DIY Parakeet Cage Set Up: 5 Steps Ultimate Guide (2024)

Parakeets are lovely and colorful birds that in captivity, can live up to 15 years. Therefore, when preparing to get your new pet, setting up their cage is the first and most important thing.

But how to do a parakeet cage set up? It involves putting several things the pet needs together in an ideal position. Then set the feeding bowls on the side, closest to you, and the perches and toys on the other. You can include a breeding box if your birds are ready to mate and are of the right age.

Setting up the cage for your pet parakeet must be done perfectly to ensure the bird is comfortable. Read on to learn more about setting up the cage, from buying, positioning it, and then setting it up.

How to Set Up a Parakeet’s Cage?

With the cage in an ideal position and everything else ready, you can begin setting it. Below are the simple steps you should follow when setting up your parakeet’s cage.

Step 1: Add Lining to the Base

The first step is to set the lining because once you install other things, it’ll be challenging to add. Place the plastic sheet or two newspaper sheets at the bottom of the cage.

Use grates just above the lining to prevent the bird from accessing its droppings. The lining doesn’t only make cleaning easy, but they allow you to observe your pet’s droppings and spot problems earlier. For instance, wet poop can be a sign of polyuria, a condition caused by infectious diseases.

Step 2: Place the Feeding Equipment

Place the water and food bowl in the cage in a position where you can easily feed the pet. If you have multiple pets, the feeding bowls should also be more until the pets bond with each other and accept to share.

If you have the hanging dishes discussed earlier, this time is the best for installation since there is less stuff in the cage.

Step 3: Install a Bird Bath

After you’re done with the feeding bowls, add the bird bath bowl to the cage. Place it in an ideal position, not too close to the food, as the splashing water can get into them.

If the bird bath is box-type that hangs from the sides, install and secure it tightly. Also, don’t place it near the feeding bowl or above other toys.

While some people prefer to add water when installing the bath, it’s better to finish installing other parts first.

Step 4: Add the Perches

Now you can begin installing the perches to the cage on their ideal positions. Place the ceramic perch closer to the feeding bowl, so the bird gets to it first after feeding.

Include a variety of perches, some facing the living room so the bird can face and interact with you as it rests. However, avoid placing any perching point directly above the food or water bowls. The bird may poop from that position into its food and eat the droppings while feeding.

Step 5: Add Toys

With everything now in their positions, you can begin adding the toys. Hang the hangable toys like swings and screw to the cage those that hang from the sides.

Ensure the number of toys is at least as many as the number of birds you intend to add to the cage. Also, add chewable toys nearest to the perch where the bird can enjoy gnawing on them while resting.

The Ideal Cage for The Parakeet

Before you start setting up the cage, you must ensure you have an ideal cage and other needed equipment. The cage will soon be a home for your new bird or birds and should have everything to keep them comfortable.

Various factors make the cage ideal for your pet bird. They include;

1. Cage size

Size is among the crucial factors to consider when preparing for the parakeet. The bird needs a cage with enough space to fly around, climb, and play within with not much limitation. An ideal cage size for a single parakeet is 20 inches long, 18 inches high, and 18 inches deep.

However, some parakeets, like the monk parakeet, also called the Quaker parakeet, and the Indian ringneck need a bigger cage. These birds can grow to over 12 inches long and are uncomfortable in a cage with smaller dimensions. The ideal size for these birds is 59” L, 32” D, and 59” H.

On the other hand, if you intend to keep more than one pet, the cage needs to be twice larger than that of a single parakeet’s cage. They need enough space to take time away from each other whenever they feel like it. So, for each parakeet, aim to provide 4,000 cubic inches.

2. Cage Material

Stainless steel is the ideal cage for parakeets and other pet birds. This material is durable and toxic-free, and on top of that, easy to clean. However, powder-coated steel is also a common material.

Don’t use a cage with cage bars that are easily moved and bent when the bird squeezes itself through. This type is dangerous as the parakeet can be trapped between the bars.

3. Cage Shape

A square or rectangular cage is much preferable because when parakeets feel threatened, they seek out a corner to huddle in. Also, the rectangular ones allow more space for horizontal flying, which is better when compared to rounded ones.

4. Cage Bars

Since parakeets are small birds, they require a cage with smaller bars. The bird should not be able to fit its head through the cage when playing or attempting to get out. A ½ inch spacing is enough to keep the pet bird safely inside.

5. Cage equipment

Shopping for the equipment is also crucial because these are the things you’ll use to set up the cage. A cage without essential equipment won’t be homely enough for the pet. Some of the equipment needed include;

a) Perches

Parakeets need perches mostly to stand and rest on. Perches are also where birds stand while playing on swinging toys and also where they clean their beaks. If you intend to cage multiple birds, they’ll socialize on perches.

When choosing an ideal perch, ensure it has varying widths and they’re made of different materials. Some of the common materials used include;

Wood perch – as their natural perch material, wood is among the best materials for parakeets. It can be commercially bought or prepared from branches. However, be sure to use only safe trees for perches.

Concrete perch – concrete helps them trim their nails and beaks from its rough texture. However, don’t use it alone as it can cause sores under the bird’s feet.

Ceramic perch – A ceramic perch also does a good job of trimming the bird’s beak. It’s among the ideal ones to place near a feeding bowl for the bird to use after feeding.

A flexible perch – Flexible perches are usually made of rope with a metal rod in between. The perch is flexible and bendable to different shapes. The birds also love them because they’re colorful.

Mix several perch types to give your pet a better experience.

b) Feeding containers

Your pet will require a food and water bowl where you’ll serve food and water. Sometimes when buying your cage, it will come with some feeding containers. However, in other cases, you must shop for them separately.

• Choose a feeding bowl or container that is coverable to minimize contamination.
• Also, you can use a water bottle instead of a bowl to keep the water clean and available all the time.
• However, you can use other types of cage feeders, like those attached to the cage bars, and some contain wooden perches. These perches ensure few spills and the bird feeds from an ideal standing position.
• Avoid any right food and water bowl materials that your bird can easily topple while feeding.
• Stainless steel is the widely and most recommended material to use for bowls.

c) Toys

Parakeets are active and playful birds and can get bored by lack of activity. Adding toys to the cage can prevent that from happening and keep them active and entertained.

• Provide different types of toys, including bell toys and mirrors.
• Bell toys capture their attention due to their moving parts and their noises. On the other hand, a mirror toy acts as a companion for a single budgie who loves how its reflection imitates its every action.
• Also, parakeets love swings and can swing for hours before they get tired of them. A swing is a great way for the pet bird to exercise while having fun.
• Also, include chew toys that your bird can gnaw on and shred. Chew toys help keep their beaks healthy and their jaws in good shape. Female parakeets during spring or breeding season gnaw a lot and can use plenty of chewable toys during that period.

d) Nesting box

Before you purchase the nesting box, there is a thing to note. You cannot add the nesting box when the pets are still younger than the required age of two years. However, some people breed them successfully when they are a year old.

So, only install the nesting box when you intend to keep the birds as breeding pairs and if they’re old enough. It may take more time for the birds to bond and mate if they’re new to each other. Among the reasons age is crucial is to prevent situations like egg binding.

The nesting box is often wooden and has a perch by the entrance where the bird steps on when entering. When the birds are ready, you can add nesting materials like unscented pine or shredded paper.

e) Others

Also, add cuttlebones and mineral blocks since they have great benefits for your pet’s health. You can hang them near a perching spot where the bird can easily feed on them.

The cuttlebone helps trim their beaks and provides much-needed calcium, among other minerals needed for a balanced diet. These minerals are much more helpful when your female parakeet is laying eggs or in the breeding season.

Parakeets also enjoy a bird bath, and you should buy a bowl at any pet store. You can purchase a hanging bowl installed on the cage’s side, or a heavy and sturdy bowl on the floor.

Positioning the Parakeet’s Cage?

After buying the ideal cage for your parakeet, the next step is to position it before adding other things to the cage. It should be in a living space where the bird interacts with you a lot.

There are several factors to consider while picking an ideal place to position the cage. They include;

• Easy to Clean Place

Place the cage in an easy-to-clean spot in the house, like a room with a tiled floor. While the birds are lovely and colorful, they are also quite messy. Research shows that these birds can poop up to 50 times a day. That means 50 different poop spots on your expensive floor mat.

However, you can use a liner, a material placed at the bottom of the cage where all the poop falls on. Liners are purchased in pet stores for at least $10 and mainly contain 100 pieces of disposable paper sheets. However, you can also use old newspapers and place two sheets per day.

• Lighting

Like other parakeets in the wild, these birds need exposure to natural lighting. Ensure there is plenty of natural lighting in the cage’s position during the day and enough darkness at night.

Keeping the cycle natural will help with their circadian rhythm or biological clock since it also affects the bird’s reproduction.

• Height

The ideal height for the parakeet’s cage is around your chest level, where it can see you when you approach. If placed too low or on the floor, the bird can become anxious when approached. On the other hand, if the parakeet cage is too high, the pet will feel superior or isolated.

• Walls

The cage should be in a position with at least one side up against the wall. The walls help the parakeet feel more secure as they have a corner to huddle in when scared. If placed in the center of a room, the bird feels a lot more scared with nowhere to hide.

Don’t When Placing the Birds Cage

There are several don’ts when positioning the bird’s cage. They include;

• Don’t place the parakeet’s cage in a position where they get direct sunlight. The sun may cause them to overheat during the day
• Don’t place the bird’s cage next to a window. If placed directly by the window, outside factors like hawks and dogs can stress them. Also, various weather conditions, like storms, can scare the bird
• Don’t place the cage next to a vent, as rapid temperature changes may be unhealthy for the parakeet
• Don’t place the cage near poisonous things like air fresheners, scented candles, or poisonous flowers like azalea or oleander.

If you can avoid all these, then you’ll have a productive cage for your lovely parakeets. You will also avoid exposing them to unnecessary risks.

Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Up Parakeets Cage

There are several things people do wrong while setting up the cage. These things can end up messing up the installation or causing other problems. They include;

• Overcrowding the Cage

One of the mistakes is overcrowding the cage by adding too many toys. Even though you have multiple birds, avoid adding too many toys. Otherwise, this can make the bird not enjoy their stay. Instead, add only a few toys and rotate them after a week or so.

• Positioning the cage

Though the birds enjoy living in an active environment, high-traffic positions with lots of commotion can make them anxious. Avoid placing the cage in these positions and put them in calmer locations in the room.

• Wrong equipment materials

Another common mistake is choosing the equipment, as some materials can be harmful. For instance, soft and chewable plastic should not be used as perches because the parakeets can chew and swallow them. Also, other toys with hooks or swallowable parts can harm your pet.

• Not tightening hanging implement

As noted in the steps section, ensure you tighten the hanging equipment safely to avoid mistakes. For instance, the hanging box bath and the feeder can cause a mess if they mistakenly become loose. In the worst-case scenario, such loose tools can kill your parakeets.

Conclusion

Although setting up a parakeet’s cage looks like a straightforward thing, there are a lot of factors that determine its success. Among them is the pet’s cage size and implements, which depend on the number of pets. However, the article should guide you and help you do it successfully.

When it comes to the actual process of setting the parakeet’s cage, follow the provided steps. The article also covers various mistakes people make when installing the parakeet’s cage to help you spot and avoid them.