The bird's cage: correct size, perches and placement

The cage is one of the elements people get most wrong when starting out with a bird. The right idea is simple: the cage is the bird's safe base —its bedroom and refuge—, not its entire world. And as a base, it must be chosen and set up well.

The cage is the base, not the world

No bird should live 24 hours a day inside a cage. It is an animal made to move and fly; permanent confinement causes it physical problems (muscular, joint) and behavioural ones (stress, screaming, feather plucking).

A well-planned cage fulfils its role: a safe place to eat, rest and sleep peacefully, to which the bird returns of its own accord. The rest of the day, outside, in a prepared environment.

Size and shape

The rule is straightforward: the bigger, the better. As a minimum, the bird must be able to:

• Fully extend its wings without brushing the bars, in any direction.
• Move between perches with a small hop or flutter.
• Move around without bumping into the accessories.

The shape must be rectangular or square, never round. Horizontal space is the most useful. Be wary of cages sold as "enough" for a species: they usually fall short.

Bar spacing

The spacing between bars must be appropriate for the species: narrow enough that the bird can't get its head through and become trapped, nor escape. In birds that climb, horizontal bars help them move around the cage. Also check that the cage has no points where a foot or a claw could get caught.

Perches: natural variety

Perches are health for a bird's feet. The classic mistake is fitting only smooth plastic perches, all the same thickness: this forces the foot always to rest the same way and encourages foot-pad problems.

• Use perches of safe natural wood, of different diameters and irregular shapes.
• Place them at different heights, without crowding them, leaving room to fly between them.
• Avoid placing perches directly above feeders and drinkers (they get dirtied by droppings).
• A slightly higher perch is usually the favourite for sleeping; respect that.

Where to place the cage

Placement has a big influence on a bird's wellbeing. Place the cage:

• In a lived-in area of the house, so the bird is part of the family, but without excessive continuous noise.
• Against a wall, not in the middle of the room: having its back covered gives it security.
• Away from draughts and sudden temperature changes.
• With access to natural light but also shade; never in permanent direct sunlight.
• NEVER in the kitchen: the fumes from non-stick cookware are deadly to birds. Nor near sources of smoke, air fresheners or aerosols.

Feeders, bath and toys

• Feeders and drinker that are accessible, stable and easy to clean; the water always fresh.
• A container for bathing or the chance to bathe depending on the species: many birds love it.
• Toys for gnawing, manipulating and foraging, rotating them so they don't lose interest. Enrichment prevents boredom.
• Don't overload the cage: leave free space to move and fly.

Hygiene and maintenance

A clean cage is health. Remove food remains daily and clean the tray; do a more thorough cleaning of the cage, perches and accessories regularly. The water is changed daily. To clean, use safe products and rinse well — chemical residues and strong vapours are dangerous for a bird's respiratory system.

In summary: choose the largest possible rectangular cage, with appropriate bar spacing and natural perches of varying thicknesses. Place it against a wall, in a lively area but free from draughts and smoke, and never in the kitchen. Keep it clean and enriched. And remember the essentials: the cage is the foundation, not the world — the bird needs out-of-cage time every day.