Without a doubt parrots are one of the most intelligent pets you can own. Their extremely high intelligence, coupled with the fact that they love a social life, makes them extraordinary companions. Because there are so many different types of parrots, you must do your research before acquiring a pet bird, because many factors will influence the type of experience you will have in owning a bird.
People are often surprised to learn that parrots require quite a bit of space, so you must consider what size cage your home can easily accommodate. When you visit websites they usually group available cages into small, medium and large, but if you have never owned a pet bird it is often difficult to determine how that relates to specific breeds of parrot.
A small parrot would be something like a cockatiel, the numerous varieties of conures, Indian ringnecks and any other bird who does not get much longer than 12 inches (from top of head to end of the tail feathers). The toys that must be put into the cage to keep your bird happily occupied are smaller and so you can probably house one bird in a 24" x 22" cage comfortably. If you put smaller birds in a large bird's cage (for instance if someone gives you a cage) you must also make sure the bird's head cannot fit between the bar spacing. For small birds, the bar spacing should be no wider than 3/4".
A medium sized bird would be considered to be the size of an African grey parrot, the Timneh grey parrot, Amazons and the smaller cockatoos like the Sulphur Crest and the Goffins Cockatoo. These birds are very playful and so the playground you build inside their cage requires lots of room, not to mention their wingspan is considerably larger. Ideally they will have room to hang upside down from a swing and flap their wings in joy. The absolutely smallest size cage for one medium bird would be the 32" x 23" size and even larger would be better. The bar spacing for these medium parrots can be as much as one inch, but no more. They should also be made of heavy enough material that the bird cannot chew through it.
All the same considerations must be given to providing a cage for a large parrot. Large parrots are the greater Cockatoos, Eclectus and Macaws. Especially for Macaws, a cage with plenty of height is needed to accommodate the very long tail feathers or you will end up with a parrot with broken feathers. These birds require many large, destructible toys in their cages as reducing the world to toothpicks seems to be the Cockatoos' mission in life. Some people say these birds can be kept in cages 36" by 24", but they won't be happy. You will need several large parrot toys as well as swings, so for these gorgeous birds, go as big as you can possibly afford.
Parrots are shockingly clever, and that is why you will see cages advertised with "parrot proof locks" on the doors and feeding stalls. This is not sales hype. I have personally seen cockatoos work for literally hours to open a cage door and they eventually succeed. Even with "parrot proof locks" you may still need to resort to bicycle chain and a clamp to eliminate jailbreaks.
Keep in mind if you house two birds together they will need more room. All birds like to stretch out their wings to full extension on occasion, and when excited will extend both simultaneously, so a perfect cage size allows enough room for this to be possible. When in doubt, go one size larger as you will then be able to put in more toys, swings and exercise rings.
The last consideration when buying a cage is what it is made of. Although the cages that are powder coated or stainless steel tend to be more expensive, you will find they do not rust (which can be critical for your bird's health) and they are much easier for you to clean. Also, for your ease of cleanup, always get a cage where the bottom of the cage pulls out to change the papers without you having to go into the cage. This is easier for the owner and also allows for bird sitters to care for the birds when you are on vacation.
In short, make a healthy, spacious, entertaining environment for your parrot because if they are happy, you will be happier as well. Parrots live for decades so the investment is well worth it.
Amanda Drake managed a parrot rescue in Arizona for 3 years and is dedicated to making sure people understand the commitment required when taking a parrot as a pet. Her website http://www.birdvideo.org is dedicated to helping neglected and abused parrots.
Whats On My YouTube Today?
Larry Bird Shirt "Only Kings Have Rings" - Available at TheForestLab.com
Here Are A Few Items From Amazon You Might Be Interested In.
![]() JW Pet Company Activitoy Olympia Rings Small Bird Toy, Colors Vary List Price: Sale Price: $1.13 You save: $1.37 (55%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Super Bird Creations Olympic Rings 17 x 4in Large Bird Toy List Price: Sale Price: $12.99 You save: $5.87 (31%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Nature's Instinct Foragewise Rings of Fortune for Conures, Amazons, Macaws, and Similar Birds List Price: Sale Price: $18.98 You save: $0.01 (%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days |
![]() Super Bird Creations Vine Ring Slider Bird Toy List Price: Sale Price: $5.77 You save: $3.71 (39%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Droll Yankees A-6RP Ring Pull Classic Sunflower Feeder List Price: Sale Price: $27.48 You save: $12.51 (31%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Paradise Toys Large Cotton Preening Ring, 12-Inch W by 14-Inch L List Price: Sale Price: $20.99 You save: $4.00 (16%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours |
![]() Jungle Talk Small Triple Block Rings Bird Exercise Toy, Color:Assorted Sale Price: $3.25 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Insight ActiviToys Ring - Assorted colors List Price: Sale Price: $1.52 You save: $1.78 (54%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Droll Yankees RPS15B 15-Inch Ring Pull Tube Seed Feeder, Midnight Blue List Price: Sale Price: $25.90 You save: $8.05 (24%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
![]() Booda 1 Ring Swing N-Feet Perch for Birds, Large List Price: Sale Price: $16.35 You save: $1.64 (9%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days |
Items recently purchased on this site:
Thanks for visiting!
Tags: bird rings, jewelry, etsy, bird rings r us, bird


















































































Eligible for free shipping!








