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Post by aaron on Jun 11, 2015 12:21:46 GMT -5
I initially created this in the Quaker Parrot Talk section but reallized this one was more appropriate, so I am attempting to move it. Hopefully it does not result in a duplicate post. Yesterday was Cupcake's fourth hatch-day  Unfortunately I was away at an all-day conference and didn't get home until late so I didn't get to see her too much, but we sung happy hatch-day several times and she got some special birthday birdie bread, which she enjoyed greatly. I hope to do an extended celebration over the weekend. I'm thinking about getting her a new cage, curious what you guys would consider to be the perfect cage for a Quaker-- she has a fairly big cage now that she likes to play in sometimes, but she generally sleeps and is contained in a smaller cage that has more narrow bars, which she seems more comfortable getting around in. She can navigate the bigger one, but it is definitely a chore for her and she has to use specific techniques to get around it. I would like her to be able to stay in a bigger cage that she is comfortable in while we are not home. That said, she doesn't really seem to identify with her cages very much, perhaps because she is always out when we are home. She isn't protective of them at all, and is essentially displays no cage aggression. So my thought is that she wouldn't take much issue with a cage switch. Hopefully she won't like the new cage so much that she becomes aggressive around it Do you guys have any specific cages or brands you would recommend? Thanks! |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Jun 11, 2015 15:54:08 GMT -5
I actually bought a flight cage for Mr P, when we upgraded. It's huge and he loves it. It does not have any bells and whistles, no cage top playstand, nothing really exciting, it's just BIG. The only time Mr P is even in his cage is at night to sleep or when I'm out which isnt that often because I work from home. I bought this cage for him because my job requires travel, and of course, when I'm away from home he stays in his cage all day until my pet sitter comes and let's him out for a bit. Here is the link. It is a little flimsy but the bar spacing is 1/2 inch and the cage is REALLY light to move around and easy to clean since it has a top and bottom door. I would not put anything bigger than a quaker in here due to the thinness of the bars but for us, it works great! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176F5L0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00 |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Jun 11, 2015 15:55:10 GMT -5
It came with cheap plastic food dishes and just regular dowel perches so I customized it
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Post by cnyguy on Jun 11, 2015 19:52:42 GMT -5
Belated hatchday greetings to Cupcake! I don't really have a cage recommendation. Ralph's cage is similar to this one, but with 5/8" bar spacing: A & E Victorian Cage I origianally bought it for George the YCA, but he hated it and never adjusted to it (he was used to a certain arrangement of perches and food dishes, which this cage wouldn't allow), so I disassembled it and stored it away, and gave George his old cage back. It's worked out nicely for Ralph; he's very happy with it. |
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Post by easttex on Jun 12, 2015 6:12:21 GMT -5
I have this one for Peppy: prevuepet.com/product/91/select-bird-cage-3152sageIf I could have found a similar construction in stainless steel, I probably would have bought it, but I like this cage. I don't know that I would say it is ideal, but that's true of all of them, I think. Prevue does make the same cage in a larger size, but that isn't necessary with Peppy. He still has a grip problem, so I had to lower everything for him (I hope it's temporary, because now he can't see over the hedges to alert us to cars coming up the driveway), and he doesn't yet use the play top. That's a weakness with this one - no easy way for a bird to get there on his own. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Jun 12, 2015 8:42:26 GMT -5
Pele had a cage similar to this one, Easttex but I think it was a tad bigger. For me, this cage was heavier than a mountain when I needed to wheel it around or take it outside to clean. Very sturdy construction, definately not as flimsy as the one I have for Mr P, but also cumbersome (for me) to relocate when necessary. I'm old |
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Post by aaron on Jun 12, 2015 10:40:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the recommendations everyone! The cage that I have for Cupcake is similar to the one that Easttex mentions here... but Cupcake does have difficulty getting to the top by climbing. She has figured out that she can get there if she climbs directly up the center of the front and uses the handle of the upper tray to get there... but I can tell in general she prefers the closer bars of the small cage that she has.
I will let you guys know what we end up going with!
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Post by biteybird on Jun 13, 2015 4:23:53 GMT -5
Good advice you've received above...sorry to digress, but I just have to say:
WHAT? A four-year-old quaker who displays NO cage aggression?
(Bonnie has become a nightmare in her cage in the mornings & tries to take off our fingers when we change her food and if our hands are anywhere near the food/water dishes)
I'm forced to conclude that both Cupcake and Ralph are genetic 'throwbacks' (sorry, Gary, you must be getting very tired of these comments about Ralph...we'll all stop if you tell us to  ).
EDIT: Sorry, Cupcake, I also meant to say "Happy Hatchday to you!". |
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Post by cnyguy on Jun 13, 2015 20:30:42 GMT -5
I'm forced to conclude that both Cupcake and Ralph are genetic 'throwbacks' (sorry, Gary, you must be getting very tired of these comments about Ralph...we'll all stop if you tell us to ). I'm not sure if Ralph is a genetic throwback, but he definitely has his own concept of what a parrot ought to be.  |
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Post by aaron on Jun 13, 2015 20:59:58 GMT -5
Good advice you've received above...sorry to digress, but I just have to say: WHAT? A four-year-old quaker who displays NO cage aggression? (Bonnie has become a nightmare in her cage in the mornings & tries to take off our fingers when we change her food and if our hands are anywhere near the food/water dishes) I'm forced to conclude that both Cupcake and Ralph are genetic 'throwbacks' (sorry, Gary, you must be getting very tired of these comments about Ralph...we'll all stop if you tell us to ). Haha yeah, Cupcake is not cage agressive in the slightest. I could probably put my whole head in her cage while she was in it, and she wouldn't object. And she has no problem with us touching food dishes. When we let her out, she typically waits for either myself or my wife to put our hand in so she can step up, although if we don't for some reason she will eventually let herself out. Sometimes, if I'm rearranging things in the cage, and she doesn't want me to move something, she will run over and bonk my hand with her beak. If she truly objects she will give me a bite, but it's just a message bite, not a truly painful one, generally. For whatever reason, she seems to believe that the changes that we make will be in her best interest. I guess we have gotten lucky with Cupcake. We'll see if it stays this way! |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 14, 2015 1:47:35 GMT -5
Happy hatchday Cupcake. I don't believe Ralph and Cupcake are quakers. However, Shah never showed cage aggression for many years - now I have to check what mood he is in before I put my hand into his cage although I have never had a problem cleaning it. I am just not allowed near his hutch.
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Post by aaron on Jun 14, 2015 10:32:02 GMT -5
Thanks Jan! Yes, while I am optimistic that Cupcake will stay as agreeable as she is today, I certainly recognize that it might not be this way forever. I do detect some changes in her, she's definitely more outspoken than she used to be. I get yelled at a lot more than I used to.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Jun 14, 2015 14:52:00 GMT -5
Wait till she starts saying "D*mn It!" when she doesnt get what she wants
You have never experienced anything until you experience a quaker cussing at you in ENGLISH!
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jun 14, 2015 16:36:33 GMT -5
Or being called Monkey Breath in front of people  I get yelled at all the time if things arent perfect. Some days are just exhausting - yelled at constantly and I dont know what I have done wrong. Go to get him out of his cage to soothe him and I get beak bashed and yelled at even more. Or else he is in attack mode and if I dare put my hand in his cage near his hutch, I get seriously bitten. I wish I was a mind reader. |
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Post by aaron on Jun 14, 2015 16:59:32 GMT -5
At this point I'd be fairly surprised if Cupcake starts talking. The more time goes by the more it seems like she has no intention of ever doing so. And that's fine by me But she yells at us plenty. Not always clear why. Especially when we order takeout for lunch. She hates that. Jan, what happens when you take away the hutch? |
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Unfortunately I was away at an all-day conference and didn't get home until late so I didn't get to see her too much, but we sung happy hatch-day several times and she got some special birthday birdie bread, which she enjoyed greatly. I hope to do an extended celebration over the weekend. 
).
I get yelled at all the time if things arent perfect. Some days are just exhausting - yelled at constantly and I dont know what I have done wrong. Go to get him out of his cage to soothe him and I get beak bashed and yelled at even more. Or else he is in attack mode and if I dare put my hand in his cage near his hutch, I get seriously bitten. I wish I was a mind reader.