Bar Spacing for Blue throated Macaw

[Kdfhuey]

Greetings! We're ordering a cage from Expandable Habitats and wanted to know your thoughts on bar spacing for a 6 month old Blue Throated Macaw. Trisha said she thought 1 3/8" spacing should work for the cage but I'm unsure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your help.

-Keith

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

Congrats on your choice of an EH cage, you will love it. I have 3 myself, the first one I bought in 1994 and highly recommend them.

I don't have any experience with the BTM but have learned to trust Tricia on so many things but it is still best to get feedback from other owners, if just to be comfortable with that decision.

 

[Kdfhuey]

Thank you for the reply. I have to say I was dizzy after researching all of the different cage companies. So many choices out there. I really think I've researched most all of the stainless steel cage manufacturers but in the end I felt the most comfortable with EH.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

Yes, I have heard of some horror stories and the dealings that I had myself with one when I was trying to get some replacement clips was unbelievable.

You will be extremely happy with the quality and just everything about the cages they make. I especially love being able to pull the paper through, slice it off and I am done.

What size are you getting for your little one?

 

[KimKim]

I also have an Eh cage and LOVE it! I found it used so I had no choice in the bar spacing. It's 1.5" and I have my grey currently in it. He is doing fine in it, but I am also going to be getting a BTM (as soon as I can find one) and he/she will be put in this cage and I will get a new EH for my grey. Love, love, love EH! And they have great customer service

 

[Kdfhuey]

Thank you for the replies. I'm planning on getting a 48 x 30 x 50 cage for Armand (named after Robin Williams character in the Birdcage). I've talked with Tricia about the cage and she feels comfortable with the bar spacing, but she also suggested I ask around and see if it was appropriate spacing.

 

[thekarens]

I have a BTM, but not an EH cage. I think that spacing would be fine.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

That will be a good size and the two of you will be happy.

I highly recommend getting doors wide enough to hold 2 bowls and have 2 of those doors. Also, a couple of their shelf rests and instead of getting locks for the cages ask her to sell you instead the bar that drops down into the hole as I have used that on the cages now for several years and Kalea (my little monkey) has still never been able to slide it up far enough to remove it. Beats having to deal with locks all the time too.

Another recommendation is getting a couple of the Side Mount Perch holders. If you ever get any of the different woods that are cut into something like 12 inch pieces you don't have to worry if it comes with the SS bolts or find the XL washers to fit it though I have found the right size at LJO Leather. You just screw the perch onto the holder with a couple of screws underneath and you are done. Love it!

They are great at doing customs stuff too. I needed a stand that Kalea could not climb down off of. She had an Animal Environments stand that she would slide down that pole like a fireman slides down in the fire house. Mornings would go something like this: I walk over to the fridge, open door and close it right away because would climb down the other stand she had. Pick her up, put her back, go back to the fridge, open door and maybe be able to grab the milk before she hit the floor and was off. Pick her up, back to the fridge and maybe be able to open the door. The problem with her being on the floor is she would zero in on stuff and put holes in it or grab a piece of the wood work and take a chunk out quicker than you think possible. My kitchen cabinets are wood too. I love my babies but there are limits.

They made me up a stand with the base the same as they make for the cages, roll of paper underneath and a 3 inch post that Kalea has never climbed off of. I got the manzanita wood for the perch part from Bird On The Rock as Tricia does not sell the wood any more but I got a really wide one for it and am just thrilled how it all worked out.

We also have a manzanita play ground that had to be suspended from the ceiling because of that same little girl not staying put but at one point (and I think it is the little girl once again) the one end got chewed to the point it came apart at the corner and not supported from the ceiling. I contacted EH once again and had them build a 60x24 inch SS frame that the wood just rests on. The frame is what is attached to the SS cables and hung from the ceiling. Now, when a piece of that wood gets so chewed the rest of the structure still stays intact and I can add other wood anywhere I need/want to.

It is wonderful that I can yell 'HELP I need XYZ', can you do this and they come through for me.

 

[Kdfhuey]

I will definitely ask about the doors being wide enough for two bowls and having two doors and the locking mechanism as well. I'm going to get a 30" shelf rest as well. Can't wait for my cage!

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

Tricia will probably tell you about U-line for paper to possibly cut down shipping costs and all but search your area for restaurant supply houses too. Some of U-lines paper can be more expensive.

 

[Kdfhuey]

Ok...I'll ask her about it. I've been looking on Amazon also but haven't found any great deals on Kraft paper.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

What you want is the poly coated (one side) paper so when the baby takes a bath and that water is all over, the paper will stay intact and you can still pull it through. It is the white paper, not the brown.

U-Line is a big shipper of their product line, they can ship all over but if you do a google search for freezer paper or search DexKnows for restaurant suppliers. If you can find a supplier closer maybe you can pick it up yourself. 2 weeks ago I needed a roll of paper and the guy checked the shipping charges if I had it shipped to my home. $45 Since I was going to be up that way I just ended up getting it myself.

 

[Kdfhuey]

Thanks so much for the advice! I will definitely look around for the paper. Im almost finished with my bird perch. I think I spent $400 on building this thing when I could've bought one for $300. Ill post pictures later.