Feed: Decorative Bird Cages - AggScore: 47.9

Some decorative bird cages are fine to use as a home for a bird. Before deciding how your bird cage will be used, you must consider the size, shape, and the materials used to make the cage, as well as what was used to coat or paint the cage. Decorative bird cages can be manufactured out of several different materials, including metal, acrylic, stainless steel, iron or even a bamboo. There are many factors that affect how you should use a bird cage to decorate, and if it is safe for a bird. Antique decorative cages can be representative of different regions of the world; Tuscan, Arabian and Oriental cages all have distinctive looks, just to name a few. Victorian cages, which a quite popular, often have marble tops or gold trims.

Many different styles can be found in pet stores, department stores, or in some retail stores. Although antique bird cages are very nice to look at, they should never be used as a home for a bird, as they can be very dangerous. Most antique cages were treated with paints or finishes that may contain toxic chemicals. Lead and zinc, for example, are commonly found in antique cage finishes. Lead was also commonly used to make the seed guard mesh of antique cages. The zinc can cause life threatening anemia, and the lead can cause devastating neurological damage to a bird. Since birds like to nibble and chew, it is guaranteed that a bird would ingest some of these toxic chemicals. No amount of scraping, paint removal, nor sanding will make such a cage safe. In addition to the toxic chemicals, most antique cages do not provide enough room for a bird. All birds need enough room to stretch their wings and do a little walking for exercise, and it is important to remember that the cage supplies will take up some of the room.

If you decide to use a bird cage as decoration rather than to house a bird, there are many different ways a decorative bird cage can be used. You can fill a cage with vines, flowers, or any type of plant that can fit inside – just be sure to line the cage if it contains toxic chemicals, so that your plant isn’t harmed. You can use a decorative bird cage as a centerpiece, or put it on a cage stand. You can even cut a cage in half and fill both sides with plants or nicknacks, then hang them for a dramatic effect. Use a Victorian cage to dress up your Victorian-style room, or an Oriental cage in a room with an Oriental motif. Or, if you choose a cage that is safe for birds, it can be both decoration and your bird’s home. Just be imaginative with your decorative bird cages!

A Canadian owner called Ryan Reynolds boasted that his parakeet Victor could even predict the future. Many stories and jokes are told of parakeets who mimic their owners at home and unwittingly disclose family secrets – so be careful what you say around your pet! A funny anecdote is told about a parakeet that used to scare away burglars by barking like a dog. In order to make sure that your parakeet is happy, you need to house him well. While a well trained parakeet can be left to ramble around the house, a cage is always a good idea to keep him safe from predators, especially if you have multiple pets at home. A parakeet cage also gives your parakeet a place of rest to sleep and eat. It also ensures that your pet does not mess up your house with poop. Choose a parakeet cage that is spacious and gives your parakeet enough room to move around and flap its wings comfortably. The cage should be strong and well made. Make sure that there are no pointy edges that can hurt your parakeet. You can even include little articles of entertainment like a perch on which your parakeet can swing. Buy a separate bowl for food and water and make sure that you change it regularly. Also remember to clean the parakeet cage regularly as a clean environment is vital for a healthy pet.

Other traditionalists tend to decorate their bird cages with faux birds. These people tend to be those who find a great deal of joy in collecting and preserving the most important bird cages they can find. The design of a decorative bird cage is as varied as the people of the world. The Asian, or Oriental, style of cages utilizes bamboo, giving it a more agrarian feel for those who wish to feel connected to nature. The pagoda style of these cages often gives these cages that feeling. Yet, they also have a cylindrical design that reflects the cultures which contributed to it perfectly. While the Victorian style tends to focus on scrollwork and whimsical décor, each culture has a different way to build a decorative bird cage. Some use materials like wood and acrylics to give a decorative cage their desired effect; whereas others tend to use such things as iron and brass to give a sturdier or substantive effect. The wood cages are often plagued by fire as well as rot, so usually they are less likely to be found by collectors. Whereas, the iron or brass cages have the ability to rust, thus compromising our ability to study them as well. The one thing people have learned in all of the different designs is that people have and always will design-as well as-seek out bird cages for their homes.

However, choosing on the size of the cage does not just rely on the size of the bird. One must also consider the characteristic of the bird when it comes to their movement or other habits whilst inside the cage. There are smaller types of birds that although may seem suitable to be placed inside small bird cages actually need a larger one for they tend to spread their wings as wide as possible and fly around. If one does not put this in mind and just immediately purchase a small bird cage, it could just be trouble for the bird.
There are large birds as well which seem to need a bigger space when they really should just be in a smaller space because these birds are stationary most of the time. It would be inappropriate to place them in large bird cages because they will not be able to utilize the space and it will result to be a bulky element in your house or garden.
It is really important to have a clear thought of the decisions that one would do for their pet birds so that the steps that have been done will not be a complete waste. It’s just a simple process of laying down the facts in order to come up with the appropriate decision that would be best for your pet.

Another thing to consider is the type of material used in the bird cage. One must choose carefully for there are a lot of types of cages. Some are best for birds to inhabit in while others have a characteristic that can be hazardous to the health of the birds. These hazardous cages are meant only for decorative purposes and not for birds to live in.

The cages however that are meant for bird inhabitation should be carefully checked. There are some decorative bird cages that have material which can pose a threat to the health of the bird.

These may be the chemicals used to paint the surface or maybe attachments that might pose a threat to the health of the birds.

Among all species of birds that are domesticated Cockatiels are some of the most recommended to have as a house pet. This is why it is important that cockatiel cages are selected carefully in order to ensure their longevity.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right cockatiel cages. First of all is the size of the cage. Cockatiels are the kind of birds that love to spread their wings wide, which is why it is best that one would select large bird cages so that there is room. Selecting small bird cages will just give them absolute difficulty and discomfort.
The shape of the cage is also important for cockatiels. Just like parakeet cages, it is advised that a square-shaped cage is chosen. Physically, it gives more room for the bird to go around unlike round cages that contours to the top. The contour of the round cages takes away a space which the square-shaped cage does not.

Another thing to consider is the bars of the cage. As many would notice, birds like to climb on the sides of the cage and having vertical bars would give them difficulty to this. It is always best for cockatiel owners to choose cages with horizontal bars. Vertical bar cages are only supposed to be for smaller birds that do not really have a habit of climbing the sides like canaries or love birds.
Upon deciding on buying a pet bird, there is also a matter of what a specific bird has accustomed itself to. For instance, there are two kinds of birds when it comes to their social aspects. Some are born in the wild which means that they were able to experience the company of other birds and are used to it. Others are bred in captivity where, inversely, they are used to being alone. A bird that was born in a wild is not advised to be bought by itself alone. Considering that this specific bird was a former part of a flock its chances for survival are a bit lower if bought alone compared to those who were not born in the wild and did not have a chance to fly within a flock.
This means that having to buy more birds instead of one means that you should have really large bird cages in order to have them live their lives to the extent. Cockatiels for instance live to over a hundred years so give them more room in order to reach this age.