Best cage for Lineolated Parakeets

Cage size is the single most important factor for any bird's welfare — most cages sold commercially are genuinely too small to let a bird fully extend its wings, which is a real problem. Bar spacing matters too, since gaps that are too wide can trap a bird's head. For a Lineolated Parakeet specifically, the question about vertical height is a great one to be asking, because linnies are quite different from most small parakeets. So — is this one bird or a pair, and how much floor space do you have to work with?

Yes, absolutely — you've read correctly. Lineolated Parakeets are ground and climbing birds by nature. In the wild they clamber through dense vegetation rather than taking long horizontal flights, so vertical height and lots of climbing opportunities matter far more than a wide horizontal footprint. You want maximum height within your space, with horizontal bars or ladders running the full height so he can move up and down freely. Bar spacing should be no more than 12mm — linnies are small enough that wider bars are a head-trap risk. What does his current cage look like, or are you starting fresh?

Good that you're upgrading — a budgie cage really isn't suitable for a linnie even short-term. Given your space and his needs, I'd point you toward the Prevue Hendryx Flight Cage, specifically the model that runs around 46cm wide by 46cm deep by 91cm tall. It's within your footprint, gives excellent vertical height, has 9.5mm bar spacing which is perfect for a linnie, and crucially it has both horizontal and vertical bars throughout — so he can climb every surface. It's available on Amazon UK, solidly built, and the bar spacing is one of the things that makes it stand out for small climbing species. The multiple perch positions let you set up different height levels which he'll use constantly.

A mix of both, but lean toward keeping the middle sections clear for climbing rather than cluttering every level with perches. Linnies love moving between levels, so if every 10cm has a perch it becomes an obstacle course rather than a climbing run. Put perches at the top and bottom third, add a rope or wooden ladder running vertically through the middle, and leave the bar space open. Natural wood perches of varying diameter are better than the uniform dowel rods that often come with cages — varied diameter keeps his feet and grip muscles healthy. He'll use the full height if you let the layout encourage it.

Great choice — it's genuinely well-suited to a linnie. One last thing: place it somewhere he can see activity in the room but not in direct draught or full sun, and if you ever add a second bird, the footprint is comfortable for a pair too. Enjoy setting it up.