Careful thought should be given before purchasing a cage. First of all, consider the size of the bird and the spacing between the cage bars. Make sure the bird cannot get his or her head stuck between the bars. Secondly, make sure the cage is large enough. Many people, especially when purchasing a parakeet or finch, assume that a small bird needs a small cage - NOT TRUE! Remember that a bird's cage is his home (of course, with lots of playtime outside of the cage), where he eats, sleeps and plays.

After deciding on the proper size, make sure the cage is constructed of a safe metal. It is not a good idea to purchase used and/or antique cages. Used cages may have housed a sick bird and antique cages are likely to be make of toxic materials.

How you set up the inside of a cage is also important. Birds needs lots of toys to occupy themselves. The toys should be made of different materials (rope, leather, plastic, etc.) and should be of different degrees of difficulty. If a bird is given all easy toys that are destroyed quickly, it will be bored. On the other hand, if given all difficult toys, they will become frustrated. Either can lead to self-destructive behaviors. Toys should also be rotated to give the bird variety.

Perches should be of varying types and the traditional wooden dowel should NOT be used. Dowels, over time, are tiring on the bird's feet and lead to sores, muscle problems, and/or arthritis. I recommend at least one Sandy Perch, which helps to keep the nails and beak trimmed. Another should be a manzanita which gives the bird a more natural perching surface. Boings are also enjoyed by most birds and come in different sizes. I recommend the Grey Feather boings because they are made of natural colored 100% cotton and are the safest I have found on the market. Make sure perches are not placed over food or water bowls, as they will become contaminated by droppings.

Bedding is another consideration. I recommend Carefresh because it is absorbent, odorless, does not promote bacteria and/or mold and safe if the bird were to ingest any. However, NEVER, NEVER use corn cob or cedar shavings. Corn cob is a harbinger for mold growth and cedar contains oils that are harmful to the bird's respiratory system.

Regarding covering a cage, it is a matter of personal preference. All birds should receive about 10 hours of sleep each night. Covering a bird that is in a room with a lot of activity and noise is not sufficient. Birds need darkness and quiet in order to get the proper rest. Insufficient rest can result in illness, biting, feather-plucking, etc.

Lastly, remember to use full-spectrum lighting. This is necessary for birds to absorb calcium, to prevent plucking, to see in the fourth color of the spectrum (only able to be seen by birds) and for their general well-being. The light should be turned on only during peak daylight hours and length of time depends on the size of the bird. The fixture should be positioned above the cage; not to the side. The bulb should be changed once a year. Not all full-spectrum lights are created equal. Do not be fooled by cheap imitations or by those meant for reptiles.

what is the brand of bulb that you use?

I personally use the bulbs from Featherbrite. We sell the fixtures in our store along with the bulbs.

Since your dad is opening a store, he may want to contact Mike from Featerbrite. Fabulous guy. He is located in Langhorne. PM me if you need additional info, okay?

BTW, how old are you?

I'm 15 years old....yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm only 15
why?

I am just very impressed with your maturity and intelligence. I think it is fabulous that you are so interested in birds and spend your time on forums such as this to learn. Very commendable. You are the future for our birds. This is very enlightening!

oh shucks
Thanx
I'm glad you are posotive about my age, some people frown upon me but most of the people here are happy for me and support me, you guys are great