How to Choose a Weaning Cage

Young birds, especially parrots, that are raised in captivity are usually transferred to a weaning cage once they no longer need to be kept in a brooder but are not yet ready for an adult cage. It is difficult to find weaning cages that are sold specifically for this purpose--instead, cages sold for other purposes are often used as weaning cages. Since typical adult bird cages are too tall to serve as weaning cages, you can use rabbit hutches, small animal cages and dog crates instead. You must carefully assess these cages to determine their suitability as a weaning cage before purchase.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Examine the finish on the cage. Although baby parrots do not chew on wiring as much as adults, they may still damage or ingest inappropriate finishing materials. Stainless steel or powder-coated finishes are preferred, but you can safely house small birds such as budgies or cockatiels in brass-finish cages. Avoid painted cages and those with PVC-coated wiring.

2. Consider the size and shape of the cage. Weaning cages should be short to prevent injury to clumsy young birds, which frequently fall from their perches. In general, a weaning cage should be no taller than twice the total height of the birds it will house. The cage should be as wide as possible to allow room for the babies to play, move and learn to climb. It should also be deep enough that the birds' tails will not bend when perching or sitting on the cage bottom.

3. Measure the bar spacing, taking care to check for areas where the bar spacing may be larger than it is on the rest of the cage. This is common in cages designed for animals other than birds, especially dog crates. Often a dog crate with 1-inch bar spacing will have 1 1/2-inch spacing in the corners or near the bottom of the cage. This creates a safety hazard when caging birds that require narrower bar spacing to prevent injury.

4. Carefully examine any plastic parts on the cage, and avoid cages that include any wooden parts, even if they are inaccessible to birds inside the cage. Wooden parts create a health hazard because they are porous, making them extremely difficult to clean properly. Any plastic parts on the cage, such as the cage bottom or tray, should be durable enough to withstand prolonged chewing by the species that will be housed in the weaning cage. Avoid cages with plastic parts when selecting a weaning cage for young macaws or cockatoos, since these species will quickly destroy them.

5. Examine the cage bottom, tray and, if applicable, grate. If you prefer a grate, be sure that the bars are spaced closely enough to prevent injury. Cages that do not include a grate should have a deep tray that can be filled with aspen shavings or other substrate. A deeper tray will allow you to fill it with enough substrate to absorb droppings and prevent mold growth. Either way, the tray should slide out easily for cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Large cages designed for rabbits often make the best weaning cages for small to medium birds.
• Although custom weaning cages are available from select manufacturers, these are usually made of galvanized wire, which may cause zinc toxicity in birds that chew or mouth the wire.
• Beware of dog crates with thin, hard plastic trays. These trays break into dangerously sharp fragments when chewed.

Resources

• National Animal Interest Alliance: Hand-feeding and Raising Youngsters