Archive for October, 2009
Buying a Custom Bird Cage
When ordering custom bird cages, you have two options: start with a basic cage and add desired options, or have the cage designed from scratch. Designing a cage from scratch is the more expensive choice, but it also gives you more control over your design.
When ordering custom bird cages, you choose the size, shape, and materials. Some materials available are: wood, acrylic, stainless steel, and metal. Some companies offer more exotic materials, such as bamboo. When choosing a material, evaluate it for practicality and function, as well as appearance.
You will be able to choose such things as type of flooring and bar spacing. Some of these things are simply personal preference; others are dictated by the type of bird you have. Bar spacing, for example, is a safety issue and will depend on your bird breed. You will also be able to choose the type of food and water cup. Additional options will include toys and perches.
Custom bird cages can range in price from the low hundreds to several thousand dollars.
Bird Cages Vs Parrot Cage
The Sizes
First off you are going to need to think about the size, and what sort of bird you are going to purchase. If you want parakeets, then you can get by with a small cage, but that really depends on how many parakeets you are actually planning to keep. If you just have a single parakeet then you won’t need a huge cage, but it still needs to be comfortable. Remember, this is the bird’s home, and it needs to be quite comfortable in it’s home.
Finches and other types of small birds such as canaries, budgies and lovebirds will not need a large cage, but still require one that is large enough so they do not feel cramped. This also depends on how many birds you are planning to put in one cage. If you are buying a parrot that is still a baby, the parrot is going to grow so purchase a cage that will still be large enough when the parrot gets older.
The size of the cage will be relevant to how happy and healthy your bird stays. The cage will have to be the right size for easy accommodation in the area in which you are planning to keep it as well. Birds like the interaction they have with humans so they need to be in a room that is frequented often. Consider this when you are shopping for bird cages. A small home may not have room for a large cage.
The Materials
The materials that bird cages are made of is another very important aspect of buying a cage. Most cages are made from steel or wrought iron. Birds have very strong beaks and often they will chew on the cage. If you are not careful, your bird will be out of the cage in no time. Parrot cages are made of even stronger materials since parrots have much more beak strength than smaller birds. They are also extremely smart and can figure out how to unlock their cage so you may want to consider this as well.
The best material is either a steel cage or a wrought iron cage. Avoiding wooden cages no matter how cute they may be is a good idea because they are more easily breached by the bird. Making sure the bird cages are made of materials that have not been painted is another aspect of purchasing a safe bird cage. Some paints can be poisonous to your bird.
You also need to make sure that the bird cages you purchase don’t have bars that are too wide. Make sure that the bars are no more than half an inch apart, because if there is more space your bird will probably be able to waltz right out. Make sure the material isn’t easily broken so that your bird won’t just break the bars and wander out of the cage.
The Shape
Bird cages come in all shapes and sizes, they may be round, they may be square, they may have a flat roof, and they may have a dome. A domed roof is good for birds that love climbing and love seeing everything that they can. A flat roof is okay for parakeets as they enjoy climbing and calling out for other birds. This will give your birds the ability to see everything that is going on in the house.
For the most part small cages are going to be round or square, and it doesn’t really matter because you are probably going to select a bird that is very small. Mostly you’ll want to make sure that the bird cage is good for the bird you are buying, you can get a cage that hangs, or one that stands, it all depends on your tastes and the needs of your bird.
Some bird cages for larger birds have play areas on the top for activities when they are out of the cage. There are two story bird cages for those who have many birds. These are perfect for parakeets, cockatiels and other small to medium birds. This is an option to consider if you have several birds and need more than one cage.
Accessories
All bird cages need to feature easy access for cleaning, and the replenishing of the essentials such as good and water. They also need a tray that can be removed without issue for cleaning. There’s a lot of cages with detachable roofs that make cleaning very easy. These need to have perches as well. Perches are a great place for a bird to relax, and if the perch is made out of wood then it will be a lot easier for the bird to relax on. Again, make sure the wood is not painted.
Something to climb on and even a few toys for the birds is recommended. Most birds are very active and like to have things to entertain themselves with when they are in the mood to play. Swings are one of the items you will see in many bird cages. There are certain types of birds such as parakeets that love to perch on the swings and talk up a storm.
Most importantly, make sure that your bird is happy in his or her cage. The cage is their home and you need to keep it clean at all times. I you do this then the bird will be very happy. Pick out a bird cage as if you were picking out a home for yourself.
http://birdcagestoreandmore.com
Decorative Bird Cages
Bird cages are available in many different materials, including wood, acrylic, stainless steel, metal, and iron. They are also available in some unique materials such as bamboo. Decorative bird cages are available in most any style imaginable. There are bird cages representative of most regions of the world—there are Oriental bird cages, Tuscan cages, and Arabian cages. There are also many bird cages featuring various architectural designs, such as domes and arches. Victorian cages are also quite popular. Some decorative bird cages are trimmed in gold or topped in marble. Some feature elaborate scrollwork. Others are even more whimsical, shaped like globes or hot-air balloons.
Some decorative bird cages are purely decorative; others are functional. If you intend to use a decorative cage as a home for your bird, make sure that it is truly designed for that purpose. Do not sacrifice your bird’s safety or comfort for style. For example, a tall narrow bird cage may look beautiful, but it doesn’t give your bird ample space for moving. A round, globelike cage looks exotic, but it might not give your bird a space for perching. With careful consideration of your bird’s needs, it is possible to find a bird cage that is both decorative and functional.
Decorative bird cages are available at department stores and specialty pet stores. They are also available online. Purely decorative cages are available at many retail stores and in a wide range of prices, depending on size and material.
http://birdcagestoreandmore.com
Bird Cage Liners – A Little Bit of Everything
When first deciding what sort of liner to use, consider your cage. Is the tray an odd shape? Does your cage have a grate to prevent your bird from tracking around the bottom? Can the bird reach the bottom, even with the grate? The answers to these questions will help determine which sort of liner is best suited for your situation. You want to pick a liner that can be easily examined, as a change in your birds droppings can be an indicator of illness. You want to choose a product that will make it easy to see the consistence, color, shape, and number of droppings. You also want a liner that will be easy to maintain, and will not allow droppings, water, or other messy substances to permeate and cause potential mold issues.
Common beddings on the market nowadays include:
Corn Cob Bedding while often marketed for pets and birds in particular, it can cause more hazard then harm. Because it is so absorbent, it can easily mold. The dust that comes along with the corn cob also has the potential to create respiratory issues in sensitive birds. If you bird has any access to his cage bottom at all, corn cob can pose a hazard if your bird accidentally ingests any of it.
Walnut Shells are another bedding type that is easy to come by, and at one time or another has been recommended as OK for birds. Walnut shells when eaten can irritate and inflame organs, causing discomfort, or even internal damage. Walnut shells are not recommended for avians.
Cedar Shavings can contain ingredients and natural oils that are toxic to birds. Their thick aroma can cause respiratory discomfort, causing allergic symptoms and irritation of the digestive track. Any sort of shaving is also not ideal for ‘broody’ or ‘nesty’ female birds.
Pine Shavings unlike cedar are not toxic and quite often used as nesting material for birds. We suggest using pine shavings for nesting material, but not a cage birds normal liner for the cage. Shavings can increase hormonal before for female parrots especially if they can have access to the shavings. If eaten, crop impaction is another concern. If your bird is a bather, shavings are not recommended as they can easily harvest mold.
Kitty Litter I’ve heard of few owners using kitty litter in the bottom of the birds cage. The dust factor that is associated with litter alone makes using kitty litter a huge issue. Clumping litter contains ingredients to make the litter swell, sometimes to ten times its normal size, so if ingested it poses a huge health hazard to your bird.
Paper Products is the seemingly all around winner when it comes to cage liners. Easy to come by (I’ve heard owners getting their paper from neighbors, buying end rolls from their local newspaper, and everything in between!) Newspaper is probably the most commonly used liners. In the US, all newspapers use a soy based ink, so its safe for your bird in case it has access to the bottom of his cage. Actually, soy based ink is said to have antibacterial properties, so it’s a healthy way to line your cage and ward off unwanted bacteria. It also has a slim risk for molding, and is easy to clean.
Cage Catchers another bird safe alternative on the market that have recently been getting a lot of praise. They are lightly waxed, custom sized pieces of paper sold in sheets the size of your choice. A wallet friendly alternative to paper, they make cleaning your cage easy and pain free. Cage Catchers, like paper, harbor little possibility for mold and give little opportunity for unwanted bacteria to fester.
Whatever you decide to use, please just make sure what you use is safe for your bird. We’ve heard owners using just about everything in their cages- from paper towels, to aluminum foil (a big no!), to fleece that is swapped out and washed daily. Whatever fits your cage, your budget, and your bird is what will be best for you! We recommend going to cage-catchers.com to check out their product line, or contacting your local newspaper to see if you can strike a bargain for their recyclables, or even the end rolls.
