.

Now that's if you want to follow what veterinary schools, parrot books, and rescue organisations recommend. Ultimately it's your decision.

Around here, experience says to get a cage for your worst day. If things go south in your life (medical emergency, housing problems, family matters), what cage is ok for your birds to stay in for 48 hours plus with no outside time? If you go with the bare minimum, that's for you to sort out.

 

[fiddlejen]

You can fit more budgies in there comfortably IF they are still tiny babies. My pair have just outgrown their second cage, which was HUGE for them when I got it in February.

 

[Smerft85]

I've recommended them before, critter nation double without divider, that would make your cage 36"w, 48"t, and 24"d. With that cage, there is plenty of space for multiple budgies, use your current cage as a travel cage. I wasn't trying to pick a fight, simply saying at absolute most at 2, I did not however say one would be the best option. To be fair to your bird, a bigger cage is 100% needed if you want another budgie.