Potential Budgie Owner looking for advice

[starmum]

Hi,

Our family are discussing getting our first pair of budgies. We have already said we will get the biggest cage we can afford (around the £100 mark) but we have been looking at 2 and trying to decide which is better. I was hoping you would be able to give us some advice about which one might be more appropriate.

The key thing for us is size as we won't necessarily be able to let the budgies out every day due to working patterns, so I wanted them to have enough space in the cage to tide them over between free flight sessions.


Ferplast Planeta - www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/birds/bird_cages_and_accessories/parakeet_cages/ferplast/605237
Pros: larger of the 2 cages
Cons: small doors - would this make it harder to access/handle budgies?
Queries: will plastic clips/edges be as durable as metal?

Royal Large - www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Royal_Large_Mobile_Bird_Cage_with_Stand_and_Wheels.htm?product_id=817651
Pros: easy access doors, especially for our daughter to join in with budgie care duties
Cons: vertical bars - I've read somewhere that horizontal bars are better for budgies
Queries: will the locking bar on the door hold tightly or does it slide open easily?


I would really appreciate any advice as I have looked at so many cages online but sadly have no pet stores that stock such things nearby, so haven't seen anything 'in the flesh'. We have already ruled out models with doors that slide up as we have cats, and although we plan on keeping the budgies in their own room I thought it best to be on the safe side and choose a cage with locking doors.

Thankyou in advance for any advice,

Amy

[jellybean]

Hi Amy, welcome to the forum. 
In my opinion the second cage with the double doors looks the better of the two.

That is similar to the cage I have for my two boys, but mine only has the one door, and my boys love it, for the money its an excellent cage, well built and sturdy, and the wheels are great for moving from room to room, this is it:-


www.littlepetwarehouse.co.uk/products/hamberley-single-metal-large-cage.html

As for the vertical bars........my two can whizz up and down them without any problem whatsoever. 
So really the choice is yours as to double or single doors.

With some nice natural wood perches in it, I am sure your two new little birds will be chuffed to bits with this new home.

[starmum]

Hi jellybean, thankyou for your reply! Yes the cage you linked does look very similar, we would probably go for the double doors as the lower one will be easier for our daughter to reach.

Do you find it gives two budgies plenty of space? I imagine it could fill up quite quickly with perches and toys and I'm conscious that we don't want to overcrowd it or the budgies won't be able to stretch their wings and fly. It is difficult to estimate how many perches they might need - how many would you recommend?

[helenmat]

This is my cage for my two. I love the horizontal bars and the little half round door that they flit in and out of. It's very sturdy too.

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/birds/bird_cages_and_accessories/parakeet_cages/montana/49172

[jellybean]

There is PLENTY of room for 2 budgies.
I have natural wood (willow) perches in mine, 4 in total, (plus a cotton perch in the top left hand corner) two top and two bottom running breadth ways which gives the buds more space. But its up to you how you furnish it, you might want less.
As I said before, double or single door, they are great cages and your buds will love you for it.

[Learner]

Whichever cage you choose (some good advice and pointers given) I think the least important dimension is height. Go for the longest and widest cage possible. Budgies will climb up and down but flying-about-space when they are in the cage is important so height isn't really an issue.

Horizontal bars are maybe easier to climb up but budgies will tackle anything if they feel so inclined. A good size door is useful for budgies (A disadvantage for my small finches who love to flit out over my head when I'd rather they stayed put and avoid me having to wait for them to nip back in again 10 minutes later when I'm in a rush).

Enjoy planning, enjoy your new birds and patience with everything... There's always lots of good advice on here if ever you need a tip or two.

[Hezz]

I have a cage very similar to your second choice/link .... (make it your first, ) and similar to jellybean's. Mine has the two doors but with different latches, however I have used a cage with these latches, and with a much bigger bird; it seemed to work well. With the dimensions being similar, I would suggest two perches up high, running front to back not side to side, slightly in from the sides - enough for the budgies to be able to turn around and their tails don't bang onto the sides. Down lower, nearer to the bottom door, another two but closer in together, so that they dare out of the way of dropping poos. Your birds will spend most of their time up higher, but give them reason to go onto the floor or lower and they will. Place toys and swings around, or close to, the edges of the cage so that you don't restrict they flight path from one side to another. Oops, sorry, jellybean, I see we have given the same advice (I didn't read all the way down ), but hey, it must be good, if we both say so!!!

[starmum]

Thank you helenmat, jellybean, Learner and Hezz for all your tips. Yes I had read that horizontal flight space was more important than vertical - we looked for the widest cages possible to fit into the alcove beside the chimney breast, and 80cm is ideal as this still leaves space to access side doors. I am quite looking forward to our new pet-keeping venture, although we have a little while to wait as we have agreed the budgies will be our daughter's birthday present in November - that gives us plenty of time to plan and prepare! Thank you all for your help!

[helenmat]

Lovely how old is your daughter?

[starmum]

She will be 9, her great grandfather (my husband's grandad) breeds budgies and we thought this is an ideal age for her to have her first pair. We live far apart but hopefully it will be a lovely thing for them to bond over

[Hezz]

November is only a month away. October will fly past so quickly. I am sure you will all enjoy your new additions.