Bird Cage Setup: Size, Perches and Placement
Get the cage, perches and position right and most bird behaviour problems never start.
A cage is a bird's whole world for most of the day. Size, bar spacing and where you put it matter more than anything you hang inside.
Width beats height
Birds fly horizontally, so a wide cage is far more useful than a tall narrow one. As a minimum, a budgie should be able to make several wingbeats between perches. Bar spacing must be narrow enough that the head cannot pass through — about 1 cm for budgies, 1.5–2 cm for cockatiels.
Vary the perches
- Use natural branches of different diameters so feet flex rather than gripping one fixed shape all day.
- Skip sandpaper perch covers — they abrade the soles and cause sores.
- Never place a perch directly above food or water bowls.
Where to put it
Against a wall rather than floating in the middle of the room, so the bird has a secure side. Somewhere the family spends time, but out of the kitchen — fumes from overheated non-stick cookware are rapidly fatal to birds. Avoid direct sun, draughts and the top of a radiator.
Cleaning rhythm
Change liners daily, wash bowls daily, and do a full scrub weekly. Rotate toys rather than filling every gap — a crowded cage leaves nowhere to move.
