APPROPRIATE CAGE SIZING FOR BIRDS

All pet birds need safe and secure housing, especially when you don’t have a large aviary where your bird can fly freely.

Many pet owners and pet storekeepers have the impression that a small bird needs a small cage. This conviction is wrong. Birds need ample space to play, exercise, fly, and explore.

Cage sizes and bar spacing guidelines for pet birds

Dimensions are expressed in width x length x height in inches.

Finches: 18 x 30 x 18 inches’ minimum cage size with ¼ to ½-inch bar spacing.

Canaries: 18 x 24 x 18 inches’ minimum cage size with ¼ to ½-inch bar spacing.

Budgies and parakeets: 18 x 18 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with ½ bar spacing.

Cockatiels: 20 x 20 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with ½ to 5/8-inch bar spacing.

Lovebirds: 24 x 24 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with ½ bar spacing

Parrotlets: 24 x 24 x 24 minimum cage size with ½ bar spacing.

Ringneck parakeets: 24 x 24 x 36 inches’ minimum cage size with ½ to 5/8-inch bar spacing.

Quaker parrots: 24 x 24 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with 5/8 to ¾-inch bar spacing.

Conures: 24 x 24 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with 5/8 to ¾-inch bar spacing.

Poicephalus: 24 x 24 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with 5/8 to ¾-inch bar spacing.

Caiques: 24 x 24 x 36 inches’ minimum cage size with 5/8 to ¾-inch bar spacing.

Jardines: 24 x 24 x 36 inches’ minimum cage size with 5/8 to ¾-inch bar spacing.

Amazon parrots: 24 x 36 x 48 inches’ minimum cage size with ¾ to 1-inch bar spacing.

Mini macaws: 24 x 36 x 48 inches’ minimum cage size with ¾ to 1-inch bar spacing.

Goffin cockatoos: 24 x 36 x 48 inches’ minimum cage size with ¾ to 1-inch bar spacing.

African grey parrots: 24 x 36 x 48 inches’ minimum cage size with ¾ to 1-inch bar spacing.

Large cockatoos: 36 x 48 x 48 inches’ minimum cage size with 1 to 1.5-inch bar spacing.

Large macaws: 36 x 48 x 48 inches’ minimum cage size with 1 to 1.5-inch bar spacing.

Diamond doves: 24 x 24 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with ½-inch or less bar spacing.

Ringneck doves: 24 x 36 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with ½ bar spacing.

Pigeons: 24 x 36 x 24 inches’ minimum cage size with ½ bar spacing.

Other general considerations

1. The width of the cage for a pair of birds should be at least thrice their combined wingspan
2. The length of the cage should allow at least 2 wing flaps between perches (the more flaps the better). Perches should be placed far enough from the ends of the cage to enable the pets to turn around on the perches without scraping their tail feathers against the cage.
3. The minimum height of the cage should be thrice its length from the head to the tip of the tail of the largest bird to be held in it.