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Post by quinn83 on Jan 5, 2015 2:20:11 GMT -5
I just bought Romeo a new cage, and when I asked the vet they said to slowly switch him to the new cage. So I put Romeo in it and now he refuses to leave it and go back into the other cage. I have new seen such a hissy fit when I tried to get him back into his old cage. I don't want to force him into the old one if I don't have to. Will it hurt him in the long run if I just let him stay in the new cage?? Thank you for your advice!
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Post by easttex on Jan 5, 2015 4:33:00 GMT -5
I think the only real reason to go slow on the switch is to give them a chance to accept the new. They can be very averse to change. There is no reason to force him back into the old one if he doesn't want to go there.
He might be unhappy about the change, though. What I would do is give him his choice back. If you can, keep the cages set up side by side for a while. Touching, if possible. Let him climb around and check things out on his own. They do better when they have some control over their environment.
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Post by quinn83 on Jan 5, 2015 6:44:17 GMT -5
I will do that,  thank you! This forum has been a life saver! |
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Post by siobhan on Jan 13, 2015 9:55:49 GMT -5
Clyde is on his third cage. Each time, because I didn't know any better, I just moved his stuff into a new cage, stuck him in it and that was that. He was happy with his second cage and didn't mind. The third cage, he was a little put out over it, and kept trying to reclaim the second cage, but I'd given it to a budgie so he couldn't go in anymore. He adjusted within a day or two and was none the worse for wear. If Romeo likes the new cage, put the rest of his stuff in it and call it a day. He'll be all right.
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Post by txlulu on Apr 11, 2015 8:24:30 GMT -5
I am thinking to buy a used cage. What is the minimum bar spacing I should look for? The cage Kritter is in now has 1/2 inch spacing, but is only 13x13 and about 2ft high. I would like to get a much larger cage for him. Any and all suggestions about what to look for and ask about in a used cage would be greatly appreciated. There seem to be alot of cages for sale on my local Craigs list site.
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Post by easttex on Apr 11, 2015 9:22:29 GMT -5
I think 5/8" is the spacing most often recommended, and I wouldn't go any larger than 3/4". Depth and width are much more important for a parrot than height, most of which is wasted space for them. The one I have Peppy in now is 24" x 20", and that seems good for him. For him, I wouldn't want it any larger. He does not have great strength in his feet, so clambering about is not his strong suit. I have to use lots of perches for him, and it's hard to place them just right. But, in general, the larger the better. Stainless steel is great, though pricier and hard to find in the rectangular cages with the smaller bar spacing. Powder coated wrought iron is probably most common, and they are fine. Make sure there are no rust spots. There are aluminum ones out there, too, but I have no experience with them. You might want one that has food and water bowls accessible from the outside, in case someone else ever has to care for Kritter. The cage that came with my grey has no grate on the bottom, and that is inconvenient, so I would always look for that. That's all I can think of for now. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Apr 12, 2015 9:13:55 GMT -5
I bought a flight cage for Mr P that was actually meant for budgies. The cage is HUGE and gives him a ton of room to move around in. I have it set up so his food dishes are on opposite sides of the cage so he is forced to move around when he is in there. I also have his favorite toys more towards the bottom of the cage so he winds up using the entire thing. One thing that was mentioned that I don't like about this cage is that the food door access from the outside sucks and I really don't use it. Having outside access to food dishes is something that is really important and that is my only regret for this cage that Mr P is in.
Putting old cage and new cage side by side has always worked for me, leaving both cage doors open allows the bird to choose where he wants to be. I moved Mr P to his new cage in less than a few hours, I was lucky with him, he took to his new cage right away and didnt want anything more to do with his old cage. Putting treats in food dishes in all corners of the new cage worked really well. I fostered a tiel that it took weeks to change his cage out but I was finally able to do it.
I have a new foster now, we'll see how long it takes but I always allow the bird to decide when he's comfortable enough to make the move permanent.
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Post by txlulu on Apr 12, 2015 11:01:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the great info. I wouldn't have thought about having outside access to the food and water dishes, but I see the value of it. And yes, a grate on the bottom is very important. The cage he is in now has that, and it really helps. He is very mobile, likes to walk around alot, so I think he would enjoy a larger cage. He is in it 8 to 10 hours a day while I work. He has broken off 5 tail feathers, I think they caught in the side of the cage and bent, then he worked at them till they were gone. His flight feathers are clipped WAY back, so he doesn't fly. I will go with the 5/8" bar spacing, he is very adventurous, and I could see him squeezing through the cage, getting down to the floor, and having a misadventure with the dogs.
So after I get the new cage, how can I tell when he is ready to stay in it? I was thinking just to move all his toys to the new cage and put him in it, kinda like moving your furniture into a new house.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Apr 12, 2015 11:29:57 GMT -5
When you find him staying in his new cage more than his old, it's time. You can put all his favorite toys and foods in his new cage, and gradually empty out his old one. He'll get the message eventually. The key to this is letting him go at his own pace. If, at the end of the day, when it's bedtime, you find him in his old cage, give him food and water in the old cage and let him sleep in there. Don't force him into the new cage |
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Post by aschneider on May 15, 2015 21:11:03 GMT -5
I have a similar question. I originally bought a cage that is way too large, and recently found a perfect one on Craigslist except that there are some areas where the paint is pretty chipped near the food bowls. Also I'm not sure if I would consider it rust but where the metal is exposed it is a bit discolored, not shiny. This is a California Cage, and he barely spends any time in his cage anyway. Should I repaint those few areas with rustoleum? Thanks for any advice.
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Post by easttex on May 16, 2015 9:39:59 GMT -5
I've never refurbished a cage, but I know some people do repaint them. There was recently a question about rustoleum in another thread here, where someone from the manufacturer said it would be safe as long as it was allowed to cure completely. I'm a little more cautious about these things. Here is a link with some relevant information for you: www.birdchannel.com/refurbish-your-bird-cage.aspxWhat is it about the current cage that is unsuitable? Normally, you can't really have a cage that is too large for the bird, unless it is the bar spacing. If it were me (again, on the side of caution) I wouldn't buy a cage that is really rusting. |
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Post by aschneider on May 16, 2015 18:47:39 GMT -5
It actually is not really very rusty, maybe just a bit of rust discoloration where the paint was chipped off by the food bowl holders. I think I agree about the Rustoleum, I might just take some aluminum foil or steel wool to it and then maybe a light rubbing with some oil. The current cage is about 4foot by 3feet and I really do not have the space for it especially considering he is almost never locked in it. He used to sleep in it inside his tent at night, but now he usually sleeps on his perch outside it.
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Post by easttex on May 17, 2015 10:24:42 GMT -5
Ah, yes. I hadn't considered the possibility that the cage was too big you and not your bird. If your bird is not much of a chewer (my quaker is not), you might be fine with touching up the paint. I would probably look for something certified as safe for infants, though. Another possibility is to contact the manufacturer of the cage. Mine came with a small container of matching paint for touch ups. It's not the same as powder coating, but I would assume it is bird safe, as long as it has enough time to dry. |
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thank you! This forum has been a life saver!
