How to set up a cage for a parrot
Environment parameters, equipment and a beginner checklist.
Birds need space, enrichment and company. The cage must let them spread their wings and hop between perches, not just sit. The biggest mistakes are a too-small cage, same-diameter perches (which cause foot problems), and a seed-only diet. Offer balanced food (pellets, vegetables, fruit) and interact daily, or boredom and feather-plucking set in.
What to buy
- Spacious cage with correct bar spacing
- Perches of varying diameter (natural branches)
- Enrichment and foraging toys
- Food and water dishes
- Balanced food: pellets, vegetables, fruit
- Mineral block / cuttlebone (calcium)
Where to start (checklist)
- 1Place the cage somewhere quiet but social
- 2Remove toxic plants and Teflon near the bird
- 3Plan daily interaction time
- 4Plan a gradual switch to pellets