We live in modern times and many have already let go of the ”back in the day” nostalgia.
Modern architecture, home decor, and other things have already been implemented into our modern lives and it’s almost impossible to escape it.
There’s no reason to fight the change because it’s sometimes good, just like it’s good when it comes to bird cages. In this scenario, modern means better and safer so it’s very useful to learn more about these.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
The Summary
★★★★★
The front panel is completely transparent but don’t worry, the rest of the sides are wire so birds will get plenty of air inside.
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★★★★☆
The bottom base is fully clear and curved which gives an interesting note to the already iterestig accessories that this cage features.
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★★★★☆
A simple tray and wire grid are all it takes for you to split this cage into two so that you can house birds inside it separately.
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Recognizing A Modern Cage For Birds
Arched tops, complex geometrical shapes, incredible detailing,unique colors, and the use of non-traditional materials like glass and acrylic material are all signs of a modern cage. With so many options out there, it’s hard to make the choice. What’s sometimes even more troubling though is realizing if the cage is only for show or if it can actually house birds.
Vintage And Mid Century Modern Cages: A Comparison
A modern cage should be considered any cage with features improved from the previous versions. Mid-century cages are a sort of modern cages. They refer to style from the middle age of the 20th century (1950 – 1970). In the context of bird cages, the mid-century style doesn’t differ too much from the modern style. On the other hand, vintage style refers to old years, even before the last century.
What Types Of Modern Bird Cage To Consider?
You should always think twice about buying a nice-looking cage since chances are, it’s going to be unsafe to house birds. That’s, unfortunately, the reality of most modern cages but there is still hope if you just get to know them a little better, their materials, shape, size, and more.
Glass Bird Cages
You can house birds in these cages but you have to be prepared for the occasional bumping into the glass walls. In the beginning, for 2 or 3 days, it’ll happen frequently and will stop as they figure it out unless they are startled and go into panic mode. The cage should have plenty of ventilation holes to stop bacteria from growing and spreading. You’ll have to clean them regularly even though they’ll be easier to clean. Untamed birds shouldn’t be housed in them and we still recommend that the cage has wire sides.
Acrylic Cages
Acrylic as a material is very safe for birds. It’s not toxic to them and the benefit is that it doesn’t rust ever so you won’t ever risk bird metal poisoning with them. The cages clean very easily with only the use of water and dish soap and they’re scratch-resistant too. They should be well ventilated as well.
Round Cages
No matter the material it’s made out of, although it’s usually metal wire, these cages are ones you should avoid. Focus on getting cages that have corners. The lack of them can cause bird depression, psychosis, plucking of feathers, and more.
Modern Cages: Things To Consider Before Purchase
Preferred Cage Size For Birds
From bird to bird, their preferred cage size is going to be different. It’s important to remember that birds will also always appreciate a bigger cage as long as the wire spacing is fit for them. Generally speaking, the bird should be able to spread its wings comfortably and the way to make sure of it is to get a cage that at least 2 times wider than its wingspan.
Cage Finishes
You don’t need to worry about finishes if the material of the bird cage won’t rust. In case it does have at least a partial metal construction it’s something to worry about. Most modern cages these days are going to be finished with a powder coat that’s free of lead and zinc since those materials are toxic to birds.
Wire Bits In Cages
Having a wire cage is the traditional approach to cages and you’ll rarely find a modern or any other type without it. When looking at this, you’ll have to think about the spacing between each wire so that the bird can’t pull its head through the wire or get its wings stuck. Small birds prefer an up to 0.5”, medium birds an up to 0.75”, and large birds an up to 1.5” wire spacing.
Is Wire Thickness Important?
Wire thicknesses or gauge is only important for larger birds that have very strong beaks. This means that you won’t even have to consider it with birds like budgies and cockatiels since their beaks are small and not very strong.
Moving The Cage
Modern bird cages are going to be heavy and fral if they’re made with materials like glass or heavy duty metals which is far less rare. If that’s the case, opting for a cage that features a stand with wheels is going to save you the risk of moving and dropping the cage.
Best 8 Modern Bird Cages
Since most modern cages are going to cause you a lot of trouble, you have to think about finding an alternative. We made this list to help you understand what those bird safe alternatives are and how you can still enjoy a nice-looking cage without sacrificing bird safety.
Yaheetech Transparent Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: Black/White
Size: 18.5” x 14” x 37.5”
Ventilation Points: 4
Suitable For: Budgie, Canary, Lovebird, Cockatiel
The cages front is the only transparent thing about it if you exclude the base that’ also transparent. This gives you a good view of your birds and makes the cage look elegant. The rest of the sides are covered with black wire. The frame is white.
The top features a double door you can open and place a perch in between to act as a rest area. It comes with 4 water and food cups that are also transparent, 3 wood perches, and 2 hanging toys.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
$80 – $110 varies from webshop to webshop: Amazon, Walmart, Chewy
WHY TO BUY
- You can get a clear view of your birds
- Gets ventilated from 4 points
WHY TO AVOID
- Has a plastic frame
Vision Wire Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: White/Black
Size: 24.6” x 15.6” x 34.3”
Ventilation Points: 5
Suitable For: Budige, Finch, Canary, Lovebird
The top of this cage features a plastic white frame and two-wire windows while the rest is made out of wire. The bottom though is transparent, wider than the rest of the cage, curved, and can be taken off the cage so you can easily clean it.
The perches it features are green and get screwed on only one side. You’ll get a total of 4 for this modern cage for parakeets and additionally, you’ll get 2 waste protectors at the bottom and two feeding cups. It features 2 front doors.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
WHY TO BUY
- The food cups can be refilled from the outside
- It’s very light and easy to move
WHY TO AVOID
- Doesn’t feature a slide out cleaning tray
Pawhut Metal Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: WHite
Size: 28.25” x 28.25” x 67”
Ventilation Points: 4
Suitable For: Budgie, Canary, Finch, Lovebird
Although it’s shaped pretty standard with its focus dimension being the height, you’ll still get a unique house shaped roof top that can actually serve as a sun protection if you ever choose to roll it outside from time to time.
You can actually have two bird cages in one. All you have to do is place the additional tray and wire grid in the designated area to split the cage into two stacked cages. Each cage comes with 4 transparent cups and 2 wooden perches. It sits on wheels for easy moving.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
$180 – $200 varies from webshop to webshop: Amazon
WHY TO BUY
- Made with wrought iron so it’s durable
- Can be 1 cage or 2 separate bird cages
WHY TO AVOID
- Other than the houseroof, it looks standard
A&e Cage Co Corner Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: Black/Silver
Size: 33” x 33” x 72”
Ventilation Points: 3
Suitable For: African Grey, Mini Macaw, Small Cockatoo
This corner cage is the best chance you have of blending a large modern cage for birds into your home nicely. You can place it into a corner due to its half-hexagon or cone shape. A the top, you’ll find a bird play are featuring 2 perches, 3 play ladders, and 2 bowls.
The front features 3 panels. The center one is a large front door while the side ones have a total of 3 feeder doors. You can place the additional 3 bowls on them and you’ll also get on more perch for the inside. it even comes with seed guards.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
$750 – $820 varies from webshop to webshop: Amazon, Walmart, eBay
WHY TO BUY
- Blends seamlessly into home due to corner placement
- Keep surrounding floors clean with seed guards
WHY TO AVOID
- It’s very expensive
Mcage Extra Large Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: Black Vein
Size: 32.25” x 29.5” x 62”
Ventilation Points: 5
Suitable For: African Grey, Amazon, Macaw, Cockatoo
Large birds need large cages so this is a suitable match for them. The size might make it less stylish but that’s the reality of owning large birds. What helps with the looks though is its victorian style top with 2 half arches and one full arch.
On the same top, you’ll get to create a rest area with a double door and perch. The bottom features seed guards while the cage itself has 4 feeding doors, bowls to go with them, a single perch, and even a nesting box door.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
$400 – $480 varies from webshop to webshop: Amazon, Walmart, eBay
WHY TO BUY
- Features a nesting box door
- Has a victorian style top
WHY TO AVOID
- Hard to blend into homes due to size
Caitec Travel Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: Transparent
Size: 10” x 15” x 12.5”
Ventilation Points: 5
Suitable For: Conure, Lovebird, Budgie, Canary, Caiques
This is mainly a travel cage for trips to the vet, longer rides, or perhaps you can use it as a secondary cage when cleaning the primary one. It is made with polycarbonate material though featuring a stainless steel wire front and back for ventilation.
The polycarbonate on its own features vents holes. The carry handle on top doubles as a perch and you’ll get one more for the inside of the cage. The cage walls are scratch-resistant.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
$35 – $55 varies from webshop to webshop: Amazon
WHY TO BUY
- Features stainless steel wire vent points
- The polycarbonate material ahs its own vent holes
WHY TO AVOID
- Only made for traveling
Prevue Hendryx Modern Bird Cage
SPECIFICATION:
Color: White
Size: 18” x 18” x 25”
Ventilation Points: 5
Suitable For: Cockatiel, Lovebird
This is probably the best example of a mid-century modern cage that’s safe for birds. It has a dense curved wire top that some might have troubles with when cleaning it though.
It has plenty of outside wire decorations, angled sides and the best part is, you can hang it on a ceiling or stand. It does feature a plastic base, 2 plastic food cups, and a plastic perch. The rest is made out of wire.
Safety:
Uniqueness:
Funcionality:
AVERAGE PRICE
$140 – $180 varies from webshop to webshop: Amazon, Walmart, eBay
WHY TO BUY
- Can be hung on the ceiling or stand
- Features incredible wire details
WHY TO AVOID
- The top is difficult to clean
Is Geo Cage A Good Choice?
Lately, the internet has been filled with geo dome cages that look like a globe with so many sides and very small hard to notice corners. It looks fully modern but is it functional and safe for birds, too? If you plan on buying one, we’d think twice before doing so. They’re made for visual owner pleasure, not for bird comfort. That’s because the shape is pretty unhealthy for birds. Although it does feature corners, they’re just so unnoticeable that they’re irrelevant. Another problem would be placing perches and other necessary extras in there. The birds won’t get to fly to the corners if they’re scared, startled, or are simply panicking.
Can I Make My Own Modern Cage?
Glass or acrylic-made cages or simply modern ones can be quite expensive because you’re paying for uniqueness and style. A do-it-yourself option is always going to come out cheaper but can it be made safe enough for birds? Let’s find out together.
Glass Cage Option
Although it’s not a full glass cage, it’ll satisfy most with its front glass panel. The stuff you’ll need are chicken or mesh wire, corner braces, a couple of wooden plank and panels, a drill, screws, glue, sandpaper, pet-safe paint, wire cutter, glass, and aluminum railing. Check out the whole process below.
Another Glass Option
For this method, you’ll need wooden and glass panels, wooden planks, wire, a lot of tools, and patience. The process is somewhat similar to the one above but you can see it for yourself.
If you are skillful enough, we’d advise you to try and make one but a lot of factors go into making a cage safe for birds so you’ll have to proceed with caution.
To Sum Up
We’d love to leave and say all of the listed cages are going to be excellent choices but we did find that the Yaheetech Transparent Bird Cage stood out the most with its unique design of the front side. plenty of ventilation areas, and a plethora of useful extras it comes with. What we were looking for when choosing was uniqueness, how well it’ll look in a modern home, and of course, how safe it’s going to be for your bird.
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