How Big Should a Parakeet Cage Be? Cage size and Bar Spacing

Everyone loves birds. But what if it can talk? Having a talking bird is like a dream come true. Well, we have good news for you! Your dream can see the light of reality with parakeets. Parakeets can speak almost like human beings.

Their affectionate nature, adorable look, and affordable price make them one of the most popular birds in the world. If you can train them properly, they can mimic your voice, and that’s what makes them so special.

When you have them as your pet, you need to be very cautious about housing, especially. Yeah, they are indeed small in size but still, they require a comfortable and spacious place to hop, fly and play in. With that in mind, the next big question is, how big should a parakeet cage be? Well, let’s find out.

Stuff You Need to Know About Keeping Parakeet as Pet

Parakeets are pretty extroverted in nature. They need a spacious place where they can be acrobatic, playful, and be active. I mean come on! who doesn’t love to be themselves?

And it’s not only about this, but you also got to give them enough of the required gears such as swings, perches, ropes, and ladders. In most cases, you will have two or more birds in your cage so, keep that in mind before buying the cage.

Here’s another essential thing to remember, the parakeet cage should have horizontal space rather than vertical. The reason is, they need to fly around to perform their regular exercise, and in that case, a horizontal shaped cage is a perfect solution.

How About Cage Size and Bar Spacing?

When it comes to the size of the cage of your parakeet, you got to follow the “the bigger the better” rule. Keeping a single parakeet will require a 12x18x18 inches cage, but as we have told before, it won’t be a good idea to keep just one in the cage. In this world, “everybody needs somebody.” right? and so does a bird.

Therefore, you need to keep at least two or more, and keeping two parakeets will require having at least 18” w x 14” d x 22” h sized cage. Please, don’t hesitate to spend a few more bucks on your cage, as this is going to be your long-term investment that may last for decades. The smartest decision would be to buy the biggest cage you can find.

The next big thing is bar spacing. Space matters everywhere, and so does when it comes to your parakeet cage. If the spacing of the cage is too wide, then a small parakeet can escape easily. So, it would be wise to buy a cage that was specially made for a parakeet.

A wire cage would be a great solution as parakeets won’t be able to chew those, and the spacing of the bar should be around ½ an inch apart. Remember that all of the bars need to be placed in a parallel position and, make sure there are no sharp edges around as your parakeets might get injured while trying sliding down the bars.

What do You Need to Know about Parakeet Body Type?

When your parakeet has got a long tail, keep in mind that the cage needs to be wide enough to let the bird move and turn without getting disturbed by the bars. If that happens, then parakeet feathers might get damaged, and they might start to feather pluck themselves. I’m sure you wouldn’t like to see that happening to your loving birds.

The Perfect Placement and Accessibility

Most often parakeet owners fail to place the cage in the right place. Cage placement plays an essential role in the healthy upbringings of your parakeet. When placing the cage, remember you need to place it somewhere from where it’s easy to move, and cleaning doesn’t include much hassle.

Make sure it’s been placed in a location you can easily move the water and food bowls, toys, bedding out of the cage. The area needs to have well-ventilation and be away from the contact of direct sunlight. Also, make sure that the place is not easily accessible for other pets in the house.

Mostly be aware of cats! They don’t have a good history of getting along with birds. You need to manage at least 10-20 minutes of time from your daily schedule to give them your company. Treat them like they are a part of your family. Socializing is essential for other animals just like us.

Accessories

You may regret buying the cage for your parakeet if it’s not big enough to arrange all the facilities they need inside. So, before buying one, make sure it’s big enough to place all the necessary accessories.

You got to create a fun and lovely environment inside the cage, so your parakeet doesn’t feel like they have been imprisoned. Some of their must-have accessories are ladders, different types of toys, and perches.

Remember that the ladders and perches must have variations in sizes, and trying moving those around once a month to prevent them from getting bored. Parakeets would love to play with toys also you can give them a swing. Trust me, when you will see them happy playing with the toys and swing, that moment will instantly boost your mood.

FAQs

• How many parakeets I’m allowed to keep inside the cage?

You can keep a maximum of 10-parakeets inside the cage. Though, it depends on the size of the cage. If you want to keep more than two parakeets inside, make sure the size of the cage is at least 46 x 46 x 56 cm.

• Should I have a wider or tall cage for my parakeets?

Parakeets are one of the most playful and active birds in the bird’s kingdom. So, make sure you get the biggest cage you can find within your budget. And when talking about whether it should wider or taller, we will recommend you to focus on the width. A wider cage is a comfortable place for parakeets to live healthily and happily.

• Is it okay to keep a single parakeet in the cage?

Birds love to be together just like us humans. To my knowledge, only canaries, finches, and budgerigars are good to survive alone. And when it comes to parakeets, it would be wise to keep them in pairs, especially if you stay a lot busy all day. Otherwise, your parakeet will feel lonely, and you know how’s it feels like, right?

• When my parakeets will start talking?

I hate to say this, but the truth is it may take a while to make your parakeet talk. Starting from 3-4 weeks to two months and even more. But here’s the good news once they learn to speak just one word it becomes a lot easier to teach them more.

Final Verdict

The size of your bedroom is important for you, isn’t it? Just like that, the size of the cage for your parakeets is important to them. It plays a significant role in their well-being and happiness. It’s said, “It’s not how big the house is, it’s how happy the home is.“

You are already aware that they love to stay active so, make sure their living place is not narrow and boring. Giving them a wider and playful place to live in will ensure their good health and they will thrive faster.

We hope now you have a good idea about how big should a parakeet cage be. Now let’s get your parakeet a nice little home!