Best Birdcage Reviews and Buying Guide

If you already know what kind of cage you’re looking for, but just aren’t sure which one to get, you can jump right into the reviews and buying guides. Everyone nows that you can get some of the best deals online, but the problem is that you can’t “try before you buy” or actually inspect the cage yourself. Buying the best birdcage for your companion doesn’t have to be frustrating or a guessing game, so I’m hoping my cage reviews will help you get the best home for your birds at the best value.

If you’re still not sure what kind of cage you want or need, I’ve compiled some info about what to look for in a cage and overviews of the different styles, features, materials and the like. 🙂

Your Bird’s Cage is his (or her) Castle

The cage is the single most important item you can buy for your avian friend, and you’ll want your little buddy to love his new digs, so choosing the best birdcage at the best value is important. Its cage is where your bird will spend most of its time. Cages come in all shapes and sizes for almost any size bird or need. You’ll probably need two of them, one daily cage that your bird will live in, and a travel cage for vet appointments and such.

There are a few important basics to know when buying the best cage for your feathered companion. The most obvious is — the larger the cage the better! Your bird will most likely spend most of its time here, so a large cage helps ensure that it gets enough exercise, and for larger birds the cage must be large enough for it to at least fully extend its wings. For smaller birds that are more active, it should be able to jump from perch to perch while flapping its wings.

Horizontal bars, while not a necessity, will make it much easier for your bird’s feet to grasp and for it to climb around in. And for large birds with strong beaks that can tear through thin, weak metal, the bars should be thick and made of wrought iron. A nice cage feature on large cages is a built in metal “skirt” that helps keep messes inside.

Finally, and importantly I want to stress that you should avoid decorative cages. These were not designed with the bird needs or safety in mind, but instead to look a certain way. While a functional cage CAN be nice-looking, it needs to be functional, safe and sturdy. Some decorative parakeet cages are made with plastic tops that can lift right off and sit precariously on a 3-legged stand. Imagine if something were to bump into that cage, it would knock right over and the top would fall off. If you happen to own other pets such as cats or dogs, and the room wasn’t safe for them to play in, the result could be tragic. Above all, invest in a well-constructed cage that is safe and created specifically for your type of bird, by a company with a good reputation. Look for one that is well-reviewed by other bird owners, so you know what you’re getting.

Choosing a Cage

Deciding on the best cage can be very hard to do especially if you’ve never shopped for one before and sorting through the many options available to you can be a serious challenge. There are several things you need to keep in mind when buying a cage and that you invest in high quality bird cages that provide your birds with comfort and security that they need. Also, as long as you know what to look for, you can get amazing deals online as opposed to brick-and-mortar stores. It’s important to consider a number of features and factors before you set out to buy one or several cages for your feathered pets.

Size

Size is among the most important things that you shouldn’t go cheap on when looking for the best birdcage for your bird. Parrots and parakeets need enough space to stretch out without their wings touching the sides of the cage. The bigger the cage the better as a rule of thumb. The cage you buy will last a long time and will get a lot of use, so it’s wise to spend a little more for a bigger cage that will offer your bird a comfortable retreat at the end of the day.

Your birds need to have enough space to move around just in the same way that you do. From personal experience, it is a good idea to buy the largest cage that your budget can afford. You also need to remember that food bowls, perches and toys also take up some space. Buying small cages denies your birds space to move around more freely, which leads to negative behaviors as biting, feather plucking and screaming.

Shape

Cages come in different shapes as well as styles. You need to do thorough research before hitting the market to look for a cage. For instance, finches need a vertically shaped cage that will allow them to fly around comfortably. Bird naturally gravitate toward the top of a cage for security, since they’re not domesticated their wild instincts are still at work here. For parakeets, though, that means they may rarely hang out near the bottom of their cage, so a low but wide cage where they have room to fly from one side to the other is best. Taller birds such as cockatoos and macaws require more height as compared to the width for comfort.

Bar Spacing

The cage should be designed for the type of bird you want to keep in it. Having small birds necessitates the need to choose cages with bars spaced at most a 1/2 inch apart to prevent possible injuries if they try to squeeze through. Parakeets can’t live in a parrot cage because the bar spacing is usually wide enough for a parakeet to easily fit through. If the bars of the cage are widely spaced, your bird is more likely to escape from the cage than when they are close to each other. Finches may be able to escape from a cockatiel cage. The correct spacing depends on the bird species that you want to keep in the cage.

Opt for cages with bars positioned horizontally if possible. This makes it possible for your birds to climb up and down with ease.

Bar Spacing Recommendations
Small Birds Bar spacing: Up to ½”	Medium Birds Bar spacing: ⅝” – ¾”	Large Birds Bar spacing: ¾” – 1″	Extra-Large Birds Bar spacing: 1″ – 1 ¼”
Budgie/Parakeet Canary Dove Finch Lovebird	Caique Cockatiel Conure Parrotlet Pionus	African Greys Amazon Sm-Med Cockatoo (Goffin to Umbrella) Sm-Med Macaw (Hahns/Noble, Mini)	Lg Cockatoo (Moluccan) Lg Macaw (Blue & Gold, Scarlet, Hyacinth, Greenwing)

Material

Material used in designing the cage is also another important thing to look at when buying. The most common materials that cages are made from include aluminum, stainless steel and wrought iron. These materials are known for their durability as well as affordability and safety. Most cages for smaller birds are made of aluminum, Some of the best birdcages are made of stainless steel, which is expensive, especially those made of medical grade stainless steel, but they will also be easy-to-clean because of their smoothness, and will look beautiful for years. If you’re going to choose a wrought iron cage for your bird, baked-on powder-coated cages are the best because they won’t rust when they get wet.

Design

The design of bird cages you choose to buy is very important. Although they can be very appealing, rounded bird cages have a negative effect on birds. They make caged birds feel insecure, which can lead to long-term psychological problems. Squared or rectangular birdcages turn out to be the best since birds feel much safer when they retreat to the corners.

Different Styles Of Bird Cages

Flight cage
Also known as aviaries, flight cages are simply large bird cages in both width and height. This enables the bird to live up to their natural instincts and be able to move around freely in the cage. When it comes to having a small bird, then choosing any type of cage that seems big enough is recommended. However care should be taken when selecting an flight cage for larger birds, as it should be at least 2 times the wingspan of an adult bird to ensure there is enough room.

Playtop cage
As the name suggests, playtop cages are basically cages with a built-in playpen or play area on the top of the cage. The best part about playtop cages is that they come in different styles, each offering the out of cage experience for your bird. Generally, they feature a perch or “bridge” in the center, with toys, seed cups, swings, or other fun features to entertain your bird. This allows them a safe place to hang out, outside of their cage while interacting with their humans or each other.

Acrylic cage
While it might seem strange or unusual to keep a bird in an acrylic bird cage, these actually have a number of advantages over traditional wire or metal cages. Acrylic cages are easier to clean due to fewer corners and crevices where dust and dirt can hide, and they’re designed for optimal air-flow and ventilation, for those wondering if there is adequate air circulation inside of it. One of the drawbacks is that, yes, you can see ALL the dirt on the cage, but this is also an advantage in that it helps you see where it needs to be cleaned. Birds who live in an acrylic cage adapt very well and can climb on it and get around just as well as in a wire cage.

Dometop cage
Another bird cage in the different styles of bird cages that is common is the dometop cage. In this type of cage the interior boasts a traditional large space with a curved top section. This design ensures that with active birds, the birds can easily climb and fly around without inhibitions yet remain safe.

Classic cage
When it comes to choosing a practical bird cage amongst the list of different styles of bird cages, the classic cage offers not only function but style. The boxy cages come in different sizes from short to long, suiting most bird types. However what makes it one of the most purchased type of cage is the fact it is one of the most affordable in the market.

Breeder cage
A breeder cage is essentially purchased when you intend to expand the family and have more birds. Looking at the different styles of bird cages no doubt the breeder cage is the largest. This ensures that when a new bird is introduced and the original bird is still hostile, both can have their personal space without feeling crowded. On the other hand the large space ensures that when they successfully bond, they will have enough space to play around.

Within these basic cage styles, there are many variations in the shape of each of them. In more recent times cages designs have changed a lot, as more features have been added to ensure that the birds feel more comfortable. However it is good to point out that even with all these new extras, you should still choose a style cage that fits with the bird’s natural instincts, since it’s more important for the cage to be useful and safe for the bird, instead of just convenient for us humans.

Convenient Features

It is beneficial to consider buying birdcages designed with helpful features that make it easy for you to keep the cages clean and care for your birds in the best way possible. The features that come with the cage you want to buy are very important. You will come across different kinds of add-ons when looking for a well-made cage. Although the added features can be add more to the cage’s bottom line, a cage with more features makes it comfortable for your bird and easier on you.

Seed Guard

One of the best birdcage features that you definitely won’t regret having on the cage. Some cages have them built-in and others come without one, but it can be bought as a separate accessory. It surrounds the base of the cage, much like a skirt, and catches seeds, hulls, droppings and other dander that fall just outside the cage. Instead of falling to the floor, the seed guard keeps the mess inside as it slides back into the bottom of the cage, leaving less mess on the floor below and around the cage.

Feeder Doors

The feeder doors let you access the food and water cups for easy access. This is especially valuable for new or timid birds, untrained or wild-caught birds who are still skittish around people. Being able to provide food and clean water in an unobtrusive way makes feeding quicker and easier, and minimizes stress to an anxious bird.

Slide-Out Tray

This is one of the most convenient bird cage features that must be available on bird cages that you buy. It makes it easy for you to remove bird drippings and other waste from a cage. A quality slide-out tray that is well designed should make it possible for you to pull out the tray, change cage liner and push it back to fit snugly against base of a cage so as to close all gaps that droppings and food can slip through and get stuck only to harbor bacteria.

Cages Can Look Nice Too

The fact that bird cages are placed indoors and often in one of the main living areas (although if you can afford the space, a separate bird room will make everyone happiest) makes it nice, but not necessary, that you choose a cage that is nice to look at. You have the option of buying decorative powder-coated cages or stainless steel cages. Owners who buy stainless steel cages turn out to be very popular with bird owners due to the fact that they are resistant to rust, are easy to clean because they’re so smooth, and will look beautiful for years.

Where Should I Put the Cage?

Now that you’ve bought the best birdcage for your friend that you possibly can, where will it go? In addition to considering all of features and factors above, it is also important that you think about where you will put your cage in your home. It’s safest to avoid placing cages near windows or doors, as birds are highly sensitive to drafts and temperature changes. For smaller cages, place it on a table or cage stand in the living room where it is more active with plenty of lighting. Larger cages are usually tall enough to stand on their own, and sometimes have caster wheels so you can move them around easily.