Cage for Cockatiel with Sinusitis

A cockatiel with chronic sinusitis changes the cage equation significantly — you need something that controls airflow without cutting it off entirely. Cage size is still the starting point, because most commercial cages are genuinely too small for a cockatiel to fully extend its wings, and that's a welfare problem regardless of health status. Bar spacing should be around 1.5–2cm to prevent head entrapment. But for a bird with respiratory sensitivity, you also need to think about draft exposure, cage material off-gassing, and placement. Can you tell me: is this a single bird or do you have more than one, how much floor space do you have available, and has your vet given any specific guidance about ventilation or positioning?

That's exactly the right thinking from your vet — stagnant air is actually as bad as drafts for a bird with sinusitis, because it allows dust and spores to concentrate around the cage. A 60x60cm footprint gives you decent options. The key things I'm looking for here are: a cage wide enough for full wing extension (a normal cockatiel needs at least 60cm width ideally, so you're at the minimum), bar spacing of no more than 1.5cm, and — critically for sinusitis — a design without decorative powder-coating that can flake and irritate airways. Has your vet mentioned anything about the material of the cage itself, or is draft avoidance the main instruction?

Good — stainless steel or well-cured wrought iron with a clean powder coat is what you want, and avoiding zinc is exactly right since zinc fumes are a real risk. Given your space, your bird's size, the sinusitis, and the vet's ventilation advice, I'd point you toward the Prevue Hendryx F050 Flight Cage. It's 91cm wide by 56cm deep by 165cm tall — so it well exceeds wing-extension requirements and gives your bird genuine flight space, which actually helps keep his airways moving and reduces the risk of stagnant air pooling around him. The bar spacing is 1.6cm, which is within the safe range for cockatiels. It has open wire construction all around, which supports the good-airflow-without-draft goal when positioned correctly in your corner, away from AC and windows. The stand is included, which matters — floor-level placement increases draft exposure, so having him elevated is genuinely better for his condition. It's not the cheapest option, but it's the one that ticks all the boxes for a bird with his specific needs.

The cage choice does most of the heavy lifting, but a few things inside matter too. Avoid any wood shavings or dusty substrate on cage trays — if you use anything at all, go for paper liners, which produce no airborne particles. Keep his food and water dishes away from perches directly above them to reduce contamination. If you use a humidifier nearby in winter, make sure it's not creating visible condensation on cage bars — damp conditions worsen sinus infections. And position his sleeping perch at the highest point in the cage but not near the top bars, which can create micro-drafts from convection. Beyond that, regular cleaning with unscented, bird-safe disinfectant is more important for a bird with sinusitis than for a healthy bird — you want minimal mould and bacterial load in the environment.

It's widely available on Amazon UK — search 'Prevue Hendryx F050 Flight Cage' and it should come up. One last thing: when you first get it, let it air out for 48 hours in a well-ventilated space before putting your bird in it. Any new cage can off-gas faint coating smells, and a bird with existing respiratory issues is more sensitive to that than a healthy one. Good luck with him — sinusitis is manageable with the right setup and it sounds like you're already doing the right things.