A bird's cage is their home and is most likely where they will spend a great deal of their existence. Just as we view our own personal house, a bird will see their bird cage as security, protection, a place to play/exercise, sleep and feed. With this in mind, it pays, in the long run, to purchase the largest and highest quality bird cage that your home and budget can comfortably handle.

When selecting a bird cage make sure that your bird will have plenty of room to fly (small birds only), move and play without running into the cage walls, bird cage toys, perches or bird cage accessories.  The bird cage should be tall enough to handle the bird's overall length from tail to head.  When selecting a cage for smaller birds make sure to provide them enough room to play and fly around ensuring they will receive the proper amount of exercise.  When choosing a bird cage there are two very important factors to consider.

• Bar Spacing
• Bar Diameter

The bar spacing of the bird cage must be narrow enough to prevent your bird's head from getting wedged between them, while it should be large enough to prevent the bird's toes and limbs from getting trapped. The bar diameter of the bird cage must be thick enough so your bird can not bend or break through the bird cage with its beak. We have provided a guide to selecting the proper size bird cage for common birds:

Another important point to consider when searching for a bird cage would be placement location.  It is highly recommended that you place your bird cage in a location that is out of the main traffic area of the house but close enough for them to see the activities of the family.  Place the bird cage so the perches are no higher than your chest level.  Lower than that (especially if placed on the ground) and the bird will be anxious and feel vulnerable which can lead to bighting and feather picking. Do not place it higher than your chest level as 'higher' means 'superior' to birds. In the wild, the dominant birds perch on higher tree branches.  Keep the bird in a sunny, draft-free area. If the bird is more social, keep them in an area of human activity. If the bird is less social, they may be happier in a quiet area of the house.  Most importantly avoid kitchens as these areas contain many harmful and fatal items to the life of birds.  Also keep the bird cage away from areas with sudden temperature changes or drafts such as air conditioning/heater vents, open doors and windows.  Please keep in mind that normal household items can me harmful or toxic to you bird.  These items may include; ceiling fans, electrical cords, air fresheners, cigarettes, scented candles, fake plants, etc.  If your bird will be housed outdoors be sure to ensure the cage is predator proof.     

Several bird cage accessories are needed for your cage. These may include:

• Perches
• Bowls Cups Crocks & Bottles
• Bird Toys (Foraging, Hanging, Foot, etc.)
• Swings
• Ladders
• Grooming Supplies
• Nesting Accessories (Dependant upon Species of Birds)

Make sure that when the bird cage accessories are all in the bird cage that the bird still has plenty of room to fly and move about without colliding with obstacles. Remember that many bird cage accessories will need to be replaced periodically due to chewing, constant cleaning, and regular wear and tear.

How to select a bird cage that is right for you.

When you are looking to purchase a bird cage, there are a few important things you will need to keep in mind. To start out with, every bird cage should be bought with the bird you are buying it for in mind. Different kinds of birds require different kinds of bird cages, and sometimes even in the same species of bird different individuals will need a specific kind of bird cage depending on their own personal preferences.

In general, however, when looking for a bird cage, it is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind that big birds will need big cages and that small birds will need small cages.   Any bird needs a cage that is at the absolute minimum twice as wide as its maximum wingspan.   When you are dealing with a specific bird such as a parrot, you may wish to keep in mind that some larger parrots will need a bird cage that is taller as they like to climb, where as some smaller ones will need a wider cage rather than a taller one because they like to fly around more than they like to climb.

If you already have a bird and are just looking for a new bird cage, then your task is a little easier, since you already know how your bird behaves and how much room it would like to have.  If you do not yet have a bird, look for a bird cage which will meet the needs of the kind of bird you are thinking of purchasing however, remember that it is best to buy the bird cage for the bird and not the other way around.