Choosing the Best Cage for Your African Grey Parrot: Size and Material Considerations

Nov 07, 2025 0

Choosing the right cage for your African Grey parrot is a crucial decision that significantly impacts their psychological and physical well-being. After all, your bird’s cage will be its home for hopefully many years.

How To Choose A Cage For Your Parrot -

This article provides simple guidelines to assist in navigating the often-confusing world of birdcages.

Size Matters: Prioritizing Space for Your Parrot

A room-sized indoor aviary is the best size of cage for your bird. Anything less is a compromise. The rule of thumb with cage sizes is to purchase the largest cage you can afford. However, if you cannot afford a cage that is large enough to comfortably house the species you want, then you should not get that species of bird. It is definitely abusive to force a bird to live in too small a cage.

In my opinion, if a bird never comes out of its cage to fly and exercise, it needs a horizontal space of 2-3 times the wingspan in width and depth. For example:

Medium-sized Parrots (Amazons, Greys and small Cockatoos) ? 90 cm. (36?.) by 135 cm. (54?).

In addition, Parrots with crests or long tails need the necessary height so prevent feathers from touching the roof or floor (or grate) of the cage.

A good rule of thumb is that the cage should be as large as you can accommodate in your space. A cage should provide ample space to jump, swing, climb, hang upside down, forage, extended wing flapping, and play.

Cage Features to Consider

1. Style: Playtop or Dome

Consider a play top cage, as African Greys enjoy hanging upside down and attacking toys. It's great fun for them.

2. Feeder Doors and Bowls

Greys are partial ground eaters, so a play top is good for that. A minimum of two feeder doors is recommended. Some birds may throw their bowls around, creating a mess.

Read also: Planning Your Ethiopia Trip

3. Bar Spacing

Ensure appropriate bar spacing to prevent escapes. Look for cages with both horizontal and vertical bars.

4. Vertical Height

Choose a cage with ample vertical height, but also consider practicality. Avoid cages that make it too easy for the bird to get to the floor, as this can be dangerous.

5. Casters

Ensure casters are attached and roll easily for convenient movement.

6. Bar Strength

Do not buy a flimsy new or used cage.

7. Seed Catcher

Seed catchers can be difficult to clean, but they can limit climbing down to the floor.

8. Location

Parrots are very social creatures. Their cages should be placed in an area where they have good line of sight and interaction with other members of the household. Avoid direct line of sight to entries where they may be anxious and surprised each time someone arrives. Avoid corners near pass-through doors which can be stressful due to foot traffic. The best location will have an outdoor view and ability to clearly understand the source of sounds in the environment.

Material Matters: Durability and Safety

Stainless steel is the best cage material, if you can afford it. A stainless steel cage will last a very long time.

Aluminum vs. Steel: While aluminum travel cages are good, white powder-coated steel is easier to clean for everyday use.

Condition: If buying used, watch out for chipped and peeling paint.

Additional Considerations for a Safe Environment

1. House Proofing

African Greys are curious and fearless, so house proofing is essential. Number one threat is open doors or windows, you must ALWAYS be vigilant for an escape. A window screen won't hold up to their beak. Making sure you know where your bird is when you leave or come in is very important. Guests and other housemates must be vigilant. They can fly out the door in a nanosecond.

2. Potential Hazards

Make sure light fixtures are out of reach. Watch what is on the floor because they are foragers. Other animals, especially cats, pose a threat. Stoves and hot food can burn their feet. Ceiling fans are also dangerous.

Read also: Best Beaches in Ghana

3. Cleanliness

Cages should be kept clean with regular deep cleaning. Cleanliness is important for their health and the rest of the household.

4. Teflon Cookware

Teflon fumes are fatal. Found most often in cooking pans. I bought all new cookware and I hate it, but it is bird safe.

Perches and Accessories

A cage looks huge when it’s empty. When it’s filled with the recommended perches, toys, swings, food and water containers, and your bird it will look small - just stick your head in and check out the view from the inside!

Birds spend the majority of their time standing on their feet, so perch quality and selection is vital to their health. A comparison would be the experience of humans standing bare foot on a hard slippery surface 24/7. Ouch. We recommend a minimum of one each natural surface, man-made, and grooming perch.

Perch Types:

Natural wood perches
Untreated cotton rope perches
Stiff rope coils, also known as “Boings”
Pedicure perches made out of concrete, minerals, or texture coated surfaces
Plastic perches made from arylic and PVC
Shower perches

Toys and Enrichment

Parrots are very intelligent and require a lot of stimulation. The same applies to your parrot, and the outcome can lead to behavioral changes like screaming and aggression or feather plucking and physical mutilation.

Toy Recommendations:

Hard woods for chewing
Softer items for foraging
Intricate items for exploration
Playground type equipment

Cage Size Recommendations

Here?s a summary of minimum cage size recommendations for African Grey Parrots:

Parrot Size	Minimum Cage Size
Medium-sized Parrots (Amazons, Greys and small Cockatoos)	90 cm. (36?.) by 135 cm. (54?)