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Cage inside a cage? Birdie Play Pen?

3K views 20 replies 10 participants last post by  laracroft 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi! I'm getting my first parrrotlet baby in about 4 weeks, and I have decided on this cage for the bird, the King's Cages "Superior Line Flight Cage," 28" wide x 18" deep x 28 1/4" high (inside height; overall height with stand is 56"). The cage will be white, btw, not black:

http://www.kingscages.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=SLF 2818



It is the absolute largest cage I can fit, in the ONLY place in the house in which I can place the cage. (Great location, btw. Very sunny, but no direct sunlight. Tucked in a dining room corner, with a bay window on one side, and a regular window on the other side. We have an open floor plan, so that the cage will be visible from both the dining room and kitchen. The bird will see us all the time.)

I also love that this cage has 4 swinging, locking feeder doors. I leave for work by 7:00 a.m., and will not have time to deal with removing the bird (due to cage aggression) every weekday morning, in order to change the food and water. I also have two cats, and REALLY would not have time to find both of them and make sure they were locked away before taking the bird out of the cage. So those swinging feeder doors are a MUST. (I have already purchased "hoods" that I am going to mount above each bowl, to keep droppings out of the food and water. I will mount them high enough that the Parrotlet will still feel comfortable eating and drinking, since I know they are not fond of covered dishes!)



The cats never bothed my previous birds (two budgies), who were housed in this same location. I keep large scat mats on the floor on the two exposed sides of the cage (the other two cage sides face the walls). I also keep "Ssscat" compressed air cans on the widow sills on either side of the cage. So the cats truly leave the birds alone! I've had this set up for 8 years with no problems. (I also use heavy duty stand cages that will not topple, even if the cats somehow jumped on them.).

So I LOVE the new cage I have chosen, and the cage location, but here is my dilemma: I have been reading that is it a good idea to keep the baby in a SMALL cage, for at least a few weeks after bringing him home. There is NOWHERE in my house where I could keep a small cage safe from the cats. I could use our office (which is actually a spare bedroom), but I would never trust my husband and son to remember to keep the door closed. They would remember for a while and then forget; I just know it. Plus, the bird would not have a chance to get used to being in the main living area of the house.

I am thinking about buying a small cage and actually sitting it INSIDE the large cage, in order to keep the baby safe. Has anyone ever done this? I am considering a small Vision cage, or some other small parakeet/travel cage. I will probably be a pain in the butt, but I am not sure how else I can keep a small cage safe from the cats.

Has anyone ever done this? Used a small cage situated within the larger cage? Any recommendations for what type/model of small cage to use? The dimentions of the large cage floor are 26 3/4" wide x 17 1/8" deep.

Also, has anyone ever used a "Birdy Play Pen," as pictured here? http://www.luckyfeathers.com/playpens.htm (This is not where I'm getting my bird, btw.)



Would this be a better idea, to have a "Birdy Play Pen," inside the larger cage? I can see advantages (feeling of security/keeping in warmth) and disadvantages to this idea (no practice learning to navigate cage bars, for instance.)
 
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#2 ·
Whether a baby cage is needed is dependent on the individual animal. I do agree with your desire to have a sturdy cage with cats as an issue, because most small cages are so fragile and easy to break. A couple things you can do to make the huge mansion more baby friendly. First, letting your baby be a bit older before it comes home is a good plan. A more mature bird is going to be more coordinated, which is the fear of the huge cage. Then, you need to set up the mansion differently then it will be in the end. Food and water should be at the bottom level, and you will want to keep the perches easy to figure out and low as well. Rope perches are easier to grip with feet and beaks. They you will want to put a fleece blanket at the bottom of the cage until you are pretty certain that the bird is not going to oops and fall off the perch to the bottom. Baby birds are just clumsy, and will literally trip over their own feet, so they need something so they don't get hurt if they fall to the bottom of the cage. If you baby-bird the cage, even the mansion should be ok. Oh, and you will want a birdie snuggle like this https://www.etsy.com/listing/501850237/happywings-fleece-snugglepillar-parrot?ref=shop_home_active_7 Parrotlets pretty universally seem to want to sleep snuggled in fleece (or on top of the fleece, to each their own). :)
 
#3 ·
I agree with Dana, just baby bird proof the bigger cage and run with it. Padding on the bottom in case of falls. Keep perches and food low to start with. Use rope, soft, small perches so the chick can get easy purchase. Some sort of low hiding places so he can feel safe when he needs too. If you know the breeder then maybe get an idea how he is currently being house and try to match it if you can. See how he responds to this and adjust accordingly.
 
#4 ·
I was going to say what they said. LOL
I notice some birds don't really like the clear sides, I made a little box just like that for Melody and she really just wanted to get out. I think something​ soft on the bottom and keep things low.
It sounds like you have a very responsible plan for the cats, I've never heard so many good ideas. I wish more people understood how important that is. That cage is great, it looks like Melody's.
I don't worry about covering the food cups, I just place everything in the cage so poop won't fall on anything below. He might not like that, I would put one with and one without just in case, you don't want to deter him from eating or drinking. Lotts and lotts of millet too.
 
#5 ·
At the risk of freaking everyone out, I have to admit that with my first budgie, Dexter (gorgeous blue spangle), I didn't need to do any of that with the cats. My Blue Point Birman, Julius (a.k.a. Grand Premier Abirwood's Just for Kicks), used to leap up and sit on the top of Dexter's cage all the time.









Dexter wouldn't even startle. He simply went about his business, chattering away, as Julius sat there atop the cage, relaxing. Dexter actually seemed to like Julius. They never had physical contact, however. I sometimes think that Julius misses Dexter. I know I do!

When I got two new budgies, after Dexter died, it was never the same again. Julius made one leap up onto the cage, and they freaked out. (They were not even hand-tame, so I wasnt surprised.) From then on, I have taken all the precautions I described above!
 
#6 ·
Dexter and Julius are both GORGEOUS! That cat is amazing, I assuming he's a champion show cat?

I never worried about putting any of my birds in temporary cages when I got them. I just put their perches and food close to the bottom for the first little while, but I'm not even sure that was necessary.

Have fun with your new baby!
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the advice. Looks like I won't have to worry about a small cage, after all! That's a relief.

Thank you for your kind words about Julius (and Dexter!). Yes, Julius is a grand champion, but in the Cat Fanciers Association, neutered champions are known as Premiers. Unlike in dog shows, you can actually compete with spayed and neutered animals in CFA. They just have their own class: "Premiership," instead of Championship. Julius is a Blue Point Birman. Having owned three, I can tell you that Birmans are, by far, the sweetest, gentlest, softest, most beautiful cats you will ever encounter. (And they don't mat - ever!)

I dreamed of owning a Birman for 20 years before I got Julius. His breeder started showing him before I adopted him, and I finished his title in under a year. He HATED the show ring, which is a bummer, because he could have gotten regional or even national rankings if I had kept at it. (A CFA judge told me so!) But I didn't want to torture him, so as soon as he "Granded," I quit.



 
#8 ·
He's just amazing. I lost two cats to old age within the past 3 years, and this is the first time in my life (including as a small child) that I haven't had a cat. I'm retired now, and really miss having a cat, but the vet bills are just so high. Looking at Julius really makes me want another one though, just like him :)
 
#11 ·
Oh those brilliant blue eyes...beautiful! And they so matched the blue of your precious parakeet...adorable!

My parrotlet (Sky) had a very special relationship with my last dog (Flair). Sky loved to land on Flair and preen her fur, and loved at times to ride around on her. They were buddies!

I had a dear friend who had an African Grey and a cat some years ago, and they were totally best buddies. When I first heard of it I was shocked, but watching those two together, sure enough, they adored one another and hung out well together.

On the rare occasions such relationships form between birds and dogs or cats form it is pretty amazing, and very cute.

Thank for sharing those lovely pictures! :)
 
#12 · (Edited)
Oliver is coming home this Thursday evening! (He will be eight weeks old three days after I pick him up.) I am so excited!

His cage is all set up, including the new FeatherBrite lamp. (That will be turned on for only 2 hours per day, btw.)

Since the cage is fairly large, I have WAY more stuff in there right now than I will keep in there at one time, long-term. For now, I want him to be able to navigate well without falling. SO, there are LOTS of perches, swings and toys in the cage. When I see that he is climbing around without falling, I will definitely remove some of the clutter.



I have a couple of questions. In the top right, rear corner of the cage (the part of the cage surrounded by two walls), I installed a K & H "Cuddle Up Bird Warmer," right next to the perch that I am HOPING Oliver will use as a sleeping perch. I also placed a fleece "Snuggle Pillar" above that same perch. (Apparently, Parrotlets love these.) It is hanging right next to the heater. I figure the fleece strips will get warm, and then he can snuggle himself in there at night. (My luck, he will sleep somewhere totally different, or clinging to the back of the cage with his feet, like one of my budgies did.)

Assuming Oliver actually USES this perch for sleeping (humor me...ha ha), should I use the Snuggle Pillar at all? I am really worried that he will ingest the fleece. Has anyone here used one of these? Do you think they are safe? Should I remove it?



As suggested, I put a very thick layer of fleece on the bottom of the cage, to cushion falls. The fabric is one large piece (2 yards), and is folded in such a way that there are NO exposed edges he could chew. That being said, should I be concerned that he might burrow his way UNDER the folded fabric, and get stuck? I know he's a bird and not a hamster (ha ha), but I am not sure if I need to worry about that. (I will probably put white cage liner paper on top of the fleece, btw, so I don't have to wash it every day, but the photos show it with no paper on top.)

I have placed four "no-tip" crocks on the floor of the cage, which I will use for food and water until I see that he is also eating and drinking out of the dishes that came with the cage.

There are multiple perches in the cage, some very low, and he should be able to move from just about anywhere low in the cage all the way to the top without falling.

It was tricky, but despite all the stuff, I think I have managed to keep all items below out of the poop zone. I have also installed "poop protector" hoods over three of the food/water bowls, but they are high above, so he should not be afraid to use the dishes.

I have a temporary coconut hut in there, as well, low in the cage. (This was suggested by the breeder.) I know I will need to remove it in a couple of months, to avoid territorial/hormonal issues.

There are lots of chew toys, a seagrass mat with wooden toys attached, a few bell toys, and one small bird piñata. Two regular swings, one circle swing, and one sphere-type swing. Three rope perches (varying diameters), one wooden preening perch, one cement perch, and one "boing." The sleeping perch is a sandy perch, which he should be able to grip easily. If anyone thinks that is too rough, I can replace it with a small manzanita perch.

At the top rear of the cage, above the seagrass mat, is a well-stretched and secured plastic tubing coil, designed for Parrotlets. (The space in between the coils is too large for him to become trapped or strangled. I made sure of that.)

Any opinions about the snuggle pillar? The fleece on the bottom? Or anything else?

Thanks!

Lots of photos below. (Sorry if it's too many...)























 
#13 ·
Wow, if Oliver doesn't like his new home can I have it? It is nice than my real home much less Jules cage. Oliver Is surely a lucky birdy.
 
#14 ·
LOL! Can I move in too???? :D That is amazing!
As far as the fleece, Tumi will NOT sleep without fleece strips to snuggle with from day one, and he's not alone. They don't ingest the fleece, and it is a parrotlet's happy place. Is your place cold as a general rule? The heater thing might be too much during the spring/summer. During the winter it might be nice, but during the summer it might be too much warmth.
Tumi burrows under things, but again, don't worry. Fleece is heavy for a parrotlet to burrow under, and so it should be perfect. Remember, they one weigh one ounce, so a hunk of fabric can easily outweigh them. :)
 
#15 ·
Thanks. I MAY have gone a bit overboard...lol.

I will keep the snuggle pillar. Thanks for setting my mind at ease.

It is not especially cold in the house right now, but it was pretty chilly when I began setting up the cage. I won't use the heater unless I think he needs it. I keep thinking that for the first time ever, he will not have any other birds to snuggle up to at night, so maybe it will be comforting, at least if the house is cool. That heater barely gives off any heat at all, in my view. (I tested it out.). I guess they work well enough, but I doubt it would make him too hot.

In the winter, the dining room (where the cage is) is the chilliest room in the house, because it is over the garage. If I could move the cage, I would, but that is the only place for it. (Our house is small. There really are no other options.) It is a good location in every other way, but I always provided my birds with a little extra heat in the winter, in case they needed it.
 
#16 ·
The temperature is not a big thing with any bird. They have their own down coat after all. The big thing is to keep them out of breezes and drafts so they can lock their feathers and keep the heat in and themselves warm.
 
#17 ·
Thanks. There is no draft in that area, so that's good. The heating/AC vent is at least 4-5 feet away, and I keep the vent nearly closed when the the AC is running.

I suppose it really never gets colder than low 60s in there, but it feels cold to me, in the winter. I guess I need to remember that they do have their own built-in sweaters!
 
#18 ·
In that case, I'd have the heater thing in there from day one (provided he isn't freaked by it) so that it is normal for him. Now, there is a chance that he panics with new things and can't handle bright colors. If so, don't worry - it is TOTALLY normal! They are silly creatures and very mercurial. I carefully set up Tumi's cage, and then that first night I was frantically rearranging it and making strips of fleece into a sleeping tent. :)
 
#19 · (Edited)
Wow! That cage is amazing! You are so very thoughtful in how you organized everything just so :) I love that even the fleece on the cage bottom has birds on it! He's a lucky birdie. I'm not a kitty person, but I'm absolutely in love with yours! What a gorgeous kitty, and so sweet looking. Oh, and my little Wingle sleeps in a fleece tent every night. He even chooses to nap there sometimes. He loves it.
 
#20 ·
So, Oliver has a favorite swing, for sure. And I had to take it away from him already. He absolutely LOVED this swing:



Unfortunately, I think he got a thread from it wrapped around his foot this afternoon. I noticed him chewing at his foot a lot, and then I saw the thread. I picked him up to examine him more closely, and I couldn't see the thread anymore, so I guess he got it off. But I knew the swing had to go. I felt so bad for him, because he adores it and spent most of his time there.

I replaced it with a homemade version I created using the the instructions I found on this forum for the "newspaper swing." I didn't have any newspaper in the house, so I used some white cage liner paper. I included some seeds when I rolled up the paper, so hopefully Oliver will start chewing on the swing soon and find the goodies. The new swing is approximately the same size as the original one (maybe a little bigger), but nowhere near as soft. I hope he uses it...I feel like a mean mommy! (Even though I know it was for his own good. Sigh...)
 
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