Budgerigar cages: selection, arrangement, installation and care

Before you start a budgerigar, you should think about where it lives. The bird's cage must correspond to its physiological needs and active life. Since the bird spends most of its life in this "house", the choice of home should be taken responsibly.

In the modern zoological market, you can choose a budgerigar cage or a pair from a wide range of proposals. Birdhouses for sale equipped with towers, passages, unusual roofs, balconies and decor. Such "palaces" look attractive, fit perfectly into the interior, but can be impractical for a parrot.

For a feathered pet, you should choose the one a dwelling option that will not scare him away, will not create difficulties during flights and vigorous activity of the bird, and will also be easily cleaned.

According to bird watchers for a feathered pet it is worth choosing a rectangular cage. The angles that are in the structure have a beneficial effect on the psychological state of the bird, since in these places the pet will be able to hide in case of danger. A flat roof can become an additional playground for a parrot, so an elongated structure will be the best option for a wavy pet.

The round cage is not quite suitable for parrots, since, despite the decorative and interesting appearance, for the feathered it will create the erroneous illusion of spaciousness and endlessness. It is also worth noting that the curvature of the walls will become an obstacle when climbing and create a lot of obstacles during movement. Structures that do not have a definite shape are considered unsanitary, as they are very difficult to clean.

One of the most important criteria when choosing a budgerigar home is its size. The minimum dimensions of the cage are considered permissible only if the bird will be able to fly freely, and the house itself will be used only for food and recreation. In a situation where a bird is constantly in a cage and does not fly out in order to stretch its wings, it should not purchase a dwelling with small dimensions. The minimum free-flying cage dimensions are as follows:

• length - 0.4 m;
• height - 0.3 m;
• width - 0.25 m.

For two pets, the house should be large:

• length - 0.6 m;
• height - 0.4 m;
• width - 0.3 m.

When calculating the dimensions of a parrot's home, you should pay attention to its size. For a large bird, it is worth choosing a cage, the length of which is 5 times the length of the pet itself.

Experienced bird watchers advise buying solid metal cages for pets or making your own. The reason for their popularity lies in their good wear resistance, strength and optimal hygiene characteristics. Among the popular houses for parrots, the following can be distinguished:

• copper;
• copper with zinc coating;
• wooden;
• chrome-plated and nickel-plated stainless steel.

If the galvanized cage is poorly assembled, the metal layer may peel off, and this threatens the poisoning of the bird, which can eat the fallen off part. The wooden cage does not cause the difficulties described above. In a dwelling made of wood, the bird feels warm and comfortable. The safest breeds are linden, maple, willow, beech, apricot, birch.

It is strongly not recommended to place parrots in cages made of coniferous wood, aspen, acacia, chestnut and oak, as they contain elements that are harmful to birds. It is also worth remembering that the rods of the cage should have a diameter of 1-2 mm. In order for the birds not to gnaw the house, they should put twigs or pieces of bark inside. A decent option for the material of a cage for a parrot will be a stainless steel, but without a paintwork.

The choice of the cage and the conditions of keeping the budgerigar have a direct impact on its health and activity, therefore the place for breeding and residence of the feathered must be suitable for him in all respects... If the cage for the parrot is not chosen well, then staying in it can negatively affect his well-being, health, development, appearance, and can also cause the death of the bird.

In order for the bird to live does not bring it into a stressful state, it is worth buying a cage, guided by the following parameters.

• Pallet presence, it contributes to the ease of cleaning the house.
• The presence of a floor grate. Thanks to this element, the parrot does not eat droppings and fallen food.
• Suspension of feeders.
• Arrangement with boards in the lower part of the structure. Bumpers help pick up debris that gets scattered and also prevent it from scattering around the room.
• No dangerous gaps in the sides of the cage. It is they who can be traumatic for the feathered.

When buying a home for a pet, you should pay attention to the number of doors and their features. The doors can be opened as follows:

• lifting up;
• going down;
• swinging to the sides;
• moving up and down.

It is also worth noting that the doors should not sag in the hinges, make a creaking sound, but should open without difficulty. The main thing that the owner of a feathered pet should not forget is that you should not buy a small cage of an irregular shape.

If you want to have a budgerigar in his apartment, the owner must equip the cage, arrange its contents correctly and make its design not only comfortable for the tenant, but also as similar as possible to his natural habitat. In the cage of this unpretentious bird there should be everything that she needs for life.

• Perches... The parrot usually spends a lot of time on them. They are bought separately or in combination with the cage. If the perch is smooth, then it can cause rubbing of calluses on the feathered paws, so you should give preference to plastic poles with sandpaper.

A worthy option for this device would be a wooden pole with a diameter of 15-20 mm. The number of perches in one cage is usually two, they are set opposite each other.

• Feeders - these are containers made of plastic or ceramics, they are fastened using cellular rods. The ideal number of feeders in one house is three. The first is for grains and dry food, the second is for minerals and additives, and the third is for wet food, that is, cereals, fruits and vegetables.
• Drinking bowls have become a worthy substitute for cups or bowls of water, which the bird easily knocks over. For one or two individuals in the cage, one automatic drinker is enough; if there are more birds, then it is worth putting two.
• Mineral stones, chalk, pumice. These hard objects are intended for sharpening the beak of a bird.
• Toys. If the pet is just settled in a new home, then you should not clutter up the cage with a lot of entertainment. After mastering a new house, you can put several toys in it. Alternatively, a swing, spinning balls, a mirror, a bell are used.
• Branches should always be present in the budgerigar's cage. The feathered one uses them not only as entertainment, but also for sharpening its beak. The only thing worth remembering is that you cannot put a sprig from a coniferous tree in a parrot's house, as it can harm its health.
• Paper... It is worth putting a sheet of paper on the pallet, which helps to absorb unpleasant odors. It is not recommended to use newspapers as they have a rather aggressive texture.
• Bathing suit... If the dimensions of the cage allow, then a bathing suit can be installed in it, which looks like a plastic box with water poured at the bottom. The device must be securely attached to the cage rods.

Having decided on the parameters of the cage for the budgerigar, you can start making it yourself. For this work you will need to acquire:

• tape measure;
• a sheet of plywood;
• pencil;
• a sheet of paper;
• pliers;
• nails or screws;
• sandpaper with a fine fraction;
• glue for wood;
• hammer;
• nippers;
• metal mesh, in which the cells are 1-2 cm;
• construction stapler;
• screwdriver;
• wooden slats with a section of 2 by 5 cm in the amount of 12 pieces;
• metal profile;
• file;
• screwdriver;
• corner;
• awnings.

To make a cage measuring 0.6x0.25x0.35 meters, it is worth following these steps.

• The bottom is cut from sheet plywood in the form of a rectangle with dimensions of 0.6 by 0.25 meters.
• Slats are stuffed along the edges of the bottom, which will serve as boards.
• From previously prepared slats 3 pieces of small width are cut out along the length of the bottom.These elements will become the grooves for the cage, they are attached to the base with glue.
• From metal profile a sheet for the pallet is cut out, the dimensions of which will allow it to enter the grooves. The front folded back 90 degrees will facilitate cleaning the cage.
• 8 blanks are cut from the rails, with which the mesh walls will be attached. Their length should be equal to the height of the cage.
• Using a screwdriver holes are made into which parts of the mesh will penetrate.
• Wood blanks are lubricated with glue and fastened together to end up with 4 wooden corners.
• Part of the mesh is measured and cut, which is subsequently attached with a construction stapler to the glued strips.
• Next, the top of the cell is made. Wooden slats are attached to the sides; holes must be pre-drilled in them for attaching the mesh. The same rail should be mounted in the center.
• On the back it is worth attaching awnings, then install the roof for the house. One half of the roof will open, for this it will have a latch.
• It is worth cutting a hole in the front wall for future doors. According to its dimensions, a rack frame is made, and a mesh is pulled over it. The loop and lock are made of wire.

The place where the cage with the parrot will be located should be well lit, however, direct sunlight should be avoided, as this can cause heat stroke. You should not place a cage with a pet in a room where there are sudden temperature changes and drafts. It is undesirable to put the structure in the kitchen, because there are a lot of fumes, pungent odors and high temperatures, which can negatively affect the well-being of the bird. In the presence of unfavorable conditions, it is better to rearrange the pet's dwelling.

Not far from the cage with a parrot you cannot put poisonous plants, aromatic lamps, candles. At night, the structure can be covered with a fabric that allows air to pass through well. With this action, you can adjust the length of daylight hours for the bird. It is forbidden to cover the house during the day, as this can cause stress.

The budgerigar cage must be kept clean and tidy, while she needs a general cleaning every 7 days. Also, do not forget that the paper used to line the pallet should be changed every day. The pet feeder and drinker should be washed using a sponge every day before filling. Change of sand and sawdust is carried out at least once every 7 days.

For information on what should be in a budgerigar's cage, see the next video.