Poll: Which cage would you go with?

[vitrolm]

#1 -- Super Pet EZ Care Playtop Cage for Large Birds
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+10346+5064+22828&pcatid=22828

Size: 48" x 39-3/4" x 90"
Price: $600

Inside Dimensions: 37-3/4" x 29" x 49" high
Bar Spacing: 1"
# of Ceramic Crocks: 5
# of Side Feeder Access Doors: 5

#2 -- Amazon.com Parrot Bird Wrought Iron Cage Play-Top 40x30x69
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002BIO9G/discountparrot-20/

Size: 40 x 30 x 69 inches
Price: $378.99

Bar Spacing: 1"
3 Easy access feeder doors
5 Heavy Duty Plastic Cups

** 5 reviews, with 3 of them 5 star, one 4 star, and one 2 star review. The 2 star says the construction is mediocre

#3 -- Avian Adventures Grande Playtop
http://www.petco.com/product/110662/Avian-Adventures-Grande-Playtop-Bird-Cages.aspx?CoreCat=BirdFC_Cagesstands#BVRRWidgetID
OR  http://www.americas-pet-store.com/avian-adventures-grande-playtop-bird-cage.html

Size: 30" L X 42" W X 73" H
Price: $492.89

1" Wire Spacing
No nuts and bolts
Knock-down design

THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK!!!! You all are great! Laura

[SeanM]

They all look good If you have the room bigger is better, They all have large top to bottom doors that are wide, as long as you can reach him fast if you have to I'd say its personal choice.

[vitrolm]

Some give the exterior AND interior dimensions, and this can be deceiving. Many only give one size, which I assume is exterior. Do you think the top one is definitely the biggest?

I found a $850 80x40x80 size cage with no playtop, but hubby thought I was nuts when I showed him that one. Financially, it would be a stretch, but of course I want the best for my baby. 

[karine]

I bought a A&E cage for Sophie. 48"X36"X76" playtop. It is huge and for Sophie it is too big. She is a shy grey and would have benefited from a smaller more secure cage, probably like a 36" wide. Further more, the playtop makes the inside of the cage dark and the UV light I have can't shine from the top like it is recommended but from the side which is not as good.

So if I had to do it over, I would buy a smaller dome top cage. I would get a 36" wide cage. Of course I do have a couple of playgyms outside of the cage with plenty of stimulation and a good amount of out of cage time......

Foe Sophie, bigger was not better   ....

[SeanM]

Very good point on the light Karine, are the playtop trays removable?

[karine]

Yes the top tray is removable. So it could be good off but then the poop would go onto everything when the bird plays on top. I prefer them to play on a separate play area. That is just my preference though. In my situation, Sophie is used to the top and will not go into her cage if I remove the top tray.

[vitrolm]

Thanks for the feedback, Karine. 

I am hoping if I start from the beginning taking the tray out from the playtop that it will be tolerated. Of course, I want other playstands, too. My plan is to set the avian light on a timer when I am away at work and Mozart is in the cage with the playtop tray removed. You know what they say, though -- "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

Laura

[SeanM]

Koosie plays on top of her cage even though it isn't a playtop and its amazing how few times she has hit anything pooping on top of her cage, seems like she hits everything else though

[Bobz]

Don't know of any of those cages but I would go for the largest,would rather have extra cage space than a play top as I find mine rarely use it, but suppose it is useful if they do use it 

[carol]

id go for number 2 it looks bigger

[alicat]

number 2 looks the most useful and biggest internal dimensions.
i wouldnt want the playtop stands so high id need ladders to getthem to come down, i could see that being a nuisance on the other two.

[feika]

I have contrasting views to almost all of you. I would place my bird in a compact cage about 30 inches dimensions from at least 2 sides, for the first couple of weeks or a month or two. The idea is to give the bird a secure place to sleep and spend most of his time outside the cage to get acclamatized and bonded with humans.

If you get a baby, sometimes they are prone to fall while sleeping so a small cage can easily be made fall proof or can take care of hard blows, also it urges the bird to come out of it as soon as you put your hand towards them so they will look forward to your company. A small cage can be easily shifted or placed anywhere according to both your and birds preferences. You can have a separate playgym to add to the variety. After some time you may decide how big a cage is needed for your bird.

[karine]

Totally agree with Feika. If I had done that, Sophie might be more self-assured today. Once you know the bird's personality,  you can create the perfect environment for him.

[vitrolm]

Karine, I saw the picture of your cage in the gallery. Looks similar to the one we got over the weekend.

[charlieboy]

i would have to agree with Feika on this. Charlie was in a small cage for the first month. Then when he was settled he went to a bigger cage then to the bigger one he's in now.  He enjoys the space and it somewhere that he can call his even though the rest of the house is his (according to him).
When they are little there clumsy little things and quite often fall.
I remember charlie lifting one foot up then he bit the foot he was standing on and tried to move it (as he hurt his foot biting it) resulting in him falling down. 

Saying that though when i got charlie the breeder did say the bigger the cage the better for them. So it's down to personal choice.