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Birdcage
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A birdcage (or bird cage) is a cage designed to house birds as pets.
Antique (or antique-style) birdcages are often popular as collector's items or as household decor but most are not suitable for housing live birds, being too small, improper shape, using unsafe materials or construction.[1] Longer, good quality cages designed for pet birds are more suitable.
Design and size
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In general, the larger and the more active the bird, the larger the cage one should use. The amount of time the bird will spend in the cage each day is also a factor. A bird that is caged most of the time requires far more space than a bird caged only at night.
Some birds have special requirements. Amazons and cockatiels prefer horizontal bars, as they like to climb.[2] Messy eaters should have a seed skirt to catch food. Breeding birds may require a nest or breeding box and a larger size cage. Smart birds, like parrots and crows, need secure latching mechanisms to prevent them from figuring them out, and often require toys and/or play-stands to keep them entertained. Parrots in general tend to gnaw on cages, with larger macaws known to tear bars from flimsy cages. Zinc coated cages or chicken wire could cause toxicity to parrots over a number of years.[3]
Most parrot cages are made of wrought iron and painted with a non-toxic paint referred to as powder-coating. A newer trend is cages made of solid stainless steel. Large parrot cages made of stainless steel are costly but will outlast a powder-coated cage by 5 to 6 times. The materials used to build the cages greatly affect the price. While small cages are relatively cheap, large parrot-sized cages can be more expensive than an aviary.
History
[edit]Bird cages saw their earliest use in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome, China, India, Babylon, among many others.[4] During this time birds were kept often for religious or symbolic reasons, but were also a sign of wealth and aristocracy, such as the African birds imported to Roman courts. This trend continued in Europe as Portugal brought back Canaries in the 16th century.[citation needed] The Harz Mountain area in Germany became known for its unique style of birdcage, carving elaborate wooden cages resembling cuckoo clocks. The exotic bird trade became quite lucrative, some birds selling for their weight in gold. Captive birds were very much a status symbol, and were kept in wealthy households and courts throughout Western Europe, with especial patronage from monarchy. The 18th and 19th centuries were a remarkable period of creativity regarding birdcages. Influences ranged from China to gothic Europe. Perhaps the peak of bird keeping came during the Victorian age. New innovations in design and unique materials fed the craze for bird keeping.[5] Even in colonial America, settlers kept birds in wooden or bamboo cages. In 1874, the Andrew B. Hendryx company (then called Hendryx & Bartholomew)[6] was founded in America and joined Hartz Mountain as one of the lead manufacturer of fashionable birdcages. As the Art Deco and Arts and Crafts movement arose in the early 1900s, bird cage design reflected the trend, usually with oriental-style hanging cages. The next large shift in style was during the Atomic Age, when plastic became the predominant material in mass-produces cages. Slowly, iron and plastic cages gave way to the large, sleek, steel cages found in pet stores today.[7]
Safety
[edit]A cage for a tame pet bird which is allowed out daily should be large enough to allow it to easily extend its wings fully without hitting cage sides or toys or objects within the cage.[8] In some countries, it is illegal to house a pet bird in a cage that does not permit it to spread its wings. Wingspans of common pet birds range from approximately 30 cm (12 in) for a budgie and 41 cm (16 in) for a cockatiel up to as much as 91–122 cm (36–48 in) for the larger macaws. Rectangular cages have replaced rounded cages due to the damaged wings caused by non-bird-friendly round cages.
Finches and canaries require larger cages that are long enough to permit flight.[8] The bars should be spaced so that curious birds cannot stick their heads out of the cage and become stuck. The cage should also have non-toxic paint, because birds tend to gnaw at the cage, and if the paint is consumed, they can die from poisoning.

Cages should also be equipped with appropriate perches. There should be several diameters of perches available, but the diameter should be large enough so that the bird's toes are unable to overlap or completely wrap around the perch. Flight cages and aviaries should be equipped with perches at each end with open space in the middle for flight.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Vintage and Antique Bird Cages". Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "Horizontal or Vertical Cage Bars for Your Parrot: Which Is Better?". Parrot Cages South Africa. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ Simpson, Mark (2020-01-16). "Heavy Metal Poisoning From Aviaries and Bird Cages". Sugarloaf Animal Hospital. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ Dennis, Jerry (Summer 2014). "A History of Captive Birds". Michigan Quarterly Review. 53.
- ^ Grahame, Bunny. "Bird Cages-A Fascination". The Colne-Stour Countryside Association.
- ^ Gross, Linda (October 9, 2013). "The Andrew. B Hendrix Company Knew Why Caged Birds Sing". Hagley Museum and Library.
- ^ Tobsing, Catherine (January 9, 2018). "A Brief History of Birdcages Through Time". Windy City Parrot.
- ^ a b "What Size Cage Does Your Pet Bird Need?". The Spruce Pets. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ Doering, Laura (2016-03-30). "Transform Your Bird's Cage From Drab to Fab – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co". Lafeber® Pet Birds. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
External links
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Media related to Bird cages at Wikimedia Commons
Birdcage
View on GrokipediaTypes and Variations
Traditional Designs
Traditional birdcages emerged as foundational enclosures in the 18th century, primarily featuring dome-shaped, rectangular, and cylindrical forms designed for indoor housing of songbirds like canaries and nightingales.[11] These structures emphasized simplicity and functionality, with wrought iron bars providing durability and ventilation while allowing visibility of the birds.[11] In European contexts, such as Paris, rectangular cages were common for bourgeois households, often placed on tables or windowsills, measuring approximately 16 inches in length, 14 inches in height, and 14 inches in depth for species like nightingales.[11] Victorian-era examples, particularly from the 19th century, showcased wrought iron constructions with intricate scrollwork, reflecting ornate Gothic influences and serving as both practical enclosures and decorative items for small birds such as finches and canaries.[12] These cages typically ranged from 12 to 24 inches in width, accommodating one or two birds while incorporating swing doors for easy access to feed and clean.[11] Basic tray bottoms, often lined with sand or soil, facilitated waste collection and removal, a standard feature in designs by makers like Thomas Chippendale.[12] Regional variations highlighted material differences, with European designs favoring metal for sturdiness and Asian traditions employing bamboo for lightweight, natural aesthetics. In China, Sichuan-style bamboo cages, one of four major regional schools dating to the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD), featured square-column structures with delicate openwork for airflow and harmony with nature.[13] These contrasted European iron forms by prioritizing intricate weaving over metal forging, yet shared core functional elements like access doors and removable trays.[14] Such traditional designs provided the structural basis for subsequent adaptations in bird housing.[11]Modern and Specialized Cages
Modern birdcages have evolved to prioritize species-specific needs, emphasizing spacious designs that allow for natural behaviors such as flight and foraging. Flight cages, designed for active smaller birds like budgies and cockatiels, typically start at dimensions of 4 feet long by 2 feet wide by 2 feet high to provide adequate wingspan exercise, with recommendations from avian rescues suggesting at least 32 inches long by 21 inches wide for pairs to prevent stress and promote health.[15] For larger species such as conures or African greys, these expand to 48 inches long by 30 inches wide, enabling horizontal flight paths that mimic wild environments. Walk-in aviaries, suited for parrots and multiple birds, offer human-accessible interiors measuring around 7 feet high by 5 feet wide by 7 feet deep, constructed with 1/2-inch bar spacing to contain escapes while allowing interaction and cleaning without disturbing inhabitants.[16] These designs enhance welfare by integrating perches at varying heights and natural branches, reducing behavioral issues like feather plucking observed in confined spaces.[17] Specialized cages address niche requirements beyond standard housing, focusing on health, mobility, and isolation. Hospital cages, used in veterinary settings for ill or recovering birds, incorporate isolation features such as negative air pressure ventilation to contain airborne pathogens and prevent cross-infection among patients, often featuring transparent panels for monitoring and heated pads for warmth regulation.[18] Travel carriers, essential for safe transport, include secure latches and dimensions around 18 inches by 18 inches by 24 inches high suitable for small birds like cockatiels, with mesh ventilation and internal perches to minimize stress during movement; these often collapse for storage, but compliance with IATA standards for international flights requires dimensions calculated based on the specific bird's measurements using IATA guidelines.[19][20] Such adaptations ensure birds remain secure without injury, particularly for species prone to panic like finches. Modular designs facilitate scalability for breeders and multi-bird households, allowing cages to interconnect or stack without permanent fixtures. Stackable units, such as those in the BreederPro series, measure approximately 40 inches wide by 20 inches deep by 20 inches high per module, enabling vertical expansion for finches or lovebirds while including slide-out trays for easy hygiene and dividers for separating pairs during breeding.[21] These systems support up to four stacked levels, optimizing space in aviaries and promoting efficient monitoring of nesting and fledging. Post-2000 innovations have integrated technology into birdcages, creating "smart" variants that automate environmental management for optimal avian health. Recent models like the Reli Birddy, launched in 2024, feature app-controlled lighting with five customizable modes—including circadian-mimicking nesting lights—and temperature control via sensors.[22] IoT-enabled cages from 2023 onward have included monitoring for air quality and temperature in farming applications, with adaptations for pets focusing on remote alerts for environmental deviations.[23] These trends reflect a shift toward proactive care, with market analyses noting increased adoption of such tech in premium enclosures since the early 2020s.[24]Design Principles
Size and Shape Considerations
The size and shape of a birdcage are primarily determined by the species' biological needs, including body size, activity patterns, and natural behaviors, to ensure physical health and psychological well-being.[15] For optimal selection, guidelines from avian experts recommend minimum dimensions that allow birds to move freely, stretch their wings, and engage in species-specific activities without restriction.[25] These standards vary by bird type, with smaller, more active species requiring horizontal space for flight simulation and larger, climbing species needing vertical height for perching and exploration.[26] Representative minimum cage sizes for common pet birds are outlined below, based on recommendations from avian rescue organizations and veterinary guidelines. These dimensions represent the interior space for a single bird; larger sizes are advised for pairs or groups to prevent territorial conflicts.[15]| Bird Type | Minimum Dimensions (Width x Depth x Height in inches) | Example Species |
|---|---|---|
| Small finches | 24 x 18 x 24 | Zebra finch, society finch |
| Canaries | 24 x 18 x 24 | Common canary |
| Small parakeets | 24 x 24 x 24 | Budgerigar |
| Medium parrots | 24 x 24 x 32 | Cockatiel, lovebird, conure |
| Large parrots | 36 x 24 x 48 or larger | African grey, Amazon |