Keeping exotic birds can be difficult, given the various options and the various types of birds out there today. Along with the numerous birds are numerous cages, so when you’re buying a cage for your parrot, keep in mind that not all cages are suitable for all birds.

The first think to look out for is safety. Many people often cut corners on expenses when looking to purchase a cage, but considering how expensive the birds usually are, the cage is not something you should be cheap about. Cheap cages can easily break and parrots are smart and can often break out of them.

The best choice is to go with stainless steel bars. They are the strongest and will not give in or bend like some other materials. They also never rust, which means your bird won’t get poisoned if he nibbles on the bars. Investing in a good steel cage will save you money in the long run and will keep your bird much safer.

Bar spacing is another thing to watch out for. Don’t get bars with too much room in between, since your bird may poke his head out and get stuck or worse yet, escape. Take the bird’s size into consideration; width can be just as important as height since parrots often fly and walk side to side and stretch out their wings. The door should be big enough that the bird can easily walk or fly through without getting hurt or stuck.

Finally, look for a cage with a removable litter tray. This will make cleaning the cage without disturbing the bird much easier.