bar spacing
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- Hatchling
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:54 am
bar spacing
Is 1inch too much. i have read 1/2inch is ideal but in my circumstances i can only do 1inch. would this be ok?
- GB1
- Nestling
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:40 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Re: bar spacing
If you have smaller finches it will be too much. I tried that with zebras and they were going right through(between the bars). Once they've learned they could get out, there was no way of stopping them. Canaries did fine with 1 inch though. Depends on what kind of birds you have.
- wilkifam
- Weaning
- Posts: 1771
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:01 pm
- Location: South Central Montana
Re: bar spacing
too big, they'll go through the bars
Lori
Gouldians
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- carlamay
- Persistent Pursuer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:05 pm
- Location: Bedford, TX
Re: bar spacing
Too Big for sure! My owls can get their heads stuck in 5/8"!
10 Owl Finches, 15 Pied Societies, 8 Color Bred Canaries and a blind Gouldian, Veronica
2 schnauzers, Herb & Stella[/color][/size][/font]
1 Sheltie mix, Mickey
not much time for a life!
2 schnauzers, Herb & Stella[/color][/size][/font]
1 Sheltie mix, Mickey
not much time for a life!
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- Proud Parent
- Posts: 1165
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:17 pm
Re: bar spacing
I agree with the others, the bars are too wide. You might run the risk of a finch getting its head or foot stuck in there.
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- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: bar spacing
1/2 inch is the biggest I would go.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
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- Hatchling
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:54 am
Re: bar spacing
I have been able to attach some wire going across to reduce the gaps, its not very clear in the image, but basically, the gaps are now 1inch across and 1inch high. This is a photo of it i just took-
Also, if you guys could give me some more feedback on it, that would be much appreciated. I have got 4 wooden perches as can be seen, 1 swing, a bit of flowery decoration in the corner (not real flowers), one piece of cuttlefish, a bowl for food, a bowl for water and a bath. However, he doesnt really know how to use the bath, he just drinks from it lol. The bottom of the cage has its own section, so the bird doesnt actually walk on his own mess, plus its alot more convenient to change, rather than having to open the cage each time. thats about it.
so yeah, i was given him to look after for a month or so. sadly, he was given to me alone. he was initially with another finch, i think its a zebra finch, but somehow the other ended up dead. im no expert as this is the only bird ive ever cared for, but im guessing that because the foolish shop owner sold a bird cage with 2 birds in it, the size was ONLY 1ftx1ftx8", it had only 1 bowl for food and one for water. so im guessing one got a bit dominant due to the lack of resources.
what do you think??
thanks in advance!

Also, if you guys could give me some more feedback on it, that would be much appreciated. I have got 4 wooden perches as can be seen, 1 swing, a bit of flowery decoration in the corner (not real flowers), one piece of cuttlefish, a bowl for food, a bowl for water and a bath. However, he doesnt really know how to use the bath, he just drinks from it lol. The bottom of the cage has its own section, so the bird doesnt actually walk on his own mess, plus its alot more convenient to change, rather than having to open the cage each time. thats about it.
so yeah, i was given him to look after for a month or so. sadly, he was given to me alone. he was initially with another finch, i think its a zebra finch, but somehow the other ended up dead. im no expert as this is the only bird ive ever cared for, but im guessing that because the foolish shop owner sold a bird cage with 2 birds in it, the size was ONLY 1ftx1ftx8", it had only 1 bowl for food and one for water. so im guessing one got a bit dominant due to the lack of resources.
what do you think??
thanks in advance!

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- Hatchling
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:54 am
Re: bar spacing
In addition, does anybody have any tips as to what you could possibly use to make the gaps between bars narrower?
thanks
thanks
- wilkifam
- Weaning
- Posts: 1771
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:01 pm
- Location: South Central Montana
Re: bar spacing
If the gaps are now 1 x 1, I still think it will not work. The finch can get stuck and injured if the spaces are bigger than 1/2". This may actually be worse.
Lori
Gouldians
Societies
Java FInches
Bourkes
Scarlets
Myers Parrot - Murphy
African Gray - Nzinga
2 GSD's - Heidi and Chiko
1 Minpin - Ted
1 Heinz 57 - Buster Brown
Chickens
Gouldians
Societies
Java FInches
Bourkes
Scarlets
Myers Parrot - Murphy
African Gray - Nzinga
2 GSD's - Heidi and Chiko
1 Minpin - Ted
1 Heinz 57 - Buster Brown
Chickens
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- Wonder Wooer
- Posts: 342
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:25 pm
- Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo), NY
Re: bar spacing
Welcome to the forum!
Most home/hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot sell plastic mesh in 1/2" by 1/2" size that you could wrap around the cage. You may need to look for it where they sell fencing to keep animals out of gardens.
Your cage looks pretty good otherwise. If you haven't checked it out, the link to the Finch Information Center near the top left of the page has lots of great info on how to care for your new pal.

Most home/hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot sell plastic mesh in 1/2" by 1/2" size that you could wrap around the cage. You may need to look for it where they sell fencing to keep animals out of gardens.
Your cage looks pretty good otherwise. If you haven't checked it out, the link to the Finch Information Center near the top left of the page has lots of great info on how to care for your new pal.
4 zebras Crystal, Beau, Bella and Dmitri (the little squeaker), 2 societies Diva and DJ (and their 6 adult kids), and 2 green singers Thor and Regina
- GB1
- Nestling
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:40 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Re: bar spacing
Looks good!
I would get mesh either from hardware store( window screen section, sold in rolls) or fabric store(they sell mesh fabric not super durable but cost is lower) or you can get mesh from fencing section( they have metal kind with small squares but that might cost you a bit more). You can try to look for a cage in classified too. I hope it helps a bit.
I would get mesh either from hardware store( window screen section, sold in rolls) or fabric store(they sell mesh fabric not super durable but cost is lower) or you can get mesh from fencing section( they have metal kind with small squares but that might cost you a bit more). You can try to look for a cage in classified too. I hope it helps a bit.
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- Pip
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:22 pm
Re: bar spacing
debbie276 wrote: 1/2 inch is the biggest I would go.
The large flight cages which are sold for conures, cocktails but bar spacing is listed as 1/2 inch , imagine also good for finches?
I was looking at a cage listed for conures and cockatiel but did not mention finches - 30"Length x 18"Depth x 36"Height 7. Epoxy coated finish 8. Bar Spacing: 1/2"
Thanks
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- Hatchling
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:54 am
Re: bar spacing
thanks for the heads up guys. you were absolutely right, for about 5 minutes, my finch got out of his cage, i was there though so it was okay for then, but definitely not going to do that again. since then, i attached very strong garden twine tightly length ways between the bars to reduce the gap to 1/4 inch up to 1/2 inch.
btw, he is flying alot more and i think his wings are getting stronger.
this is the cage now, i added a background.
btw, he is flying alot more and i think his wings are getting stronger.
this is the cage now, i added a background.