Cage size for lovebird

[BlinkingLizard]

I'm considering getting my lovebird a new cage, but I don't want my whole apartment taken up with cages. Let me give you the backstory:

I initially bought my lovebird when my first cockatiel was getting old. They had separate cages. My plan was that when the cockatiel died, I would go back to having just one bird. Well, when the cockatiel did die six years later, I ended up getting another cockatiel because the lovebird was home alone for long periods of time and also just because I wanted another. Now it's the lovebird who is very old, and at least partially blind from cataracts. He is sixteen, and the cockatiel is ten.

Right now they share a cage, because although they had separate cages initially, after a few years of that they made it clear they wanted to share. (Mostly the cockatiel wanted to share - when I let him out of his cage, he'd go in the lovebird's cage and refuse to come out). They've been cage sharing for about eight years with no problems, and it's a huge cage, like 30" high and 24" wide and deep. But lately the cockatiel has been attacking the lovebird (it's more noise than biting, but he's bullying him for sure) and I am thinking of separating them (though Quinn, the cockatiel, would hate that - he's very attached and hates Monkey to be separated from him). I haven't cage shopped in a while - what's the smallest cage size that suitable for a single lovebird? I'd prefer not to buy two new cages, but I already have one large cage to keep clean. Monkey is not very active these days because of his eyesight - he mostly just hangs out in a comfortable place (including when he's out of the cage - he finds a safe corner and naps).

-Lizard

 

[SailBoat]

I think that you need to take another /different look at your reasoning for adding a cage. You have a Parrot with a disability and that should be the driver in what type and size of cage you should be looking at.

A Parrot that is losing its sight has very different requirements than a fully able Parrot. To that point, you are in fact looking for a small and shorter cage that you can create shelves and other large flat surfaces. Also, being able to create easy ways for your Parrot to get to both food and water bowls. Also that those sources are close by your Parrot.

Without regard for your younger Parrot. Housing a limited sight older Parrot with a fully sighted young Parrot is just dangerous for the disabled parrot. They need to be separated.

 

[BlinkingLizard]

Right, but how small and short are we talking here? I'm looking for some suggestions on a good size for a bird in this situation. I can't separate them until I have a second cage (unless I make the lovebird live in the travel backpack we use for vet trips/moving).


-Lizard

 

[SailBoat]

This is much better done by you. You watching and noting where your Parrot is currently roosting, eating, resting and what if any toys are interacted with.

That will define a comfort zone in an area that your Parrot knows. Understanding that the new cage and the continued lost of sight will reduce that comfort zone a bit more.

Now working from the point of the size and number of the shelves and size and number of the food and water bowls and lastly, the area needed for the toys.

The combination of the two will provide a general size area that is comfortable, easy to move around, sleep, rest, eat, drink and play.

 

[BlinkingLizard]

He prefers to be higher up in the cage, it would seem. When he's out, he stays on the top of the cage, or if he comes down he stays on the floor and finds a corner to hide in. He isn't playing with any toys. I really think that he would be comfortable in any cage that is not bigger than the current one. What he wants is familiarity: stuff that is always where he expects it. So moving him to a new cage isn't ideal, but I don't like the bullying going on and the cockatiel needs the bigger cage.

-Lizard

 

[SailBoat]

So, you are looking for a smaller cage that sits on a taller stand or table.

 

[BlinkingLizard]

I'll see what there is that comes with a stand. It has to be something very stable, because I have preschoolers who are clumsy. The current cage was ideal because it cannot be tipped and it's very tall with the built-in stand. A small cage on a stand is not usually very stable.

-Lizard

 

[BruceTheQuail]

I had some bonded sister lovebirds, one of which would attack the other when it came into breeding season. But then they would stress if they were apart. So I developed "the annex" which was a small budgie cage (which we usually used for taking the birds to the vet) that I attached to the side of the bigger cage with metal D clips. That way the birds could sit next to each other but not get hurt. You could try that, but use really good clips, and you would want 4 of them.

With what you have described, my guess is that Quinn is instinctively driving away Monkey because (with Monkey's condition) he would probably attract predators.

 

[BlinkingLizard]

I will definitely put the cages close, but attaching might be too difficult. It would make sense that Quinn wanted to drive away the weak bird, except when I do separate them, he freaks out until Monkey is near him again (he prefers to be no more than two feet away, it seems). He also still wants Monkey to preen him (Monkey will do this sometimes, but Quinn never returns the favor.) But cockatiels are moody, so who knows.

-Lizard