This is a specific conversation about Parrot supplies — intelligent birds with demanding needs — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A bar spacing injury is one of the most avoidable and most heartbreaking things that happens with parrots — and unfortunately it happens because a lot of cages are manufactured with budgies or canaries in mind, not the slightly chunkier, more active body of a conure. Sun Conures specifically need bar spacing no wider than 1.25cm (half an inch), and the bars need to be horizontal on at least two sides to support their climbing. Before I point you toward anything, can you tell me — what happened exactly, is your bird fully recovered, and what size cage are you currently working with?
He got his foot trapped between the bars — the spacing was just slightly too wide and he panicked. Vet says he's fine, nothing broken, but it shook us both up. The cage was a fairly cheap one, around 60cm wide. We want something much more solid this time, proper bar spacing, ideally with a play top.
inparticular.ai
That's a really common failure point with budget cages — the bar spacing looks fine on the listing but the actual welds and gauge are inconsistent, and a 4-year-old Sun Conure is strong and determined enough to find every weak spot. Good news is he's okay, and you're asking the right questions now. A 60cm wide cage is workable for a conure but genuinely on the small side if he's in there for long stretches. Since you want a play top and you're prioritising safety, can I ask — are you open to going larger, say 70–80cm wide? And is stainless steel a consideration or are you budget-conscious on this one?
We'd go bigger if it's the right choice. Budget isn't unlimited but we're happy to spend properly this time — maybe up to £200. Not necessarily stainless steel, just something that's well made and won't flex.
inparticular.ai
At that budget, the cage I'd point you to is the Liberta Explorer large parrot cage. It's widely stocked on Amazon UK and sits comfortably under £200. The bar spacing is 1.9cm on most configurations — I want to be upfront that you should confirm the exact model spec when you order — but the build quality is genuinely different from the budget tier: thicker gauge wire, solid welds, no flexing. It has a play top with perch and feeding stations, a pull-out tray, and front and side doors which matters a lot for a bird like a Sun Conure who has opinions about how he enters and exits. The footprint is around 78cm wide which gives him real room to move. It's the cage I see recommended most consistently by conure owners who've had a scare exactly like yours and wanted to buy once and be done.
That sounds exactly right. Is there anything specific I should check when it arrives before I put him in it?
inparticular.ai
Yes — a few things worth doing before he goes anywhere near it. First, run your finger along every bar joint and weld and feel for any sharp edges or burrs, especially at the door hinges and tray slides. Second, measure the bar spacing yourself with a ruler in several spots — manufacturing tolerances vary and you want to be sure. Third, wipe the whole cage down with a diluted F10 solution or plain white vinegar and water, rinse thoroughly, and let it air dry fully — new cages often have a coating residue that isn't listed anywhere. Finally, let him explore it from the outside for a day before moving him in. After a stressful experience he'll feel better if the new cage is his idea.
Really helpful, thank you. That last point especially — he's been a bit clingy since it happened.
inparticular.ai
That's completely normal. Sun Conures are emotionally intelligent and he registered that something went wrong, even if he doesn't understand what. The clinginess will pass once he feels secure again — don't rush the transition to the new cage, and keep his routine as consistent as possible while he settles. The Liberta Explorer is a solid long-term home for him. Good luck with the setup.
