How to Build Your Own Parakeet Cage Kit

Are you ready for the arrival of your new bird? Once you've made the decision to acquire a parakeet, it's important to get all of the supplies you'll need. If possible, purchase everything prior to your bird's arrival -- this is going to be a stressful time for the bird, and having a comfortable home prepared in advance will make the adjustment easier on both of you. Putting together a starter kit is a great way to get everything that the bird needs.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 parakeet cage
  • 1 food dish
  • 1 water dish
  • 1 bag parakeet seed
  • 1 spray bottle or birdbath
  • 1 cuttlebone
  • 2 cage liners
  • 3 perches (different sizes and shapes)
  • 2 toys
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Instructions

    • 1
      Use an old towel as a nighttime cage cover to make your bird feel safe and secure.

      Place your parakeet cage in the room in which your bird will be living. Parakeets are curious and enjoy being around activity, so a living room or family area would be ideal. It's best not to house your parakeet in the kitchen, because they have very sensitive respiratory systems, and smoke or other fumes can be harmful if the bird inhales them.

    • 2

      Place the food and water dishes in the cage. Many cages have them included. You can also purchase dishes with seed and water guards so that your bird doesn't make a mess outside of the cage.

    • 3
      Parakeets hull their seeds, which means they take them out of the shell.

      Fill the food dish with parakeet seed. This will be your bird's staple diet, and it can be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables, such as apples, grapes, spinach and dandelions. It's important to change the seed daily, because hulled seeds can look like fresh ones. Fill the water dish with water, and replace it with fresh water whenever you noticed it's been soiled.

    • 4
      If you're using a spray bottle from around the house, ensure that it's only had water in it before.

      Fill the spray bottle, parakeet-sized dish or a parakeet bird bath with clean, room-temperature water. Some parakeets prefer to splash around and bathe on their own, and others enjoy the light mist of a spray bottle; you'll soon see what your own bird likes.

    • 5

      Attach the cuttlebone to the inside of the cage. Most cuttlebones come with a clip; otherwise, you can use a twist tie to attach it. Cuttlebone is the inner shell of a cuttlefish, and will provide your parakeet with the calcium and minerals that it requires. Cuttlebone will also help to keep your bird's beak trim. If your parakeet hasn't eaten it already, the cuttlebone should be removed from the cage and replaced monthly.

    • 6

      Put the cage liners in the bottom of the cage. Cage liners come in different sizes and can be cut to custom-fit your cage. Tray liners catch the bird's excrement and any food or treats that get flung to the bottom of the cage, making cleanup much easier.

    • 7
      Perches fill the place of tree branches on which parakeets would rest in the wild, so it's important to have a variety available.

      Attach the perches to the inside of the cage. It's best to have a variety of them, including some with different textures that help to keep their nails trim. Arrange the perches at different heights in the cage.

    • 8
      A swing with a bell attached to it will provide hours of entertainment for your new parakeet friend.

      Position the toys for your parakeet at different parts of the cage. A parakeet will enjoy anything with bells or mirrors as well as soft wood or paper that can be shredded.