Choosing a parakeet cage: Are dome tops safe and what size is best?

It is best to go with the cage that has the most horizontal flight space. Peaked cages are OK looks-wise, but make sure it is safe and feet and wings can't get caught where the edges meet. Avoid round shaped cages as well as it can sometimes stress birds out to not have a corner they can hide and relax in. Any cage should have enough room to move around a bit, have some toys for enrichment, and have a place to quietly rest aside from food and water locations.

Thanks for reaching out about Aqua. You can search for free cages on sites such as Craigs List or local bird rescue groups. A minimal size is probably 2' x 2' x 3', but depends on how much time is spent in the cage. Flight is good exercise but needs to monitored so the birds don't get themselves into trouble flying around. No bird should be left outside of its cage unattended. If birds are active and out of the cage for a fair amount, the night cage can be smaller, as is for mostly sleeping. Good luck.

You should be able to purchase a travel cage at any local pet store that carries bird supplies. You'll want to find one that is large enough to house all three birds comfortably, and that a food and water dish can be placed in. You'll want the same spacing of the bars as you would a regular cage (usually 1/2 inch or smaller for parakeet and smaller birds) to prevent any injury. You may also want to find a cover that can fit the travel cage as well, as keeping it dark while moving the birds can help reduce stress and anxiety during the move.

It depends how large your cage is. The standard minimum cage size recommended by bird professionals is 12- by 18- by 18-inches for a single bird. This cage size is fine if your budgie is outside of the cage most of the time, but if you have a cage-confined budgie, it's going to be much too small to keep your bird happy and healthy.

Parakeets, also called Budgerigars, are small members of the parrot family and they can become good mimics. The average adult size is 7 inches long, head to end of tail. The average life span is between 10 to 20 years with proper care. A well-balanced Parakeet diet consists of: Specialized pellets should make up 60-70% of diet, fresh vegetables and fruits and small amounts of fortified seeds Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. Do not feed birds: avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol; it can cause serious medical conditions. Avoid sugar and high fat treats. Things to remember when feeding your Parakeet: Fresh food and water should always be available. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within a few hours should be discarded. Remember, treats should not exceed 10% of total food intake. Housing Parakeets acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should area that is well-lit and away from drafts. A habitat approximately 18"W x 18"D x 18"H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 1-2" apart, makes a good home for one Parakeet. A flight habitat is strongly recommended. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with habitat paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches. Parakeets can be kept alone to bond with pet parent or in pairs to bond with each other. Different birds she not be housed together. Normal Behavior Parakeets are talkers, but their little voices are sometimes hard to hear. Active and need daily time out of their habitats to interact with family. Keep in pairs if unable to devote daily interaction time. Provide foraging toys, which provide important mental stimulation. Housing Maintenance Clean and disinfect the habitat and perches regularly; replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed. Replace perches, dishes, and toys when worn or damaged; rotate new toys into the habitat regularly. Ensure that there are no habitat parts or toys with lead, zinc or lead-based paints or galvanized parts as these can cause serious medical issues if ingested by your bird. Do not use a lot of cleaning agents around your bird a natural cleaner. Grooming & Hygiene Provide filtered, chlorine-free, lukewarm water regularly for bathing; remove the water when done. As an alternative, mist the bird with water. Clipping flight feathers is not necessary, but when done correctly it can help prevent injury or escape; consult an avian veterinarian on what is best for your bird. Nails should be trimmed by a qualified person to prevent injury to the bird. Signs of a Healthy Animal: Active, alert, and sociable Eats and drinks throughout the day Dry nares and bright, dry eyes Beak, legs and feet normal in appearance Clean, dry vent Smooth, well-groomed feathers Common Health Issues Chlamydiosis: Appetite loss, fluffed feathers, nasal discharge, green stool. Seek immediate avian veterinary attention. Diarrhea: Fecal portion of stool is not formed. Multiple causes from diet change to internal parasites. Consult with an avian veterinarian and ensure proper diet. Feather plucking: Bird plucks own feathers; may be due to boredom, poor diet or other illness. Consult your veterinarian and relieve boredom with attention, new toys or new space. Mites (scaly face and leg disease): White deposits on eyes, beak, legs, and feet. Consult your veterinarian. Red Flags Beak swelling or accumulations Fluffed, plucked, or soiled feathers Sitting on floor

Thanks for reaching out with all of your questions. The cage that you have listed would be an appropriate size, however one thing that should be ensured is that it needs to be powder coated. This is important as heavy metal toxicity from chewing on the cage is fairly common in parrots. For sleeping, birds need to have complete darkness and quiet. This means that yes, an audiobook would keep your bird awake. As far as flying - this depends on the bird. Many Amazons do not fly a great deal, and need to be strongly encouraged to exercise. It is very effective exercise to have a bird fly, but you will need to ensure that the environment is safe for them. Ensure that doors are closed, there are no ceiling fans turned on, that all toilet lids are closed, and that no cooking is occurring. I hope this gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If you cannot find measurements for the cage type you are looking at, I would go with a different company or location to one that offers measurements such as bar sizing, cage sizing etc, before purchasing. Birds can be picky eaters, and very messy ones, and they may throw food just for the fun of it. Continuing to offer a variety of fruits and veggies in addition to his regular food can help him become more interested in trying (and hopefully liking) more things. Cage guards can also be useful in helping contain the normal mess birds make as they eat.