You must admit that parrots are the most popular pets in the bird category. But their natural habitat does not provide for captivity, therefore, in order for them to feel more comfortable, they need a cozy house (cage). A wide variety of cages is presented on the market for pet products. But still, to get one that will fully meet the requirements of keeping parrots, you will have to work hard.
Simply put, make a cage with your own hands. But before proceeding directly to the manufacture, it is necessary to study the basic requirements for the conditions of keeping birds at home and the materials used to create a cozy house. Only in this case a homemade cage for a parrot will please a pet and will last a long time.
Parrot Cage Requirements
No matter how spacious the cage you have acquired, a parrot will still not get enough freedom of movement. You can add comfort to the place of detention by providing the pet with the opportunity to constantly change its location and move more. To do this, you need a properly equipped cell. With your own hands you can create a real paradise for a parrot. The main thing is not to save on materials and their quality.
In addition to being a large cage, it must also be equipped with numerous poles and platforms where your budgie can sit, play, spread its wings and jump from place to place. An important point: if you notice that your pet spends almost all the time sitting at the bottom of the cage, then perhaps he does not have enough space for movement. In this case, you need to replace the house with a more spacious version.
Types of bird cages
First of all, pay attention to the location of the cell. It depends on how your pet will feel, whether it will be comfortable for him, whether he will feel that he is safe. When making a cage with your own hands, exclude outdoor options, since by nature any birds, including parrots, never make nests on the ground. If you want to make just the floor version, try to make it so that the bottom of the cage is at least 40 cm above the floor.
And one more thing: in the upper part of the cage there must necessarily be a convenient playground for games. If necessary, the parrot can not only stay awake on it, but also sleep. Which is also very important. Agree that a cage equipped according to all the rules with your own hands for a parrot will be favorably different from standard factory options.
Here are a number of factors that you need to pay attention to when choosing a finished cell or creating it yourself:
- view of the parrot;
- bird size;
- age (life experience, habits);
- time spent in the cell (constantly or at some certain periods, for example, only at night);
- Features of the nature of the bird.
Determine the shape and size of the cell
The size and shape of the cage directly depends on the type of bird. A cage for a budgie and for a larger species, such as a cockatoo, cannot be the same in size and shape. That is why the wrong choice will adversely affect the behavior of your pet. Here are a number of recommendations, the implementation of which will allow you to give your parrot a decent existence without any problems.
Recommended Cell Sizes
So, the smallest of pets (budgies or blue-headed parrots) require keeping in a cage, the width of which will be at least sixty centimeters. Medium-sized parrots and amazons should be placed in houses (cages), the width of which is not less than 80 centimeters. But the cells for the largest varieties of these birds differ in that their width is not less than 1 meter. A makeshift cage differs from factory options in that in the manufacture you can make it exactly the size that you need.
Another feature of bird cages: their width should be greater than their height. This is due to the fact that the birds, although they can fly, nevertheless move in a horizontal plane, just like you and I.
DIY parrot cage. Manufacturing tips
Despite the fact that in pet stores there is a wide range of different cages, some owners want to make a cage for a pet with their own hands. "How to make a cage for a parrot yourself?" - The question is quite common. Let's take a closer look at the most important nuances related to cell manufacturing.
As noted above, first of all, it is necessary to determine the shape and size of the future cell, after which you can proceed to create a sketch. It should be sufficiently detailed and reflect all the necessary dimensions.
The following is a rough list of the basic elements that make up a standard cell. With your own hands, you can make any house for a parrot: from the smallest cage to a spacious aviary. All options have the following components in their design:
- Pallet. For him, you can use the finished box or make it from fiberboard and rail. In this case, you should pay attention to the height of the sides, they should not be very low.
- Frame (it is a grid curved in the desired shape and qualitatively fixed to the frame).
- Roof.
Necessary materials and work procedures
All that you need for self-production of a cage is a wire, corners, a metal profile, self-tapping screws and nails. When choosing materials for the cage, it is necessary to give preference to environmentally friendly ones, which will not be able to harm the life and health of your beloved pet.
If you plan to use wooden parts in the cage, then ash or oak will be most suitable. These types of wood are most resistant to moisture. For painting cells, it is best to use modern options for environmental paint.
The beginning of the cell manufacturing process involves the preparation of the framework. Making them is quite simple, all you need to pay attention to is their high strength. Each of the frames consists of four separate elements (blanks).
The next step involves the creation of side parts using a metal profile. That part of the side walls, which is longitudinal in nature, should be bent at an angle of 90 degrees and bonded to the lower and upper parts. Parts of the frame are fixed with self-tapping screws. Since you know the dimensions of the frames, in accordance with them, the desired amount of mesh is cut off, which must be adjusted along the edge of the profile. After marking the intersection of the wire and the frame, you need to drill holes. They must correspond to the diametrical size of the wire of which the mesh is made.
Do not forget to equip the finished cage with special hooks that are needed in order to secure various accessories (poles, feeding trough, drinking bowl and so on).
As for the cleanliness and care of the parrot, a pull-out tray is very convenient in this regard. To make such a one will not be difficult. For it, you will need a frame from the profile and a sheet of galvanized metal. By connecting them, you get a retractable pallet.
The cell door also requires special attention. The easiest way to set it up is by cutting a hole in the grid. But at the same time, attention should be paid to its size (not very large) and its location (closing from top to bottom).
That's all! A made and equipped cage with your own hands for a parrot or other bird is ready. You can introduce a pet to a new apartment.