Cage sizes... Help!!

[lmwilson428]

I am looking to buy a new cage for my Sun Conure Mango. Right now he is in a 21" x 16" x 23" (W x D x L). The cage I am leaning towards is 32" x 23" x 37", but wonder if 24" x 20" x 34.75" would be good for less money and occuping space. I know bigger is better, but does a conure need that much space? Yet I am scared to get the smaller one and it not be big enough. Wish there was something in between the two!

These are the links...

Pet Bird Cages: EZ Care Freeport Bird Cage at Drs. Foster and Smith

Select Series Casa Cage: Bird cages for medium size birds at Drs. Foster & Smith

 

[weco]

Both cages are plenty large enough for any conure, but the 3/4" bar spacing is too wide.....conures really are better suited for 1/2" spacing, but can handle 5/8" bar spacing if need be.....

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Have you looked at flight cages? there are some really nice flights out there, big cages with the proper bar spacing. And on a plus side they are generally less expensive.

 

[MonicaMc]

I would really recommend a 32 x 23 cage for a conure. Conures can live for 20-30+ years.... how often do you plan on replacing the cage? If not often, best to get a larger cage that your conure can live in for years to come!

 

[lmwilson428]

Why can't a conure be in a cage with 3/4" spacing? He is in a cage now for past several month that is 7/8" spacing, he can't fit his head through the bars and has not been injured in any way. The cages with 1/2" or 5/8" are 24x24 or smaller. I am leaning more towards the 32x23 bc what is the point of getting a new cage when it's not that much bigger than his current cage? I am not crazy about the flight cages because they do look harder to clean and I like the cages with big doors, food doors, and a play top is a must. The cage I am looking at is one of the only cages I have found that I can hang toys on top.

 

[ShellyBorg]

Flight cages have longer side to side then up and down. That means more usable space and most are flat toped so lots of toy hanging space. As for ease of cleaning, parrots are messy! No matter what cage you buy you will be scrubbing!

 

[weco]

While it is a concern that birds may get their head caught in cages with the wrong sized bar spacing, it is not the only consideration. When a bird grabs its cage bars to climb around, it usually does so with one or two of its front toes and both of its back toes on a span of two bars.....your sun's toes are around 1.5" from base of toenail to base of toenail, front toe to back toe, so (s)he cannot effectively span two bars and firmly hold on to easily move around a cage with bar spacing over 5/8".....

Because cage bars are made from 3/32" inch wire upwards to around 3/8" bars for macaw cages, the bars themselves lend themselves more to pole sliding rather than pole dancing.....

Have you ever tried walking across gravel barefoot, in moccasins or dancing shoes.....not very much fun is it, same basic principal, causes you extra work & pain to get across the gravel.....

I guess it's alright to base cage purchases on cleaning convenience for the owner rather than consideration of the bird.....I've just never thought of things that way.....

Here are some playtop cages, but they don't come from fosters & smith and they are available in 1/2" and 5/8" bar spacing:

Nina Playtop Bird Cage by Avian Adventures

HideAway XL Victorian Flip-Top Bird Cage

Classico Playtop Bird Cage

Parkway Parakeet Bird Cage by Prevue Pet

 

[lmwilson428]

Thanks Weco, you make a point, I never thought the wider spacing may hinder their mobility. My sun seems to get around just fine in his 7/8" spaced cage now, but hate to think its hard for him. Now that you mention it, I think he relies more on well placed perches and toys more than the bars, but his cage is pretty crowded right now with toys and his sleeping hut. He seems to stay near the top of the cage, which is 21"x16". So getting a cage 18"x18" is pointless and 24"x20" is not much of a difference from the one he has now, which are cage sizes you listed.

I would love to get him a cage with smaller bar spacing, but having a hard time finding playtop cages that are at least 28-32" wide. All bigger cages seem to be 3/4". Mostly every website I checked online said 3/4" and some 1" max for suns. I want him to have more room and a great play area on top. He wants to be out whenever we are home and don't exactly have the space for a play stand and a big cage. If they can deal with 5/8" spacing, then how is 6/8" that big of a difference? I can obviously see the point for no more than 3/4". I am pretty sure he grabs 2 bars to climb and slide in his cage now and this one will be bit smaller spacing.

The convenience of cleaning the cage is low on my priority list. I was stating that the flight cages look difficult to clean and get to food dishes and don't have play areas on top.

 

[jugoya]

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Petco-Designer-White-Finch-Flight/dp/B004I2KCF4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1366046741&sr=8-2&keywords=Bird+flight+cages]Amazon.com: Petco Designer White Finch Flight Cage: Pet Supplies[/ame]

This is the cage I have my Chevron wing in right now.

It is about 20 x 20 x 30L= I've also adapted mine to where the dimensions are a little larger.

For a temp cage it would probably suit well; and its affordable and easy to clean and store.

Plus I'm going to get a second one and fit the pieces onto the other effectively making the dimensions 20x40x 30L... granted a chevron wing is a little smaller but the cage is a nicely sized affordable one.

Thats just my opinion but, for a beginner cage it works quite well!

Not to mention my bird loooves all the space on top for playing. He runs around on top of it and throws his balls everywhere, in my opinion it just doubles as extra play room! With a nesting door on one side I leave open all the time mostly, its almost like having a play top xP

 

[weco]

Wasn't sure my explanation of the dynamics of your conure's foot was understood, so maybe this will help.....on 3/4" or 7/8" wide cage bars, instead of being able to climb using all 4 toes on each foot, sun conures can only use the two longest toes on each foot...their other toes are not long enough...and then they are holding with the hooks of each talon, rather than the pads of their feet.....

If you have green cheeks, their toe spans are smaller yet.....if further clarification is needed, just let me know.....