| There are many thoughts and ideas on the proper cage size for finches. In my humble opinion, a larger cage is always better. I recommend a minimum of 30" w x 18"d x 15"h (living space) for a pair of Goulds. If you plan on breeding them, keep in mind that the average clutch is 4 to 6 eggs. Those eggs eventually hatch and turn into fledglings. When those babies leave the nest, the cage immediately shrinks! Imagine cramming 8 birds into a 24" wide cage! They struggle with their parents for roosting space and have a difficult time learning to fly because they can't move around freely! They need MUCH more space to build their flight muscles and thrive. Sure, they'll eventually leave the nest, but not for about 45 to 50 days! They will have to be feeding themselves and flying well before you can confidently move them away from their parents. If you only have one bird, a 24" wide cage is fine, but remember the rule - more horizontal space, vertical space is not as important...birds don't fly straight up! If the bird is unable to literally fly from perch to perch, the cage is too small. Keep in mind...as you add perches, nest boxes, water bottles, food dishes and/or greenery, the cage gets smaller and smaller. What I'm trying to say is that as you add the required accessories, the flight space of your bird begins to diminish quickly! Remember this when you purchase a cage. |
| SPACE REQUIREMENTS |
| WHAT TO BUY |
| WHERE AND HOW TO BUY |
| HOW TO BUY |
| Cage type and size are important to the health and wellbeing of your birds. If the cage you choose is too small, the birds may not be able to exercise properly, potentially causing obesity and/or other health issues. It may even become obvious to you, after watching your birds for a while, that the cage you've purchased really IS too small! If they're unable to fly from one perch to another, you would be right! Save yourself the time and effort now and get the right sized cage! |
| Finch cages have vertical bars. The bar spacing should be no more than 1/2" to avoid entanglement or escapes. If the cage bars are spaced too wide, the bird may be able to escape leaving it open to a world of dangers! A hookbill cage will have horizontal bars because these birds, such as parakeets, like to hang from the cage bars. They literally hook their bill over the bar and climb! Finches don't require this type of bar. AND most watering devices are made to fit through vertical bars! Look around your nearest pet supply store, you'll see what I mean! |
| I breed my own birds in the above mentioned cage size, but move them to a large flight cage, 60"w x 18"d x 38"h (living space), during the off season. If you have the space, a larger cage is much appreciated by the birds and gives them room for the exercise they require to stay healthy! Check the Housing and Breeding links for more information! |
| You can find bird cages at any pet store or pet supply. However, the cages you'll find are usually inappropriate for Gouldian finches. Many stores now offer finch cages with the correct bar spacing, but have fancy roofs and too small dimensions. Don't fall for these pretty cages. The fancy roofs give the birds too many options for injuring themselves. The sizes are much too small, and do not allow for free flight. There are many Internet sites with the right type of cage, at the right price. Just be sure to add in the cost of shipping to see if it will be worthwhile. It usually ends up that the cage may be reasonably or inexpensively priced, but the shipping charges make the final cost higher than if you'd gone to a store near your home. |
| If you live in the Southeast Michigan area, the absolute BEST place to purchase the perfect cage, or ANY kind of pet supply, is K9 Specialties These folks make it their business to make owning a pet affordable! The owners work their tails off (no pun intended!) to bring you the absolute lowest prices to be found! I know folks who come clear from the west side of the state to get their supplies here! THAT'S HOW GOOD THE PRICES ARE! The building is setup along the lines of a warehouse. BUT, they have a room dedicated exclusively to birds! |
| They are constantly bringing new items in, so things have a tendency to move around within the bird room, but sometimes it's fun to hunt for new items! I always find something I didn't know they carried, and it usually comes just in time! At K9, you never know what cool, fun, or just plain wonderful thing you might find hidden in some corner somewhere! BUT, if you can't find what you are looking for, just ask! The staff is always more than willing to help you find it! They are also excellent at reading minds...every time I think I need something and they don't have it, it miraculously appears on their shelves the next time I visit! Don't ask me how they do it, I have no idea! But I love them for it! I will post their monthly specials papers as they come available! Oh, and by the way...the staff is wonderful! (Hey gang!) |
| You can purchase a cage over the Internet from a variety of different websites (just be sure they have a secure ordering process - https:// will show up in front of your URL). I have included several great web links on my Links page! You can purchase a cage from your local pet supply - just keep in mind the dimensions and bar spacing requirements... BUT...NEVER, NEVER, NEVER PURCHASE A USED CAGE! I tell my clients this all the time, but failed to heed my own advice once and paid for it with the lives of my birds, hundreds of dollars worth of equipment, and hours of wasted time. Read more about the terrible mistake I made here. |
| AS A SIDE NOTE... |
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| Cage Type & Size |
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