Budgie and canary cages side by side

Cage size is the single most important factor when it comes to bird welfare — the majority of cages sold in pet shops are too small for a bird to fully extend its wings, which is a genuine welfare problem, not just a comfort one. Bar spacing matters just as much: too wide and a bird can get its head stuck. You're in an interesting situation housing a budgie and a canary side by side in separate cages — they need slightly different specs and it's worth getting both right rather than assuming one cage size fits all small birds. What space do you have available, and are you looking for the cages to sit on a shared stand or independently?

That's a useful constraint to work with. For a single budgie you want a minimum of 45cm wide — wider is always better than taller, because budgies fly horizontally. Bar spacing should be no more than 12mm. For a canary, similar footprint is fine, but canaries are more active flyers so extra horizontal length helps them too. At 90cm total you're looking at two cages of roughly 40–45cm each, which is workable. Can I ask — are you set on matching cages aesthetically, or are you purely focused on what's right for each bird?

That's a really important point and one a lot of people miss. Budgies and canaries can stress each other if caged right next to each other with nothing between them — canaries in particular can become unsettled by the activity level of a budgie. A small visual barrier, even a piece of card between the cages, can help a lot. On the cage itself, the Rosewood Songbird Cage fits both birds well — it's 46cm wide, 30cm deep, and 46cm tall with 10–12mm bar spacing, which is correct for both species. It comes in matching designs so you can buy two and they'll sit neatly side by side within your 90cm. It's a solid, well-reviewed cage that doesn't have the flimsy door latches that cause problems with some budget options.

A small gap of a few centimetres is a good start — it stops the birds being able to reach through and interact directly, which can cause nipping or stress. If after a week or two you notice either bird watching the other obsessively or showing signs of stress — fluffed feathers, reduced eating, repetitive movement — add a simple opaque divider between them. You don't need to buy anything for that; a piece of foam board or even a folded piece of card slotted between the cages works perfectly. Start with the gap and watch their behaviour before deciding if more separation is needed.

Good choice — two of those will fit your shelf comfortably and give both birds adequate space. One last thing worth knowing: position the cages so neither bird has a direct line of sight to the other's food bowl, as that can trigger territorial behaviour even through bars. Eye level or just above for placement is best for both species — avoid floor level and direct window sun. You're set up well.