Buying a pet bird requires difficult choices and careful preparation. If you’ve chosen a parrot, you’re past the first challenge, but you’ll need to think about a cage, food, and other supplies before you actually purchase a bird. The specifics depend largely on which parrot species you choose. Do some research to be sure you know what’s required.
Unsupervised birds can injure themselves and damage furniture if they are left to roam freely. Therefore, your parrot must have a cage—a place where you can leave the bird in safety when you have to go out, a refuge for the bird if it wants peace and quiet, and sleeping quarters.
The size of the cage depends on the size of the bird. Small parrots need room to fly; large parrots must have plenty of room to spread their wings and perch without touching cage walls or floor. Keep in mind that recommended cage sizes are usually minimum dimensions—your bird will be happier if it has the biggest cage you can manage.
Parrots, especially the larger species, should have as much free time outside the cage as possible, but most still spend a lot of time in the cage. The bird should be safe and happy there:
In addition to the cage where the bird spends time during the day, many parrots have other cages:
Choosing a cage is a major step in preparing for your pet parrot, but to be happy the bird will also need a good diet, feeding dishes, grit to help it digest its food, toys to play with, a stand to perch on outside the cage, perches inside the cage, grooming tools, and perhaps a nesting box. Make sure you have everything ready before you bring your parrot home.
"Birds: Cages." PetEducation.com
Parrots as a New Pet. Wentworth, William. Neptune NJ: T. F. H. Publications, 1992.
The New Parrot Handbook. Lantermann, Werner. Woodbury: Barron’s, 1986.