silly question (probably) about cage bars

[budgiebudgie]

Hello everyone!

I want to get my 20 month old budgie a bigger cage.  She is very dear to me and I want her to be happy with it.  The cage I have at the moment has white bars and the cage I'm looking at (Ferplast Canto) has black bars.  Presumably, as budgies spend a fair bit of time in the cage looking out, this would be a radical change.  Do you think suddenly seeing the world with black bars instead of white would be troublesome for the budgie?

I realise that this might be a petty concern.  She is undoubtedly a bit of a spoilt, princess budgie.  But I can't help thinking I ought to look for a bigger cage with white bars as this is what she's used to.

Please advise me of your thoughts - and if it really wouldn't make a jot of difference changing from one bar colour to another. 

[OP]

That is not a silly question by any means. I have never seen it asked before. I don't know the answer as no-one has given one. I have changed cages quite a few times and never thought about the colour of the bars. Your logic seems very reasonable. Without knowing just what the buds can see at one given time it would be hard to give a definitive answer. I kow they can see minute objects close up, because they can spot one seed one on a worktop. They can also see us through the bars. Without giving the bud a new home in a different coloured cage I guess you will never know.

[samwiseg]

I have gotta agree with OP never heard the question posed but not a silly one by any means

In my experience with budgies ANYTHING that is changed may prove unsettling at first

Only thing I can advise is that if you were buying a cage with different bars, my major concern would be is to make sure that the size of the bars are 1cm apart and that they are covered with budgie proof non toxic paint.

Hope that helps

[skysmum]

I have often wondered the same thing, Ive had white and black cages including the canto and ive never had a problem with whatever colour they go in. I have a tall white cage which they all LOVE but I think that's just because its taller and they like to be at the highest point.

As sam said anything new takes them a while to adjust to but they all do

[budgiebudgie]

Thank you all. I'm actually going to hold out for a white one. She squashes herself against the side of the cage at night and likes to be at the front of the cage by day (when she's in it). I think the human equivalent would be seeing in terms of a photographic negative - a big change. The black bars would surely be noticeable and intrusive after white ones.

Although no one gave definitive advice one way or t'other, your replies have helped to settle my mind so thank you!

[Deleted]

I have just bought my Squawk a Ferplast Canto cage which has black bars. His previous cage was a Vision one with silver bars. Squawk loves his new cage, so the colour of the bars has not affected him one bit. In fact, he's like the King of the castle in the new cage. Flitting from one side to the other.

[Hezz]

I think budgies are much more resilient than we give them credit for, but for myself (and my birds) I wouldn't want white bars/cage, and I would imagine white bars are more intrusive to the bird looking out. Black blends into the environment - just think black v white security screens, both looking in and looking out.

[budgiebudgie]

Well, about an hour ago I bought Princess Bimbo the Ferplast Canto cage. It was a bit expensive but big attraction was that it was in stock and already assembled. Now I've got it home, it is massive! I am dreading what the OH will say when he sees it.

Jane, I hope she takes to it the way your Squawk has. When I'm not home (Tues to Fri term time until 4pm) the OH is around for company but he does not get her out of the cage so that's quite a long time to be in it, and she deserves to stretch her wings a bit. The other cage was fine, but small.

I really hope she likes it! She has seen it and appears scared. I will not gradually move things from one to the other but completely furnish the new cage close to the old one, then remove the old one completely so it is out of sight. No messing. I think I've read elsewhere on this site that this is the best strategy. Happy to be guided by anyone who's done this, though.

[OP]

I have introduced 3 budgies to a new cage in the way you describe. It seems the least stressful. They soon settle in when they find the food and water.

[budgiebudgie]

I'm so pleased I bought it. It's so big! I think she'll like it. When the installation upgrade is complete, I'll post some pics.

[samwiseg]

Just a tip budgiebudgie as she is a lone bud, you may wish to try placing a cover on the back and sides so she feels less threatened by having to look all around her.

Then bit by bit reduce the sides that are covered and am sure she will be fine

[Deleted]

How's she getting on in the new cage budgiebudgie?

Squawk loves his. He plays with his toys at the bottom of his cage which he never done in the Vision. He also flits from one side to the other, showing off no doubt.

[budgiebudgie]

Jane , Bimbo seems stressed and scared of her new big black cage. I REALLY want her to like it! At the moment she's sat on my shoulder, kind of looking at it. It is in exactly the same spot as her old one used to be. She's looking at it and I swear to God knows exactly what has happened.

I went away for the bank holiday weekend and left her with her budgie-friendly sitters who have her out of the cage a lot. I thought this could be 'The Opportunity'. So, I put her in her travel cage to bring her home, as normal. When I took her (in the travel cage) out of the car, I left her (in the travel cage) downstairs. Quickly, I transferred some things from the old cage into the new, and then hid the old cage. Effectively then, she's come back home to a new cage. She'll (eventually, we hope) go to the new cage. Since she's been home, she hasn't seen or set foot in her 'normal' cage.

But they're not daft, are they? She seems suspicious and is sitting on my shoulder facing the opposite direction to me (I'm looking at my monitor; she's looking the other way at the cage).

Part of me wonders whether I shouldn't have held out for a white cage. And I worry about her not being able to find her way around in the dark and having a terrible flappy night fright (although it probably helps at the moment that there are so many hours of daylight).

samwiseg , when it's time for bed I'll cover the roof, back and sides, but at the moment the back is against a wall anyway.

I just want her to get acquainted with it, to speed up the process of it being new and unfamiliar. But this won't happen if she won't go in it. On the bright side, she has landed ON it. I've put her food in the same 'zone' as the old cage, and toys and roosting perch in the same zone also.

Sorry for the great length.

[budgiebudgie]

Poor thing is so scared. WHen we go near it she takes flight.

Jane, how long did it take for Squawk to get used to the change?

[budgiebudgie]

Aw. She is being very cute. She's now IN the new cage, and enjoying her first seeding grass of the year. Picked in Cornwall and brought back specially. This was a good inducement to get her to go in. She's quite static and not moving around much at all, but she's in!