The Best Size Cage for a Quaker Parrot
by Shelly Lane
Here is one of the first questions every new Quaker Parrot owner faces. This article not only discusses the best cage size but also bar spacing, cage finishes and other tips for choosing a good cage for a Quaker.
One of the first decisions you need to make once you’ve decided to add a Quaker Parrot to your home is what will be the best size of cage for your new Quaker. This is one of those questions that people are going to have different opinions about. I’d like to share some things I’ve learned over the years that hopefully will help with your decision making when it comes to the best size bird cage.
When I first became involved with Quaker Parrots, the wisdom of the day was to purchase a cage that is no smaller than 18×18x18. I believe the thinking was that this size would be sufficient to allow a Quaker to stretch and flap its wings. Of course, that would depend on how many toys and other items are in the cage, but that was the general idea. After living with these birds for a number of years, I agree that this size provides a sufficient home for a Quaker and personally would never consider a cage that was smaller than this.
However, in addition to the outside dimensions of the cage, it’s also important to consider the bar spacing of the cage. If the bars are too far apart, you risk your new pet getting its head stuck in the bars. I’ve found that a bar spacing of 5/8″ works very well. Further, most Quakers are able to live safely in a cage with 3/4″ bar spacing, but the key word here is “most.” Some of the smaller Quakers could possibly run into trouble with this spacing, so do keep your QP’s size in mind if you are considering this larger spacing between the bars.
Because your Quaker will be spending a lot of time in its cage, it makes sense to purchase the largest bird cage that you can afford. Since baby Quakers are rather clumsy, it’s ok to start with a smaller cage and upgrade to a larger one after six months or so. Also, adult parrots spend most of their time on the highest perches in the cage, so the height of the cage is far less important than the width and depth.
As far as the finish on the cage, I prefer the powder coated cages. Powder coating is a special process that is used to apply the paint to the cage. My personal experience is that powder coated cages last longer than other types of painted cages. I even prefer our powder coated cages to the stainless steel one that we have because dried poop and food are much easier to clean off the powdered coated finish than the stainless steel.
When choosing a cage, look for one with bars that are all the same spacing apart. A few bird cage models have ornate decorations that have proven dangerous for some birds. Also look for doors and food bowl openings that can’t be opened by your bird (or purchase quick links to lock them down). Quaker Parrots can be little escape artists, so try to find the most secure cage that you can.
I am interested in getting a bird. I have had finches in the past and my father and I built an aviary to try and breed parakeets but were unsuccessful. My thought has been to get a lovebird for several months but then yesterday I had the oppurtunity to hold a quaker that is 3 months of age and just recently quit baby feeding from the pet store that has this bird. Which will make a better and more enjoyable companion, I have two boys 10 and 12. The quaker or the lovebird?
I have a 4 yr of quaker and I’ve just was given another one (1 yr old)with a nice big cage. So now I have 2 cages and I really don’t have the room. The birds do like each other, I think they still need their own space. Is there a nice size cage that has a divider so they can have their separate spaces?
Love birds do not talk. They prefer the company of each other, not people. And they aren’t as loud as a Quaker can be. If you want low maintenance, non-sociable, look pretty in the cage birds, get Love Birds. If you want intelligent, talking, sociable, affectionate, entertaining, mischievious, escape artist that can be very loud and noisy, then you want a Quaker. Also, bear in mind Love birds get by with a small cage where as the Quaker needs a minimum 18" wide x 18" deep cage. I prefer the Quaker myself, but I’m experienced with toddlers (Quakers and toddlers are similar!)
i just would love to learn more on quakers i have one his name is otis and i love him much and want to learn everything about him to make him happyier he already gets the best food i can get and all the toys and bird treats but i want to know more please
I’ve had lovebirds in the past and just recently got my first quaker.
The difference is unbelievable. My love birds were nice to look at, but that was about it. And they could be quite loud when they wanted to be. Both my love birds were hand raised, but neither of them cared much for people. I have heard that if you get just one lovebird they bond much better to people.
My quaker Casey, is an absolute hit in our family and even my 7 year old son is quite comfortable with him. He has more character than the lovebirds ever did.
I would pick a quaker over lovebirds any day.
I just had to post a comment here because we just got a Quaker and I wanted to research the best size cage. I saw all the comments on lovebirds and I want to say that YES lovebirds DO talk. Mostly just the females. Ours just passed away but she did talk, and she was very sociable and she loved us. She gave kisses and she was funny and never wanted to be in her cage. She always wanted to be with one of us. And she adored my 7 year old. If you get a pair they bond with each other but if you get one they usually bond tightly with you!
I AM A NEW BIRD OWNER. I PURCHASED TWO QUAKERS. I HAVE A RATHER LARGE ORNATE CAGE AND I FELT TWO QUAKERS COULD ENERTAIN EACH OTHER WHILE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE AT WORK. WE SPEND ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES EVERY DAY WITH OUR QUAKERS. WE LET THEM OUT OF THERE CAGE AND PET AND TALK TO THEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO PICK AT THE FINE WIRE THAT RUNS AROUND THEIR CAGE, WADDING IT UP. IT’S HARD TO PUT IT BACK BECAUSE IT’S SO WADDED UP. OUR CAGE IS A DOME SHAPE WITH BARS RUNNING DOWN AND TWO BARS THAT RUN HORIZONTALLY IN THE MIDDLE SPACED EVENLY APART. THERE IS A FINE WIRE AND SECURES THE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL BARS. IT IS WRAPPED AROUND THE BARS OF THE CAGE. THE BIRDS PICK AT THIS WIRE, WADDING IT UP. IT’S HARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THEIR MESS. WHAT DO I DO? I’M AFRAID THEY ARE GOING TO BREAK OUT OR HURT THEMSELVES. SOME OF THE BARS ARE SAUTERED AND SOME ARE NOT; I’M NOT SURE WHY. I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME SUGGESTIONS.
It sounds as though your bars are not strong enough for the quakers, and you need a cage with thicker bars. Quakers love to make nests and weave them in the bars, so providing materials for this should help in the meanwhile, but I strongly suggest you get a cage with thicker bars, and make sure all of them are welded together properly before you purchase it. Hope this helps and good luck!
Hi, I will be getting a Blue Quaker baby in March, 2008. I have a green parakeet now. I was thinking about giving the parakeet away (not wanting the quaker to pick up her noisy).
the breeder said I did,nt have too that they would keep each other company. is this true? also she is in the cage I was going to use for the quaker which is 19″ tall and 15″ wide is this big enough. I had a peach face love bird that was so wonderful she did alot of tricks and gave kisses but never talked.She would bath in the kitchen sink and stayed on my shoulder. I have a friend with a quaker that say bad boys-bad boys what you goin do. Thanks for any info. Dinah
i have alot of birds, budgies and cockatiels..but i am looking to get a Quaker is there any tips i should no about having one?
Love birds CAN talk it is just very difficult for them to do and they have a very low raspy voice. Our love birds can mimic the cats and not much else.
Our love birds can be nosy, but Quakers are a lot louder.
does anyone , have an out door set up ?
I’m seriously thinking about getting one of these little guys; I’ve loved them for years, but up until January, I had a little Parrotlet to take care of. After her passing, I’ve felt really empty, and I feel as if I’m finally ready to get a new little baby. My Parrotlet was quite loud, and very much an attention-seeker, but while she was quite a handful, she wasn’t too much for me. If I were to get a Quaker, it would be my second bird, and in an apartment setting. I have more than enough time to be able to spend time with him.
I guess what I should ask is, other than size and an obvious difference in noise (although, if you’ve had a Parrotlet, you know how shrill they can be), how much different is this type of bird? I’ve had a bird for ten years, but would this be a good match for me, or should I look toward something else? I want a bird with a lot of personality, but I’ve never had a big bird…
We have a 3 year old Quaker (Monk ) Parrot and have had everything from African Grey to Cocktiels & Parakeets. None has the charater of our Quaker. She ( we too thought she was a he until today) laid her first egg. (We were about to rush to the Vet when it seemed like he (who was really a she) couldn’t defecate. Our Quaker feathers aren’t clipped and she has free range flying around the house, she is house broken ( the few mishaps are easily cleaned up when wet or vacuumed when dry,). SHe is a wonderful talker and loves to perform tricks, cuddling and just being a part of the family. I believe a Quaker bites for a few reasons, protecting their territory, defense, frustration ( being caged and alone). She has built her own personal space ( therefor NO CAGE) and have a site for her food and water (besides eating whatever she likes on our plate). She is bonded to both of us and we have no aggression problems. She comes and goes as she likes. I agree with someone above nothing is worst than a caged bird slowly going crazy and can not imagine caging any bird (animal). If you don’t have the space, TIME and inclination to allow a bird to be a bird (to live as naturally as possible) then you shouldn’t get one. No need to wonder when a bird bites when you decide you want to interact with it on your time schedule and your terms. A bird is always with it’s flock or mate and not caged for hours, days, weeks, months, years. A prisoner can survive for years in a cell but would you want to be imprisoned? What makes anyone think that a bird does and then expect the bird to make them a loving accepted member of their flock. Put yourself in an animals’ place and ask how you would want to be treated if it was the other way around and you were the animal.(Really take time to imagine that you are the animal) I believe that is the secret to raising happy well adjusted pets. They don’t just need food and water, they need Love, Understanding ( research everything you possibly can about your pet), instictive, natural lives, Patience and above all YOU, and YOUR TIME !!! Mike & Kim
i just recently adopted another quaker,”sweatpea”,that seems to have some biting issues,sometimes she is very friendly,but not lovable,but that doesnt even last very long.she can ride around on your shoulder for a length of time then suddenly you make a wrong move and she’ll bite.i didnt have to deal with any issues like this with my first quaker “dot” she has been a love from the get go,is there anyone that can help?
I so agree about not caging a bird. My Quaker and new Sun Conure are free and enjoy an entire room upstairs, with every kind of bendy rope, branches, three large,open cages, toys, fuzzy tents, etc. They also come downstairs and outside. I’m going to try to learn to teach flight recall and build an outdoor aviary. They have no problems and get along well and both love me. I have given them a very diverse, natural life, and they are active and content all the time. So worth it, to share their world, naturally and uninhibited.
I have 3 quakers: Cozmo, a green quaker who will be 14 yrs old in early August, and two 9 month old blue and green quakers, Dogen and Skye. The babies love each other more than being handled and have become quite cage territorial. They scream when approached by any person. My goal is to stop these behaviors before it is too late. I have had Cozmo since she was young, and does not like anyone but me…most people are intimidated by her aggressive behavior. I would like to have Dogen and Skye be more approachable. Should they be separated, or can I keep them in the same cage? As of now, they all get along and are in one cage. But I would like for Cozmo to have her own space as she is getting older. Any feedback would be appreciated. The babies are still young, so I’m sure they will be trainable.
The comments about Lovebirds being unsociable are very inaccurate. I have a lovebird that is as affectionate as a labrador retriever. She flies by my side while I bike and flies from one biker to the other. She goes outside and never flies away, always staying right with me. Lovebirds make completely engaging pets — you can treat them almost like you would treat an intelligent dog.
Hi I would go lovebird all the way. I recently hayou just a love bird untill it died yesterday.
But it was the best thing that ever happended to me. His name was george its a common myth that lovebirds must be kept in pairs but that is not true. If you have one it will bond to you as strongly as it would another lovebird. He was so currious getting in to papers and shredding them up. And tring to eat everrything that didnt eat him first. Plus if you live in an apartment where you cant make much noise or you just want quiet lovebirds are one of the quieter speices of birds. If you want a playfull bird who will play at all hours choose this one sometimes i couldnt get him to stop playing. And there are tons of cool thicks to teach these 3-4in fellows because they are very acrobatic and love to show off. hope this helps. also check out birdchannel.com it has lots of cool tips and games to play.
Today I’m getting a 2.5 year old quaker parrot that is cage territorial and bites. I was planning on giving him a bigger cage. How can i make him not bite/be cage territorial? Is putting him in a bigger, brand new cage a good idea or would loosing his old cage stress him too much along with the stress of a new owner??? HELP ME PLEASE!!!
Lovebirds are very cute and entertaining little ones. For younger kids I would recommend the Quakers, though. They are funny little guys and love to interact with people and to be handled. However, I would NEVER get just a single bird. Birds are flock animals and in my opinion to have just one bird that is not allowed to interact at all with it’s own kind is very cruel. Having two love birds and two Quakers of our own and being able to observe the bond between the two pairs is just lovely. Despite having a mate, they are all tame and very easy to handle. I feel that knowing you allow your bird(s) to have a life of joy rather than lonelines – a human is not a replacement for another bird – must be a priority in making any decision. Lovebird or Quaker!
for all those who don’t use cages question if your house or whatever catches on fire what will you do to get your bird out because your bird will be frightened and it will not come to you.
My moms cockatoo died in a house fire. But so did the cat- smoke.. couldnt get him out of the cage. I feel if he wouldnt of been in the cage he would have gotten out..
Hello, I am very intersted in buying a quaker parrot. Although I cannot decide weather to get a quaker, a lovebird, or a indian ringneck. I know all of these birds take time, love, and care, and I am truely devoted to giving all of this. What kind of bird should I get if I have a 2ftby 2 foot cage that is 56 inches tall.( it also has a play gym top for time out of the cage.Ive reserched all of these birds,and like the characteristicts of the quaker the most. I have a family, but would want to bird to be one on one with me for the most part. Please help!!!
hi there i am desperately trying to convince my mum to get me a pet, should i get a quaker parrot or a another type of bird(if so which type) what should i say to convince my mum to let me get one
by the way, for love virds versus quakers check the site Parrots for pets and you will see a bit of info including noise, speaking, size aand lifespan
Hi there! I’m getting a Quaker in a few days and I’m concerned about the cage size. I have a california macaw cage, which I know is big enough, but is it too big? The bar spacing is 7/8s. I don’t want him to get out or even worse, get stuck between the bars. Does anyone have any advice for me on this subject?