[Duckie]

I am new here as of today and I have a couple of questions:
What size of cage is ok for one bird. I don't have a cockatiel yet but the parents are now mating and things look good.

I used to have 3 budgies at one time in my cage. It measures about 14" by 14" by 19" and sits on a stand. Is this too small?

Also, I read if you have other pets (I have a 12yr old Jack Russel), that you would introduce the two of them (closely supervised) until they get used to each other. Is this true? (My very first budgie, about 6 years ago was, sorry to say, became lunch for my dog) Since then, I have never let my budgies out, with the dog in the house. I know that I have to give my cockatiel "out of cage" time, but since the "lunch" incident, I'm a little nervous

I guess this is it for now, but I'm sure some questions will come up :blink:

 

[Laura]

Here is a good link that Bea put up about basic cockatiel care with cage requirements etc....
http://www.talkcockatiels.com/showthread.php?t=14

If your budgie was killed by your dog I would not take the chance with your cockatiel going any where near you dog.

 

[Bea]

I wouldn't go any smaller than about 20" x 20" x 24" for a single cockatiel, though bigger is ALWAYS better. You can see photos of members cockatiel cages HERE to give you some ideas of what's a good cage for a tiel.

I have a 5 yr old jack russel, a 3 yr old labrador and 3 budgies as well as my 3 tiels. It took a fair bit of work to get the dogs to relax and ignore the birds completely (went too far with the lab, she's now terrified of birds, hehe) but i can now have everyone in the same room without any dramas. If your jack russel has gone for a budgie before i wouldn't even take the chance having the tiel/budgies out around the dog. Put him outside or in another room while the birds are out.

 

[Aly]

I agree with Laura and Bea.

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Spikes cage is 20 inches deep, 21 inches long and 26 inches high. I would also keep your dog far away from your birds and make sure no one accidently lets him in the room, when the birds are out.