My dad bought a wooden bird cage yesterday as decoration but I know he really wants to get a real bird in it so my mom and I are thinking of getting him one for his birthday that’s in two weeks. So I was wondering what kind of bird would be right for it. The cage is about 14×11 1/2 inches and we’re thinking of keeping it outside (my backyard has a large roof so the bird wouldn’t get wet or even get affected by the wind). Thanks for any help!
Hi Jessica,
Unfortunetely that cage is too small for any bird to happily live in. You could put a finch or canary in there (budgies, etc would chew the wood), but it will probably live a life of boredom and torture every day for the rest of its life.
Finches may be small, but they need plenty of horizontal room to fly. They are happiest in aviaries. Also, like most birds, they are VERY social (possibly even more so than humans) and keeping them by themselves is cruel. They need to be with a finch friend of the same species.
If you really must get a bird for the cage, at the very least you should let it out in a bird-safe room in the house once a day to fly around (for exercise and mind stimulation). You should also not house it alone (however, canaries seem to be an exeption, you may keep a canary alone because they are solitary animals, but there is quite a debate about this).
Remember that birds are messy too, and a wooden cage not designed for real birds may be more difficult to clean than a different cage. But it can be done.
As for diet, feed a base of seed or pellets (or both) with fruits and veges everyday (this is important, seed alone is unhealthy and the bird will eventually die from malnutrition).
The cage should have at least two perches on each end (never one perch) for the bird to fly back and forth (if it only needs to hop back and forth, that’s a sign the cage is too small).
I hope that helps. There may be alternatives to getting a real bird for the cage, like a really beautiful decoritive one. Or if you are interested in birds, you can get beautiful small indoor (and outdoor) aviaries that look like pieces of furniture. Like these ones:
Pic: http://westalliszoo.net/pix/aviary_fall_2006/finished.jpg
Pic: http://westalliszoo.net/birds/aviary_buffet.jpg
Pic: http://www.thebirdboxco.com/Riverwood_box.JPG
(You can even build one yourself with an old cupboard)
Good luck! 
September 30th, 2009 at 7:06 am
well i used 2 hav a really small birds but then it was eaten by a stray cat and the other flew away:( well i do no wat kinda small bird it is. it’s called zebra finch. ther color is light brown and they hav small zebra stripes on them:]
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my xperience
September 30th, 2009 at 7:36 am
finch
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September 30th, 2009 at 7:45 am
any type of finch or canary would be okay in a wooden cage since they cant bite through it
just dont get something strong that will bust through it because every bird will chew on the bars so make sure its tough enough
and you will need to bring the bird inside and let it out of the cage every once in a while
also, make sure its not treated wood because that would be poisonous for the bird
why dont you just get a real cage for the bird becuase that pretty little wooden one wont be so pretty after the birdy poops all over it, if you dont mind it getting destroyed then go for it but if you like the cage as is then get a different one for the bird.
hope i helped =]
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September 30th, 2009 at 8:35 am
The cage is barely over a foot long! I wouldnt put any living being in that, let alone one that flies.
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September 30th, 2009 at 9:07 am
hopefully ,no ,?what do birds make nest out of? ?maby wood?,i like you word (even get affected by the wind)you try doin that,i hope your just a Little kid that do sent know any Better (sorry) the answer is no un les you live the tropics then it would be temporary touchier,read!read!read! about the species (Bride,fish,Turtle ETC,)you wanna (like to) have as a pet.your dads (wooden) bird cage is best like it is (A decoration) on a funer note i can rember smashing one such tipe cage over my brothers head when we were young
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September 30th, 2009 at 9:53 am
a canarie would be fine
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September 30th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I would suggest a finch of some sort. Also check that nothing can get into, or out of, the cage. You have to check that cats, raccoons, or maybe coyotes cannot get into the cage. You’ll also need food, cuttlebones, food and water dishes, some sort of bedding for the bottom of the cage, and maybe toys. Just make sure that the bird you get cannot get out of the cage, or any predator get into the cage!
Good luck! And I hope that your dad will enjoy a bird!
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Bird lover <3
September 30th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Hi Jessica,
Unfortunetely that cage is too small for any bird to happily live in. You could put a finch or canary in there (budgies, etc would chew the wood), but it will probably live a life of boredom and torture every day for the rest of its life.
Finches may be small, but they need plenty of horizontal room to fly. They are happiest in aviaries. Also, like most birds, they are VERY social (possibly even more so than humans) and keeping them by themselves is cruel. They need to be with a finch friend of the same species.
If you really must get a bird for the cage, at the very least you should let it out in a bird-safe room in the house once a day to fly around (for exercise and mind stimulation). You should also not house it alone (however, canaries seem to be an exeption, you may keep a canary alone because they are solitary animals, but there is quite a debate about this).
Remember that birds are messy too, and a wooden cage not designed for real birds may be more difficult to clean than a different cage. But it can be done.
As for diet, feed a base of seed or pellets (or both) with fruits and veges everyday (this is important, seed alone is unhealthy and the bird will eventually die from malnutrition).
The cage should have at least two perches on each end (never one perch) for the bird to fly back and forth (if it only needs to hop back and forth, that’s a sign the cage is too small).
I hope that helps. There may be alternatives to getting a real bird for the cage, like a really beautiful decoritive one. Or if you are interested in birds, you can get beautiful small indoor (and outdoor) aviaries that look like pieces of furniture. Like these ones:
Pic: http://westalliszoo.net/pix/aviary_fall_2006/finished.jpg
Pic: http://westalliszoo.net/birds/aviary_buffet.jpg
Pic: http://www.thebirdboxco.com/Riverwood_box.JPG
(You can even build one yourself with an old cupboard)
Good luck!
References :
Owned finches, canaries, parrots, doves and quail for 13 years
September 30th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Nothing. A cage that small is not suitable for any bird. If your dad wants a real bird get a cage of a suitable size. Kept outside in a cage is also not safe it would need a suitable aviary. Outside in a cage it is susceptible to diseased from wild birds as well as predators. Even if predators can’t get in the cage they can know it over of frighten the bird to the point is injures or kills itself trying to get away.
The finches some others have suggested are not suitable for a cage this small either. Finches are confined to their cages 24/7 then need plenty of vertical flying space to get exercise generally the minimum cage size appropriate for a pair of finches (they should not be kept as single birds the don’t do well) is 24×16x16 though bigger is better
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September 30th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
That is too small for any bird. Way too small. Plus wooden cages arent good because birds chew through wood. One finch wouldn’t fit in there and finches also need to have another bird with them.
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Own two Tiels
September 30th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
A finch would work perfectly! Owl finches are very cute, if you get a bunch, they all huddle together, and they are so tiny!
Gouldian finches are stunning! But very expensive ($200 or so per bird, but that depends on where you get them). And there are zebra finches who look like zebras – kinda, anyways, I’m pretty sure they are the cheapest. But, most finches are kind of expensive to begin with. Just don’t get a bird that likes to chew things, they will chew a hole in the wooden cage! 
Good luck, I hope I helped! 
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Experience.