Recommended cage size is too small

[kaitymae]

I just got a peach-faced lovebird a week ago, and I can already tell that his 18x18x24 cage won't cut it. He's pacing the cage bottom and making some whole-hearted escape attempts.

I want to know what cage size would be, without a doubt, enough for an active peach-faced (though if I can afford it I'll definitely get one that's bigger). If it has more horizontal space than vertical, all the better. I'm also very keen on brand recommendations and places to buy quality cages.

(...and from now on I'll question all advice from the internet.)

Thanks so much!

 

[MonicaMc]

Look into flight cages. You can get some as cheap as $80 on up to $300 or more. Flight/aviary cages often tend to have more horizontal space than many of the recommended cages.

I have an HQ Single Flight and an A&E Double Flight, although I wish the A&E was an HQ, but only due to a minor difference in design between the two. There are a lot of companies out there that sell flight cages though... some with plastic trays, some with metal. Many of them do not have food access doors on the sides of the cages, so it does require reaching into the cage to change out the dishes.


A&E and HQ do tend to be some of the cheaper brands out there, along with Prevue, but if the cages are taken care of well, they can last for several years. I know that Kings Cages also have flights, and there's other places that will sell custom/expandable cages for much more.

 

[weco]

It is usually recommended that you obtain the largest cage that you can afford, but that it should be at least large enough that a bird can stand on a perch, be able to extend its wings and flap without touching its wings against the cage walls/bars.

Using that hypothesis, your 18"x18"x24" cage would be of a suitable size, however, if a bird has been in a communal cage considerably larger, then no, an 18"x18"x24" cage could very well be too small.

When estimating/determining a cage requirement for a given bird, a consideration of what the bird is used to should be made, but is not always done.....

 

[kaitymae]

Thanks a lot guys, I'm off to look at flight cages! And I'll definitely look into those brands.