Cage setup

StevePax · Post by **StevePax** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:59 pm

OK, now that I've bought a huge cage (64" wide, 21" deep, and 35" high), I need to figure out how to configure it.

First, number of birds - I have 4 right now (2 black headed nuns, very passive, one blue-capped cordon bleu, and one orange cheeked waxbill). I'd like to ultimately get 4 societies to go with these, so a total of 8 fairly passive birds in there, most of them quite sociable (the nuns like to keep to themselves). That should be okay, right?

Also, perches - I want to encourage the birds to fly all the way across the cage, frequently. So I don't want to just litter the whole thing with perches. How many perches should I actually put in there, and where would you put them if you were designing the cage?I'm thinking about 12" from the top I'll put a perch, close to either end. That will be the main flight area. Then a couple more perches about 12" from the bottom, too, maybe more towards the middle. Then, I'll put a couple of very small (like 6") perches way at the top somewhere, since they like to roost way up top in their current cage. So that's really 4 perches that will be like 12-20" long, and two that will be about 6" long. Then each food cup, etc, will have the attached landing place too. That should be plenty, right, to allow landing in all areas of the cage, but to keep the main length of the cage free? The long flying is the main reason I'm getting this huge cage.

Thanks in advance for all your input! I really want to maximize the value for my investment here, and you folks are always so helpful.

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:07 pm

well according to the finch calculator on the finch info centre, your cage can hold 4 - 6 birds, however the experts will have to weigh in on whether passive species can be a bit crowded. I mean I have my 6 zebras in a cage that's barely big enough for 2 right now and they're all getting along, but they're also all related

I think I would put the perches all depthwise in the cage (I think that's what you were describing ;) ), lots of little short perches sticking out from the front or back, and leaving a lot of the middle open for flying. I'd also do like you said and put them all at different heights. I'd also put the food and water on different levels, for instance I have my waterer in the middle of my cage (heightwise) and my seed feeder at the bottom on the opposite side, then a treat cup at the top in the middle. this way the birds use all the space not just the horizontal space.
Can't wait to see pics!!

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:07 am

Your perch placement plans sound good to me! I agree with maximizing flight space while allowing for enough roosting perches, etc. If need be, they can always be rearranged once you get the birds in there and see how they take to everything :)