Surprisingly, both in the literature and on the internet, there are only a few hints on how to divide a cage sensibly. Therefore, I would like to explain here how I set up my cage. Here I was inspired primarily by the tips from Pizpon.de.
I have divided my cage(Montana Paradiso 60) into several levels:
- Sleep & Sit
- Flying
- Food & other offers
- Bedding
Level 1: Sleeping & Sitting
Several different perches or swings should be planned for each bird.
I have in this level:
- 1 perch with double swing (natural wood)
- 1 perch with swing (natural wood)
- 1 double swing (natural wood)
- 1 corkscrew hazel rod (natural wood)
- 6 small cork branch seat discs
- 1 sleeping corner with roof
Since the perches are also used during the day as a place to sit, I have placed them so that there is still enough space upwards and also enough space to the grid (tail feathers!). It is also always important to make sure that the perches have enough distance to the feeding bowls.
Since my budgies sometimes used the higher food clamps as a roosting place, I added small corkaste disks just below the cage ceiling (about budgie height) on the side rail.
The seat bar made of corkscrew hazel provides a nice change in seating due to its special shape.
While a roosting area is not essential, it does provide a protected retreat (two closed sides) and the roof in particular (filled with nibble litter) is very popular with my budgies as both a mini burrow box and perching area.
In the sitting and sleeping area, the budgies have eight different seating options (with over 20 seats) at their disposal.
Level 2: Flying
This level allows flying without disturbing obstacles and should thus be limited to take-off and landing areas in the cage corners.
I have in this level:
- 1 large cork chest seat board
- 2 wild apple wood seat boards
- 1 birch seat board
- 1 corner seat board made of cork (S)
- 1 corner seat board with natural wood border (S)
I placed the cork chest seat board in one of the corners.
The corner seat board made of cork not only provides a large landing area and nibbling fun, but also protects the food bowl in the corner from bird droppings from higher up.
The large corner seat board in the back corner not only provides space for several birds, but can also be converted into a rooting box if you replace the litter with nibble litter.
Between the corner seat boards, wild apple and birch seat boards were added for a change.
In front on the left side there is still the semicircular birch seat board.
In total, there are five different landing and seating areas in the flight level.
Level 3: Food & other offers
On this level there are primarily food and water bowls, but in the back there is plenty of room for other things, such as a sand bath, perching branches for “spying out the food”, etc.
I have in this level:
- Seat board with feeding bowls (40 x 10cm)
- Seat board with water bowl (10 x 10cm)
- Feeding place (20 x 10cm)
- Seat board with natural wood border (20 x 10cm)
- Corkscrew hazel perch (25-30cm)
- Cork seat bars S (15cm)
- Birch perch (20cm)
- Birch seat board oval (30cm)
The seat board with the food bowls and the water bowl are of course in the front underneath the cage door, so that they are easily accessible.
You should plan a feeding bowl for each budgie to avoid quarrels. My birds, at least, are really into “synchronous eating”, although of course you also have to try the neighbour’s food every now and then.
I use the feeder primarily to offer additional bird grit. Of course, you can still offer dried herbs, etc. here. For better accessibility, I placed it below the side cage door.
I use the seat board with natural wood border as a “sand bath”. I have also placed this underneath one of the side cage doors to make it easier to clean or replace the bird sand.
On the rear cage grille, I added a corkscrew hazel perch and a birch seat board to the center of this level, and corkscrew perches and a birch seat board to the side grille. These are often used as a stopover on the way to the food or when you want to take a short “feeding break” but don’t want to let the others out of your sight.
In this level, too, the budgies have seating and resting places made of various natural materials at their disposal.
Level 4: Bedding
Except for the litter, there should not be much in this level, otherwise you will make it difficult to clean the bird sand, using the Bird droppings scoop would not reach all the corners.
