This is a specific conversation about Bird cages — size matters more than anything — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A cockatoo bending cage bars is unfortunately not rare — their beaks generate serious force, and most powder-coated steel cages simply aren't built for it. Beyond the obvious damage cost, a bent bar is a real safety hazard: gaps appear, sharp edges emerge, and a determined bird can work a broken weld into an escape route or injury. You need stainless steel with welded bar junctions thick enough to resist leveraging. Before I point you to the right cage, a couple of quick questions: which cockatoo species is this — Moluccan, Umbrella, Sulphur-crested, or one of the smaller ones like a Goffin's — and is it one bird or a pair? That affects the size and bar-gauge I'd recommend.
It's a Sulphur-crested cockatoo, just the one bird. He destroyed the last cage within about six months — bent two bars outward and snapped a weld.
inparticular.ai
Six months is actually quite patient for a Sulphur-crested — they're one of the most destructive chewers in the parrot world. The fundamental problem with most retail cages is that they use thin-gauge steel with a powder coating over the top: the coating chips, the steel underneath corrodes, and the bar junctions are crimped rather than properly welded, so they fail under repeated lateral pressure from a large beak. Stainless steel with solid welded joints is the only long-term answer. How much floor space do you have available? Sulphur-cresteds need a minimum of around 90cm wide to extend their wings, but bigger is always better, and I want to make sure I'm recommending something that actually fits.
I've got a decent amount of room — probably up to about 120cm wide if needed. Budget isn't the main concern, I just don't want to buy a third cage.
inparticular.ai
Good — that mindset will save you money in the long run. Given your space, your bird's size, and specifically the destruction history, I'd recommend the Liberta Explorer Parrot Cage in stainless steel. It's around 91cm wide with 2.5cm bar spacing — correct for a Sulphur-crested, tight enough that he can't get his head through but wide enough for comfortable grip — and the bars are 4mm solid stainless steel with fully welded intersections rather than crimped crosses. There's no powder coating to chip or corrode, no zinc to poison him if he does manage to gnaw a surface, and the door latches are designed with parrots in mind (they come with additional security clips). It's a significant investment upfront, but it's genuinely the last cage you should need to buy for this bird. Available on Amazon UK with Prime delivery, which also makes returns straightforward if sizing is an issue once it arrives.
Does stainless steel mean it's heavier to move around? He comes out a lot and I sometimes reposition the cage.
inparticular.ai
Yes, honestly — it is heavier than a powder-coated steel cage of the same size, that's the trade-off for the durability. The Liberta Explorer comes on castors though, so repositioning on a hard floor is manageable without lifting. If you're moving it between rooms frequently over thick carpet, it can be a bit of a wrestle, but most people with large parrots find they settle on one or two positions and don't move it daily. The castors also lock, which matters because a Sulphur-crested will absolutely work a cage across a floor if the wheels are free. Worth knowing before it arrives.
That's really helpful, thank you. I'll go with the Liberta Explorer.
inparticular.ai
Good choice — and once it's set up, one practical tip: check all the door latches on day one and add the security clips immediately. Sulphur-cresteds are problem-solvers and they'll test every mechanism. The cage itself won't be the weak point this time, but latches occasionally need a clip backup regardless of brand. Enjoy the peace of mind.
