which cage would you get?

[Airlyn]

Decisions, decisions.
I am trying to decide if I should buy ONE of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380440540801?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

or TWO of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380115175617?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

I aint a big fan of the big door on the second one. Somebody might get out. I am limited on funds I can spend on the birds, so want to get the best bang for my buck as far as giving them space.
I need one cage for a pair of Gouldians I am getting in about a month. I would really like to get my society male a girlfriend too though
Right now I have a spice finch and a society in a small cage (25" x 13")
I bought some breeding cages (6)for future use with babies. They are (24" x 16")
I really like the first cage. It looks nice...but so tempting to get two for less than the price of the one.
what would you do?
Air~

[finchandlovebird]

I would get two of the latter. They have a flat top which you can put a light on, they have a shelf on the bottom for "stuff", and you could turn them into apartments like I have done with all of mine, & have 4 places to house your birds

[lovezebs]

Two for the price of one, hmmmm..... That would be my choice. Do you have room for all of these? They are pretty big.
Goodluck.

[paul-inAZ]

I have a Prevue 050 very similar but not identical to the bottom one. It has 2 doors and is $125.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176 ... MP8ZBP17QW

Aside from the doors the only difference between the two you asked about is the roof. Silly really. Not good enough for outdoor birds and as Dolly points out you can't put a light on it.

If footprint is not a deal breaker I'd go for a double wide cage that gives finches more room to fly horizontally. Double the cost though. I have one of these as well and it is well made. It does have a divider so can be used as two separate cages.
http://www.birdscomfort.com/doubleflight_bird_cage.html

[Nerien]

I would be afraid of escapees with the big door on the second one, also. They do make a version with two smaller doors, but for finches it would still be quite the hazard (I have two of those for our parrotlets, and opening them is risky). You'd want to slide a towel or something like that across any time you opened it.

The F040 that paul-inAZ links to is used by many people here. The first cage you put up is about the same size but has that peaked roof, which many users find out makes it dang near impossible to get through a doorway as it overhangs so much and makes the cage much wider when trying to fit through a doorway.

[finchandlovebird]

I would be afraid of escapees with the big door on the second one, also. They do make a version with two smaller doors, but for finches it would still be quite the hazard (I have two of those for our parrotlets, and opening them is risky). You'd want to slide a towel or something like that across any time you opened it.

Nerien: I hang beads (Mardi Gras necklaces?) in my cage doorway openings & that barrier keeps the birds away from the door opening. (pretty too)

[Sally]

I have two of the first cage and I love them! Lights are really not a problem. I have 24" shoplights. I mount them on the front half of the roof, using long white zipties.

I don't like the second cage at all for the huge front door, this is designed more for companion hookbills. I'd also question whether it is truly 3/8" bar spacing, I've never seen an HQ cage of this style that wasn't at least 1/2" spacing, and some of their cages made for large hookbills are 5/8" bar spacing. For a few dollars more, if you want this style, I'd go for this one:

http://www.birdscomfort.com/flight_bird_cage.html

I have six of them, and the way I keep the birds in while opening the doors is to hold a net in front of the opening while I reach around the net. And the bottom door has never been a problem, as the birds all fly up to the top when I open a door. I have had birds try to escape using the top door--I like the idea of hanging beads, or others will hang a cloth or small towel in front of the door while opening it.

[Nerien]

I believe quite a few people have used the bead curtain for their finch cages. For hookbills, even small ones like parrotlets and budgies, they would play with, chew on, destroy, possibly choke on if small, those bead strings. They would be more likely to attract the birds to the doorway rather than dissuade them from going near it. To them, everything is pretty much either a toy or a challenge.

We use bandannas across doorways, or towels, or for cleaning the cages with the bigger doors, we have a big t-shirt that is folded and inverted in half, so that the right sleeve is inside the left sleeve. We clip the shirt across the doorway, then reach in through the doubled sleeve to work inside the cage. Smaller cage items can also be brought out through the sleeve, others from underneath it. Finches tend to respect the bandanna, even if it shifts a little around your arm and leaves a gap, but those tricky little parrotlets seem to think it's a game, so the t-shirt provides a much more secure cover. With two cats and a dog loose in the house, do not want them sneaking out when focused on cleaning and elbow-deep in bird poop.

[Sally]

This topic has a photo of the Prevue flight cage and the HQ double flight cage (this was back in 2008, I use more greenery inside the cages now). You can see the shop light fastened on the roof of the Prevue cage. It is hard to find 24" shop lights now, but I think you could use a 24 or 30" aquarium hood.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... age#p98203

I'd post a copy of the photo here, except that my desktop crashed, taking with it my photo program and my photos (I think I have the photos backed up, but now need a program so I can access them).

[ppg5tu]

Airlyn

We have had both and the cage that Paul mentioned. We personally like your second choice for our finches because it is taller than the one that Paul has, so our birds seem to be happier in it. Second, the big door has never been an issue for us, we have never had one escape. And you can always connect two of them together to make a 5 ft wide cage by leave the sides off of the two cages. You just need to make sure to cover the small gap between the two cages but it's really easy.

[Airlyn]

Well, I bought one of these.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/310838556468?ss ... 1439.l2649
After seeing Sally's F30 I will just have to buck up and buy one of those as well! it was soooo pretty!!
Maybe I can find a good deal like she did. I will save up in the mean time and get it this summer if I can't find one cheaper.
I have my babies in my sewing room. It is the smallest room in the house. It is going to be interesting to see how all this fits. The sewing room is MY room...no dogs, no hubby
He has a man cave he can do whatever he wants to with and I have a sewing room, lol I may not be able to move in there when it is said and done, lol
Thank you all for the input

[Sally]

I started out with the economy 30x18x18 and 30x18x36 cages, and when I wanted something more, I started haunting craigslist. I would check it at least several times a day. At first, I posted my own ad looking for used cages. I immediately got a reply from someone who had just posted an ad selling cages. I was able to buy 12 Quality brand cages for a fraction of the new price from a canary breeder who was changing out all her cages, and I made a friend at the same time.

Also watch estate sales. I was contacted by someone in our local bird club that there was an estate sale with used cages. When I went to look at them, they turned out to be four triple-stacks of Corners Limited breeder cages, again for a fraction of the new price. You need to get familiar with some of the cages that interest you and their new price, as when these opportunities come up, you often have to make a snap decision, or someone else will get them.

[asher78]

I have two of the Prevue F050 and absolutely love them. My birds do, too!

Can't wait to see your set ups!

[Airlyn]

Wow, my cage came already! I got it put together except for one screw. I can't get it to go in, so will have hubby fix it when he comes home. They are going to love it! It is so much bigger than what they are in now. I can't wait to go shopping and fix it up, but unfortunately I have a bad cold and can't go out right now so they will have to wait a day or two. I got my sewing room moved around so know where I will put this one and then the F30 I plan to get for the new gouldians. I heard from the breeder she said they are doing good. I can't wait to get them!
I am so excited!

[Learning Finch]

I have two large aviarys and they are full.. The birds are starting to bread like crazy and I'm looking for a smaller cage/aviary for the babys to mature color and then sell...I was thinking of building a 6x2x4 but I;m stumped on how to access the birds without any escaping...or if anyone has a recommendation on size??