Question: How big a cage should I buy for a bird?

Answer: Always buy the largest, most well-constructed cage you can afford. No matter the species, your bird will need a cage that's large enough for it to stretch its wings and fly short distances. A typical cage for small birds should be about 25 inches tall and 25 inches from front to back. To prevent escape or injury, the bars on the cage should only be 0.4 inches apart—a little larger than the tips of your fingers. Note that canaries and finches prefer a cage that's wider than it is taller, while parakeets and cockatiels like tall cages with horizontal bars they can climb. Perches installed at varying heights are also ideal; do make sure that one is level with the food dishes.

The Hawaiian Humane Society welcomes questions by e-mail, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Indicate “;Pet Ohana”; in the subject line.