anti-consumerism adventure nomad ([info]a_wags) wrote in [info]cockatiels,
@ 2005-02-21 15:04:00
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2 birds, one cage?
we are not the owners of two lovely teils and 2 cages, one IMO is too small for much longer than the 30 day quaritine period and the other is a nice size but Im afraid its too small for 2 teils to live together in..

Currently, we have this cage but I'm wonder if its ok or big enough for two teils to be together..? or should I be looking for something bigger.. any ideas?


opinions? research? suggestions?


xposted here and there.

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[info]teechers_pet
2005-02-21 04:14 pm UTC (link)
That looks great for two tiels!

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[info]dizzydezzy
2005-02-21 04:36 pm UTC (link)
I owuld say it looks too small. It is a reasonable size for ONE tiel, but because tiels (well, most birds) use the horisontal area much more than the vertical distance, 20 inches each way would be too cramped, and tiels don't like being lower than the other (nobody wants to get pooped on). It is likely that if you stick two tiels in that cage they will just sit at the same level all day looking at one another, and you would not have enough space for many toys for two birds.
I have heard that a cage for two tiels should be at least 24" in each dimension and, of course, the bigger the better. They need to be able to flap their wings wihtout hitting their toys, each other or the sides of the cage... I can't imagine two tiels flapping in a 20"x20" cage at the same time wihtout hitting *anything*.
I owuld either get another one of those cages and cage the two birds separately beside one another, or get a bigger cage for the two.

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[info]bumblebeez
2005-02-21 04:55 pm UTC (link)
i think it looks fine. :)

and contrary to the above commenter, i heard that vertical distance is better than horizontal, anyway.

my two tiels are in a cage that's around that size, and they've got PLENTY of room. other animal/bird-knowledgable people have seen it and thought it's fine, too.

they've got enough space to spread their wings and everything. :)

i say kudos on the nice cage. =)

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[info]sabr
2005-02-21 07:04 pm UTC (link)
Looks big enought to me.

Horizontals are for flighted birds. Clipped birds use the vertical. Dont put one perch directly under another, and they will not be pooped upon.

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[info]ltdead
2005-02-21 08:13 pm UTC (link)
I mostly agree with dizzydezzy. I did keep 2 birds in a 19 by 19 for a while, but that was because it was the biggest cage I was able to find in Japan. Here in Japan they keep MACAWS in cages that size, and people thought I was nuts that I thought it was too small. But with plenty of out-of-cage-time, and a play gym in the window, they were still happy. I had my mother bring me a larger cage from America, though. And then... by some miracle, actually FOUND an even larger cage here in Japan for only $50. The birds prefered each successive new cage noticeably and are happier.

Horizontal size is definately more important than horizontal, no questions asked, whether the bird is clipped or not. As for hozontal space being for `flighted` birds... any cage long enough to give an unclipped `tiel room to fly is actually a flight, and would be about 6 feet long. It would also have to be wide enough to allow the bird to turn around and go back the other way. That would be lovely, but that`s not what people refer to when they say horizontal is better. My birds tend to use the top 1/3 of the cage. I force them to go down to the lower portions every day, though, by putting the food down there and putting some of their favorite toys and treats on the floor of the cage. My birds are flighted, but they don`t use their wings to get around their cage. It`s not a flight, it`s not big enough for that. They either hop, or climb. I`ve yet to see them pull a manuver in the cage that a clipped bird couldn`t immitate perfectly.

If your birds get plenty of out-of-the-cage time, 20 by 20 will work, but I`d keep my eyes open for a deals on a larger cage. And do what you can to encourage them to use the verticle space, because if you design the cage wrong it really doesn`t get much use. I find removing the grate encourages the birds to go down and play on the floor of the cage. Especially if you put favorite treats like sweet potato down there.

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[info]ltdead
2005-02-21 08:15 pm UTC (link)
Oh, and be sure you rearrange the cage completely, removing anything the current cage-occupant seems possessive of, before putting two birds in together to help prevent territorial arguements. Then keep a pretty close on them for a while to make sure it`s working out.

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[info]minday
2005-02-22 05:29 am UTC (link)
I have that cage right now for one tiel and she loves it, the opening on the top is very nice also.

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