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Choosing a proper cage is essential for a happy and healthy
parrot. Indian Ringnecks are extremely active and are very
playful. Their cages need to be easy to clean and easy to
dismantle for proper cleaning. The cage should be able to
house the toys, your parrot and perches comfortably. An
Indian Ringneck can live many years; therefore, the cage
needs to be durable and safe.
When
choosing a cage for your Indian Ringneck you need to take
into consideration the tail. The size of the cage should
always be as large as your budget can afford and as large as
your room can accommodate. Indian Ringnecks in particular
enjoy spacious cages and will make use of any excess room
they have. Your parrot should be able to turn around,
flap his wings, hop form perch to perch, and play with his
toys without touching the bars of the cage.
A good
cage will also have doors that will allow your hands to
enter the cage without trouble. If your parrot needs to be
retrieved this will greatly reduce any stress, especially if
your Indian Ringneck was not handfed. The cage should have
at least three doors. Two should be used for food and water
and one as the main entrance. Most doors have clips, so
once the bowls are securely placed into position they cannot
wiggle or move.
The
perches inside the cage need to be strategically located.
Perches that are placed above bowls will result in
contaminated food and water. It is important that
everything be paced in such a way that the birds cannot poop
on their equipment. Avoid placing toys above each other as
they can easily collect droppings.
The
perches need to be sized different as well. Perches that
are the same diameter throughout the cage do not properly
exercise the parrot’s feet. Make sure all perches are sized
differently. Eucalyptus branches are ideal; however, they
need to be cleaned and wash properly to remove pesticides
and bacteria. If you use other types of tree branches be
sure to do research to ensure it is not poisonous. Anything
placed inside a cage will usually be chewed.
Though
you might be tempted to place all your bird’s toys inside
his cage do not. This will overcrowd the cage. Instead,
rotate the toys weekly to avoid boredom. Lots of toys
placed inside the cage will quickly become dirty and take up
space. Toys should never be placed below the perch line,
because as stated above, they will get dirty.
A tray
is also needed on the bottom of the cage. This will collect
seed husks or wasted fruits and vegetables. These trays
will get dirty fast throughout the day and they need to be
easy to slide out and clean. Cage bottoms designed for cob
beddings or wood shavings should not be used. They harbor
lots of bacteria if they are not changed daily. The tray
should also be below a grill to avoid your Indian Ringneck
touching anything that has fallen into the tray.
The
material of the cage needs to be coated or sealed with a
nontoxic paint. Old cages that have chipped paint can rust
and cause serious illnesses to your Indian Ringneck (metal
poisoning). The cage should not be made of brass because
this can contain zinc and this is very toxic to parrots.
Always make sure the cage is properly sealed; some new
brands make cages out of stainless steel or the bars have
been powder coated. |
