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
Cage size is the single most important factor when it comes to bird welfare — and most cages sold commercially are genuinely too small for birds to extend their wings fully, which is a real problem. Bar spacing matters too: too wide and a bird can get its head trapped. For a Blue and Gold Macaw specifically, you're looking at a bird with a wingspan that can hit 50 inches, so the cage needs to be substantial. What's your current setup like — is this your first cage for them, are you housing just the one bird, and how much floor space do you have available?
It's just the one bird, a fully grown Blue and Gold. We have a decent-sized living room so space isn't too tight. He's currently in a cage that's only about 24 inches wide and I know it's not right for him.
inparticular.ai
You're right that 24 inches isn't right — for a Blue and Gold you really need a minimum of 36 inches wide, and bigger is always better. They need to be able to spread their wings fully and move between perches without clipping feathers on the bars. Bar spacing should be around 1 to 1.5 inches — wide enough that they can grip but not so wide they can push their head through. Given you have the space, what's your rough budget? That'll help me point you to the best option rather than just the biggest one available.
I'd say up to around £400 to £500. I want something solid that's going to last.
inparticular.ai
At that budget, the Liberta Explorer Large Parrot Cage is the one I'd point you to. It's 91cm wide (about 36 inches), 61cm deep, and 155cm tall including the stand, with bar spacing of 2.5cm — right in the appropriate range for a large macaw. It's powder-coated wrought iron, so it's genuinely heavy-duty and won't flex or corrode the way cheaper cages do. It comes with a stand, food bowls, and a pull-out tray for cleaning. It sits comfortably within your budget on Amazon UK and has strong reviews from macaw and large parrot owners specifically. For a fully grown Blue and Gold, this hits the minimum size requirements without compromise.
That sounds good. Is the bar spacing definitely safe for a macaw? I've read they can sometimes get their beaks or toes caught.
inparticular.ai
2.5cm spacing is appropriate for a bird this size — their beak and feet are large enough that catching isn't a concern at that gap. Where toe and beak injuries tend to happen is with spacing that's either too wide (the bird pushes through and panics) or with cages that have horizontal bars running all the way down at the bottom corners, which macaws like to climb on and can torque a toe. The Liberta Explorer has a predominantly vertical bar layout on the main panels, which is safer for climbing. The bigger practical risk with macaws is actually cage hardware — latches need to be macaw-proof or they'll figure them out fast. This cage uses bolt-style closures which hold up better than spring clips.
Brilliant, that's really helpful. I'll go and have a look at it now.
inparticular.ai
Good luck with it — your macaw will notice the difference immediately. One thing worth doing once it arrives: before you put him in, wipe down all the bars with a damp cloth and let it air out for 24 hours. New powder-coated cages can have a faint smell that some birds find unsettling at first. After that, place a few of his familiar toys and perches inside before moving him across and it'll help him settle in faster.
