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by Kyle Last updated April. 20, 2018
If you have a parrot, you will understand the need to give them the special treatments they require. Though they make wonderful companions, parrots belong to the wild and keeping them in captivity means you have to do some extra things to keep them comfortable.
One of the most critical things you will do as a parrot owner is to house them appropriately. As birds that belong to the wild, keeping parrots as pets means you have to reduce their natural tendency to fly around.
Even if you let your birds fly around from time to time, it is still essential that you provide appropriate housing for them to avoid health challenges.
For parrots, housing means cage, and you really want to get your parrot the best cage you can lay your hands on. Choosing a good parrot cage is not a very simple task.
There are different things to consider such as the size, the shape, bar size, bar diameter, bar spacing, bar configuration, door configuration, construction, cage finishes, stands, attached playground, etc.
You just have to put all these factors and more into consideration before buying a cage that will represent the best choice.
One of the features mentioned above is going to be the focus of this article: bar configuration. This is a very important feature in parrot cages that raises several questions that are yet to be answered.
Today, we are going to consider which is a better bar configuration between horizontal and verticalarrangements.
Bar configuration, as has been described above, represents the way the bars of the parrot cage are arranged in terms of direction. Basically, cage bars are arranged horizontally or vertically (there are parrot cages with mesh bars).
There has been some sort of confusion about which arrangement is better between the two major types of arrangement and to be honest, both arrangements are just fine depending on a number of other factors.
The type of bird you have (in terms of specie, age and size) should be considered in choosing the type of parrot cage to buy. To get a better understanding of how they suite different birds, let us consider these types of cages individually.
Horizontal Bar Parrot Cages
Horizontal cages are those that have the bars arranged side to side. It may be hard to see cages with this arrangement on all sides but there are individuals that believe that cages with bars that are vertically arranged are the best for parrots.
The biggest argument is that the horizontal bars make it easier for birds to climb. Indeed, birds that love climbing will find cages with horizontal bars interesting.
The bar arrangement permits climbing and makes the experience quite easier. For younger birds and smaller species that are not too strong, horizontal bar arrangement is the preferred option. The bars are easier for them to grip and climb.
Another reason you may want to get a cage that has the bars arranged horizontally is if you have a bird with any form of disability.
Such birds may not be able to cope with a cage with vertically arranged bars and to save them the stress, it is advisable to go for cages that have horizontal bar arrangements.
The major downside to horizontal cages is that they are remarkably unsuitable for birds that love to fly. This is especially true for birds that are very active or those that are recently captured or rescued from the wild.
The possibility of having their feathers damaged as a result of being housed in a horizontal cage is very high. There is also the possibility of the wings of your parrot getting stuck in a horizontal cage leading to injuries if there is no immediate intervention.
Vertical Bars Parrot Cages
Vertical cages are the ones that have their bars arranged in an up to down manner. Many parrot cages have this sort of arrangement.
There are several advantages of this sort of arrangement and the most prominent one is that it reduces the chances of injury to very active birds.
If you are dealing with a wild bird or recently rescued parrot, this is definitely the best option in order to minimize the chances of injuries.
For birds that like to fly, the vertical cages are definitely the best option to house them. The up and down movement of the wings will not result to serious contact with the bars in a vertical arrangement and there is no possibility of the wings getting caught between bars.
On the issue of climbing, vertical cages are only suitable for medium to large birds that are strong enough. This types of birds do not find it difficult to get a firm grip on the vertical bars and do their climbing.
Most of them also have really strong beaks to support their movement up and down the vertical bars. If you have vertical cages and feel they are a bit challenging for your birds, you can add some ladder to make it easy for them to climb.
You can also add some natural tree branches to make perching easier and improve the experience of the bird.
The Best Parrot Cage Bar Configuration
The best parrot cage to get for your bird will depend on a number of factors. The specie of bird you have and the size are the most significant factors.
Most parrots are able to cope well in vertical cages but if you notice that your bird is finding it difficult to cope in a cage with vertical bar arrangement, you can try one with horizontal bars.
The most important things to consider while buying a parrot cage should be the safety of the bird. Any cage that poses the slightest chance of causing injury to the bird should be avoided.
In addition to the bar arrangement, you also need to consider the bar sizes, as well as the spacing. You don’t want your bird to escape or get stuck and injured while trying to.
It is also important to mention here that there are several parrot cages that have their bars arranged horizontally on some sides and vertically on other sides.
In fact, most cages are made this way. Your primary concern should be the safety of your bird and comfort.
You can also enhance the cage you have by adding few things like ladder, tree br
