Choosing the best budgie cage can be difficult. You don’t want an enclosure that’s so big it’s impracticable and can be escaped from. At the same time, you don’t want something too small or lacking in features.
This guide will help you decide what makes a great budgie’s cage as well as what to look for and how to set one up in your home.
Budgie is a commonly used nickname for a budgerigar or Melopsittacus undulatus.
In some parts of the world, the budgie is widely referred to as the parakeet; however, the word parakeet is used interchangeably for multiple different species, so it’s not necessarily the most appropriate term.
Contents
- Best Budgie Cage – Top Picks for 2021
- 1. Yaheetech 69 Inch Large Iron Parrot Cage
- 2. Vision Cage/ Home for Birds Tall, 60.9 x 38.1 x 87.6 cm, Medium
- 3. Prevue Pet Products SP42614-4 Flight Cage, Brown/Black
- 4. Yaheetech Large Parrot Bird Cage
- 5. Prevue Pet Products SP1804-3 Flight Cage, Lilac/White
- 6. Rainforest Peru Small Bird Cage
- 7. Yaheetech Open Top Bird Cage For Budgie
- What to Look for in a Budgie Cage
- Budgie Cage size
- Budgie Cage design
- Budgerigar Cage Setup
- Cage cover
- Cage stand
- Positioning the cage
- Summary
Best Budgie Cage – Top Picks for 2021
1. Yaheetech 69 Inch Large Iron Parrot Cage
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Yaheetech 69-Inch Extra Large Wrought Iron 3 Levels Ferret Chinchilla Sugar Glider Squirrel Small... | $167.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Gorgeous and spacious large birdcage ideal for Budgies. Three tiers with connecting ladders will keep your Budgie both exercised and entertained.
This extra-large metal cage is covered with non-toxic hammertone paint. This makes it not only rust-resistant but also water-resistant – extending its longevity.
- Great size
- Able to house more than one budgie
- Easy access for cleaning, refilling food and water, and placing toys
- Includes two toys
- 0.4’’ bar spacing means it’s secure for small birds
- Takes up a lot of room
- Doesn’t have means of containing the mess well, especially as it’s so tall, but this can be improved by placing the food and water containers lower to the ground
2. Vision Cage/ Home for Birds Tall, 60.9 x 38.1 x 87.6 cm, Medium
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Vision M02 Wire Bird Cage, Bird Home for Parakeets, Finches and Canaries, Tall Medium | 3,725 Reviews | $173.79 | Buy on Amazon |
Tall horizontal wire cage gives additional space for your budgie to explore.
- Good for containing the mess
- Great for budgies who are allowed to roam outside of the cage
- It’s a little bit narrow; however the bar spacing on the larger version is not suitable for budgies, and the length and height make up for it as well
3. Prevue Pet Products SP42614-4 Flight Cage, Brown/Black
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prevue Pet Products Flight Cage for Multiple Small Birds, Steel Metal and Plastic Cage Home Crate... | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Spacious, affordable and with two large front doors.
- Plenty of room for a budgie to fly around
- Large front doors for easy access
- Can house two budgies
- A little bit narrow
- The wire on the bottom of the cage will probably need to be covered with something safer for your budgie’s feet
4. Yaheetech Large Parrot Bird Cage
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Yaheetech 63-inch Wrought Iron Rolling Large Parrot Bird Cage for African Grey Amazon Quaker Parrot... | $129.88 | Buy on Amazon |
- Spacious cage
- Can house two budgies
- Comes with an option of an open-top with a perch, though this usually works better for larger birds
- Stylish, one of the best-looking cages, and will fit into any room
- Takes up a lot of room
- Curved design means that the top of the cage won’t be utilised completely
- Slight concern about the spacing between the top doors
5. Prevue Pet Products SP1804-3 Flight Cage, Lilac/White
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prevue Pet Products SP1804-3 Flight Cage, Lilac/White,26" L x 14" W x 22 1/4" H | $69.98 | Buy on Amazon |
- Comes in multiple colour options
- Easy access to food and water
- Not very sturdy
- Small door means it’s not easy to access the base without detaching it
6. Rainforest Peru Small Bird Cage
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rainforest Peru Small Bird Cage (Antique) | Buy on Amazon |
- An elegant cage which will look great in any room
- Easily transported between rooms on a stylish stand
- The cage can be separated from the stand easily
- Safe and sturdy with ~0.4’’ bar spacing
- One large door is excellent for access, but it can be a risk with escapist birds
7. Yaheetech Open Top Bird Cage For Budgie
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Yaheetech 63'' Bird Cage with Stand Wrought Iron Rolling Open Play Top Large Bird Cage for Mini... | 647 Reviews | $159.88 | Buy on Amazon |
- Good budget option for budgies who are allowed to fly outside of the cage
- Not big enough as a full-time home for a budgie
What to Look for in a Budgie Cage
One of the most common and easy pet birds to keep, budgies are a delightful addition to anyone’s home. They are the third most popular pet in the world, after dogs and cats.
Of course, they still require regular feeding, cleaning, and lots of attention. All pets crave attention, and budgies are no different.
Some of the basic requirements for a house budgie are:
- Adequately sized cage in a safe and warm room, away from all toxic fumes (e.g. kitchen), and enough room to stretch those little wings
- Access to clean water at all times in an appropriate container
- A well-balanced diet
- Lots of stimulation, think toys, perches and the like
- As well as stimulation, your budgie needs company, whether that’s you or another budgie
Budgie Cage size
The size of the cage for your budgie will depend on a couple of factors.
Your budgie’s cage needs to allow for complete wing spreading without hitting the sides of the cage, toys or perches. This is the absolute minimum width and length.
To put that in real terms, the minimum size for a cage that will house a single budgie is 18x18x18inches (~50x50x50cm). However, we genuinely believe that this would only be suitable for a single budgie who spends most of the time outside of the cage.
Bigger is always better when it comes to bird cages, so it’s best to get the biggest and safest cage you can afford and fit into your home.
Budgies need both horizontal space for flying, and vertical space for hopping and playing around the cage.
Skimping on space for your bird can cause health and behavioural issues, and we know you want to keep your beloved budgie happy and healthy.
Should you wish to home multiple budgies, you will need to take extra care with the size of the cage, to allow each budgie to have adequate space for flight, playing and privacy if required, without hitting toys, the cage, or each other when moving about.
Additionally, if you opt to have some budgie chicks, having more than just a pair of budgies might require an additional cage to separate the happy couple from the rest of the flock.
Budgie Cage design
When it comes to design, it is vital to look for something functional, and helpful with many aspects of caring for your pet budgie.
This is where you need to think about how easy is it to reach the food and water containers in the cage, particularly in the beginning where your budgie might feel scared and stressed out by your presence.
It would also be wise to think about cleanliness, and how easy is it to keep the cage clean based on the design, but also the area around the cage.
All birds can create a mess, and budgies are no exception; you need to think about all the seed husks, feathers, and dust flying around.
One of the more important aspects is the spacing between the wires, it can’t be too far apart or your risk the chance of your budgie escaping when not appropriate, or worse yet causing an injury during an escape attempt.
You should look for spacing that is under half an inch for a cage that houses budgies, although spacing of up to ⅝’’ should be safe for budgies.
Keep in mind that if you have a huge cage and other species of birds with your budgies, such as zebra finches, this spacing might not be adequate.
You might think that round cages are attractive, but you won’t see us recommending one any time soon. They have gained popularity due to being present in many a film, and they can be quite lovely to look at in any home setting.
Tweety Bird is probably one of the most famous birds, regularly seen relaxing in his tiny round cage with huge spacing between the bars.
Stay away from those cages, it’s a cartoon after all, and not meant to present a real-life situation.
Unfortunately, round cages are problematic for most parrots, primarily due to being unsafe.
Both from the quality point of view, they are often poorly built, and also from your budgie’s activity point of view.
Any bird in a round cage could get various body parts, such as a toe, beak, tail, or entire foot or ankle, caught in the small space where the wires gather at the top of the cage.
Many experts think that round cages are harmful to the mental health of a parrot.
It comes as no surprise that parrots are brilliant animals.
Some birds have driven themselves crazy, trying to climb around and around the cage and felt like they never get anywhere.
It is likely that giving a bird a rectangular cage gives them reference points to various places in their home; helping them feel comfortable, safe, and secure.
Round cages are harder to clean than rectangular cages too, which presents a problem for your and a health hazard for your bird.
In addition to that, accessories are not designed to fit them, so you might end up taking away the precious space from your budgie, or worse yet, deprive your budgie of much-needed stimulation.
Finally, the stylishness of the cage is of lesser importance compared to its functionality. Still, there are plenty of options out there to match even the pickiest of fashionistas, also when taking all the recommendations into account.
Budgerigar Cage Setup
Remember that your budgie is a member of your family, and although not a human, budgies require more than just a bare-bones cage to be happy.
The absolute basics are food and water containers or bowls, and some perches.
To keep your budgie happy, you should add some toys, especially chew toys, a birdbath, and a swing or two.
People often put mirrors in the cage with a budgie, which can help your budgie feel less lonely, however, tread carefully with mirrors.
Nothing can replace companionship, and if you are unable to spend a lot of quality time with your budgie, it is far better to get another bird, rather than rely on a mirror.
Budgies can become too obsessed with a mirror, and exhibit several concerning behaviours.
These may be an indication of your budgie being bored and requiring either more time with you or requiring a real-life budgie companion.
Aside from the toys in the cage, you will need some toys outside of the cage if you plan on letting your budgerigar fly around your home. In addition to that, keep some spare toys hidden away, and switch up your budgie’s toys in the cage regularly.
Cage cover
Whether or not you need a cover for the cage depends on your surroundings, and your bird.
Busy households, in a bustling neighbourhood with lots of noise and light, should consider a cover to allow their budgerigar appropriate conditions for rest.
The important thing is to be consistent, so if you decide to use a cover, you will need to make sure you take it off at a regular time each morning.
You can purchase a snug cover in various designs, should you wish to customise the cage further and bring it in line with the room; however, this is not an essential requirement for your parrot.
Cage stand
While a specific stand for the cage is not a must, it is undoubtedly vital to have the cage on a steady and safe surface.
Any piece of furniture will do for this provided it is secure and not easily knocked over.
You might be tempted to place the cage inside a cabinet with glass doors to minimise the mess in the room, but this could pose threats to your bird in the way of inadequate airflow.
It is best if the cage is raised, around the chest level, this allows your budgie to feel safe, and make them feel involved in the happenings around the house.
If you’re using furniture as a stand for your cage, you need to ensure that your budgie can’t reach the furniture for some boredom-busting, and in particular, make sure that the furniture is not coated with toxic paints.
This also goes for the cage itself, toys, and other furniture in the house if your budgie is going to be allowed out of the cage.
Positioning the cage
As mentioned, the cage should be at around the chest level. Placing the cage too low can be too stressful for the budgie, and putting the cage too high up means your budgie can feel left out of the social life.
The budgie needs to be in a busy room, but not one with too much traffic or noise, or you risk creating a stressy bird.
Walls can provide a feeling of safety for your budgerigar, so a commonly recommended location for a cage is in a corner. This allows your budgie to hide in a corner if the environment becomes too overwhelming.
Avoid placing the cage in an area of the room with temperature fluctuations, such as near windows, radiators, doorways, or air-conditioning units.
It can get too hot near a window or a radiator; equally, if there’s a draft from the window or doorways, it can get too cold for your feathered friend.
Equally, your budgie will not like the sudden change in the temperature from the air-conditioning unit.
Keep your bird away from fumes; even if they aren’t toxic to you, chances are they are not suitable for your budgie.
We have a huge kitchen, with a dining area that has been repurposed into a storage area for pet food and items, so it would seem logical to place a cage in there, however cooking with various items can easily damage your budgerigar’s health in a short space of time, and it is usually recommended to keep pet birds away from the kitchen.
Non-stick pans, in particular, can be deadly for your bird. Bathrooms are just as dangerous, with different hairsprays and deodorants being sprayed around; they are not a safe place for a bird.
Summary
We hope you found our complete guide to the best budgie cages helpful. When selecting your budgie bird cage, you need to consider not only the space your Budgies may need – but also the space you have available.
Luckily there are a number of sizes and designs available for every household.
For more bird articles – check out our Pet section. Don’t forget to comment below or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
