Well the answer to the above question is simple: it depends 🙂

And it depends on many things like:

• the size (and number) of your parrot(s);
• the material of the cage;
• the size of your living space;
• the amount of toys you would like to spoil your little friend with;
• your budget.

You would also want to already have an idea regarding where in the house the parrot area/corner would be before you make the purchase. Having an idea of the size of small parrot cages and large parrot cages would allow you to understand if the cage needs additional space or support to place it on. Also that specific area will most likely be characterized by frequent falling seeds or pieces of vegetables, toys and feathers.

At the same time, the cage needs to be placed in an area where the bird does not feel threatened by the outdoor or indoor noises or other birds or pets. While keeping the above in mind, the parrot needs to be in the same room with you (or where you spend your time with the bird). That will allow the parrot to be social and used to the household inhabitants.

Usually small parrot cages would have the length (L) between 45-65 cm, width (W) 45-60 cm and the height (H) of 45-60 cm.

Large parrot cages would be about 90-120 cm long (L), 60-90 cm wide (W) and 90-150 cm high (H).

The size (and number) of your parrot(s)

As a rule of thumb: the bigger your parrot (or the number of parrots) the bigger the cage should be.

You would not want to see a cockatoo or macaw not fitting their tail inside the cage, nor would it be necessary for a budgie to fly withing the cage.

Another thing to consider here is the space between the cage bar spacing. Smaller birds have smaller heads and therefore they have a higher risk of getting their heads stuck in between the bars (and trust me, these active birds will find the time and curiosity to do it! 🙂 ).

A small cage will typically have between 0.6 cm to 1.2 cm.

A large cage will vary between 1.5 cm and a maximum of 3.8 cm.

The material of the cage

The typical and mostly used material for parrot cages is wrought iron. This type of iron is also used in the manufacture of gates, various bars and racks. The iron is then polished with a powder-coating (a non-toxic paint) to give the cage bars color and nice texture.

Another material used is stainless steel. These cages are designed to last for abut 50 years, provided no intended or unintended damage is produced beforehand. They also tend to outlive the powder-coated cages by around 5 to 6 times.

While both of these materials are a great choice, they will most likely determine the price and long-term durability of your parrot’s home.

The size of your living space

As pet owners, we might find ourselves in the lack of additional free space to dedicate to our feathered friend. If, for example, the space in your living room can miss about half- to a full square meter, excluding the additional food dropping and mess making in surrounding perimeter, then you might consider a large cage.

On the other hand, if space is a challenge, you might want to choose a smaller, less long and less wide cage.

The number of toys you would like to decorate the cage with

Of course, as parrot lovers we want to keep our little friends happy and engaged at all times. Therefore we purchase the very most and the very best!

While the intention is good, we could also be overdoing it. If you need to move the toys around in order to find your bird, that is an indication that the cage might be overcrowded. The bird needs extra space to jump around and hang from the bars and climb on the toys, etc. The right balance though is something to strive for.

Your budget

While the cages are a necessity in order to have a pet parrot, it can be an expensive one. The prices can vary drastically from the very basic small cage priced at about EUR 35 up to EUR 800 for a large parrot cage. The material and overall durability will also have a role to play in the final price.

Small parrot cages vs. large parrot cages: the choice is yours

……well, almost 🙂

All the above are important factors to take into account if not the main factors to consider. Some of them might be outside of your current influence, as for example the amount you are prepared to pay for the cage at this stage or the space available in your house.

As a main takeaway: the priority is that you and your parrot are happy. And your parrot is happy when it has the optimal living conditions surrounded by plenty of love, play time and much fun!

Feel free to share with me your experience in the comments below. I would love to hear your story!

To all the Parrot Lovers,

Tatiana

Founder of Best Parrot Toys

Disclaimer: I am not a parrot expert therefore the information in this site represents my opinion based on my experience. Please do not make decisions based solely on my articles. It helps to do further research.