subject: Taking Care Of Pet Birds [print this page] If you are planning on keeping birds as a pet, you need a bird cage. A large bird cage is necessary for large birds so that they have enough room to fly and walk around. However, you cannot just choose any bird cage that you come across. Look for quality, a large space and functional features when shopping for a bird cage. The dometop and the playtop cages are similar in some ways, but the former allows your bird to see above the cage. The playtop bird cage, on the other hand, has a space outside of the cage where your pet bird can get some exercise.
Types
There are different types of bird cages for different birds. The most common types include the dometop cages, playtop bird, cages, breeding cages, flight cages, and travel bird cages. The dometop bird cages have more space for the birds to fly around in compared to other cages. A playtop bird cage, on the other hand, has a play area above the bird cage itself. Most playtop cages also come with bird feeders attached. A parrot perch is another type of cage that is made for larger birds. This is often made for larger birds and comes with a sturdy perch made of wood or rope that will not harm the bird's claws.
Shopping tips
There are a number of factors to consider when buying a large bird cage. The material that the cage is made of, the size, ease in cleaning the bird cage, functional features, whether it contains add-ons that stimulate your bird's attention, are just some of the things you must consider when buying a bird cage.
Size is another important consideration. Keep in mind that your bird should have enough room to move around, no matter what breed your bird is. A large bird cage is needed for larger birds. Also look at the material used to coat the cage bars. Typical bird cages are powder-coated but cage paint coats may contain amounts of lead and zinc. Look for a bird cage where the manufacturer can assure you that the lead and the zinc levels on the paint are below toxic levels.
The ease with which you can clean the cage is also important. If a large bird cage is hard to clean, chances are you will want to put off cleaning it, allowing bird droppings and moisture to start eating through the cage bars and panels. An indication that the cage is easy to clean is if you can take it apart in minutes.
Functional features are also another consideration when looking at bird cages. Removable trays, corner shelves, and removable toys are also important. Removable trays that you can push and pull are useful if you have a bird that bites. This way you can pull the tray out,deposit some food and push the tray back in. Also avoid cages with side panels where water tends to collect. Water that remains stagnant can collect on the side panels and rot the bars.
Quality cages are not cheap, especially if you are looking for a large bird cage and want to buy from known brands. However, it is best to choose a more expensive but good quality bird cage if you don't want to change cages every one or two years. A good bird cage can usually last your bird up to 10 years with regular cleaning.
