Warning on cage grate that sit on top of rails

[ParrotGenie]

My female U2 was injured 2 days ago due to as she lifted the cage grate as she typically like to do it this time it somehow slammed on her and her beak also took some damage on the keratin outer-covering, thankfully missing her head, but she never stick her head completely though she uses her beak to move and toss it out of cage. I did wire tie it and even used stainless steel ties, but she always snap them off and still get grate removed. This time around it slammed down and she broke a bone and rupture her secondary air sac and her top keratin outer-covering on the top of her beak. She will recover fully thankfully as rush her to emergency vet.

This cage sure have never been designed like this to begin with. They use have had the grate go in-between the rails, not sit on top of it, as a large bird will just pick it up and toss it around. Avoid this cage King GC14022 for now as bad design, even before the injury always was a problem as my U2 want to go under to shred the paper she remove grate, since day one always had to wire tie it down to curb her from doing it, just didn't think it was dangerous till now.

https://kingscages.com/product/gc14022-corner-cage-54w-x-42-5d-x-72h5-5mm-bar-size/

Put her in a smaller cage as Doctor told me, so she could keep balance as she on medication, so only have my male U2 Cooper in there for now, but he doesn't go to grate at all. Will be replacing cage very soon.

 

[Tami2]

OH NO! I'm so sorry to hear this. That's awful. Good thing you were there when it happened!

Glad the Vet said, she'll make a full recovery.

Please keep us posted!

 

[Jen5200]

Wow, glad she’ll be okay. That cage design would definitely not be great for most too’s and probably most other large birds with the strength to lift the grate.

 

[ParrotGenie]

Wow, glad she’ll be okay. That cage design would definitely not be great for most too’s and probably most other large birds with the strength to lift the grate.

I don't think the engineers have a large parrot and is a poor design, never liked it, even before the accident, but had to use grate as she push out bottom tray and escapes as she done it before. She only in cage when at work, or night, but she always manages to find a way to get herself into trouble as most too's do and that time she did it around 12 am. Shockingly my male U2 doesn't bother with the grate unless she removed it and she under it already then he will follow her to shred paper.

The other design issue with the cage is the food cup holders. My too's always manage to loosen the bolts and bend the plate enough to pop the door out, it a problem with all king cages I noticed over the years as seen it happen at sanctuary/rescues I worked/ volunteered at. Another thing they need to fix and revise.

Prevue has a good grate design as slides in rail and locks in front, just cages are not large enough and locking design needs works. Going to have to find a good large suitable cage. I thinking about stainless this time around like I did with my other too frankie, but these guys are much larger then he is and bars on the ones I looked at is not suitable for a large too, especially two of them.

If anyone has a good recommendation for a good larger cage doesn't have to be SS, but if it is has to be solid core with thick bars that they can't snap, could be a good power coated one for two U2's prefer with optional divider that will hold up to them, please let me know?

 

[LaManuka]

What a terrifying accident, I’m so glad Baby will be ok!

 

[Tami2]

Have you reported this incident to King's Cages?

They should know for many reasons. A warning label, a recall or even pay her Vet bill.

 

[ParrotGenie]

I haven't yet, but now will so they can bring to attention and hopefully they will redesign it as notice it on more then one of their cages over the years similar issues. Then the food doors issues that on all their cages pretty much. More after them to redesign and recall it then anything, as otherwise cage would have been fine. Plus wire ties won't help in keeping grate in place and front spring level does nothing to stop a large cockatoo to just slide it out as Baby proven many times and a heavy grate. Anyone else that has this cage sure remove the grates completely.

 

[LaManuka]

I was gonna suggest you put a brick (or two!) on top of the grate to stop her lifting it, but she’d probably just chew on them and goodness knows what bricks are made of these days!