A New Look atCage In

Avicultureby Rainer Erhart, Ph.D., Kalamazoo, MI

don't really recall exactly whenand how I chose birds as my life­long, all-consuming hobby. My

visits to my grandparents' farm surelycontributed, so did my uncles manypigeons, and my first venture feedingyoung abandoned birds, my first visitto a large zoo, and my friendship witha unique individual who taught memuch about nature and birds.

So many things and so many peo­ple come to mind, but all experiences

One qfthe author~ bird rooms. As youcan see, it is absolute?v spotless and

very order?v. It is verye~ to maintain

a large nun~ber qfcages ofthis kind. ~»~~~~.I."~~EIfyou look careful~y you'l! notice a ~

couple ofParrotlets

4 ~overnber/l)ecernber 1998

This bank qfcages is special?v designed.for breedingCockatiels. The nest boxes are attached to the outside toallouJ maximum room in the cage. Solid trays betu;eentiers prevent debris dropping through to the louer cages.

This is the perfect cagefor controlledbreeding ofmutation lovebirds. In thiscase, the nest box is inside the cage.

This display qfEuroCages at the AFA cOrtL'ention ill Baltimo7"e presellted some qf thefinestcages ever builtfor small birds. EuroCages are desiglled by Dr. Railler Erhart alld mallufac­tured tryJim Pestoor. Pestoor (right), shoUls a visitor clistomfeatll1YJS qf the EllroCage comple.:x:.

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started out pretty much the same way:what kind of bird was I going to get,how would I house this bird, howwould I feed it, and, last but not least,how would I convince my mother ofyet another feathered friend aroundthe house.

Over more than 50 years I haveasked these same questions at leastthat many times, and, though theanswers have become more complex,the birds more exotic, the housingrequirements more sophisticated, I stillfeel I have to convince my spouse thatthose new birds would make a fineaddition to my collection.

Over the years I have learned that inorder to be very convincing, I had totake into consideration some of thethings that bothered her and, to mysurprise, I became a much better avi­culturist by listening at least to some ofher advice.

She likes things orderly and clean,and so do the birds. She likes feedingthe birds a greater variety of a menu,and the birds love it. She likes cagesand aviaries which are functional butalso attractive, and so do the birds.Since this article is about cages andcaging birds, let me share some of myexperiences with you.

During my many travels I am atleast as interested in how my friendshave solved caging and breeding theirbirds as I am in the birds themselves.Accordingly, I have gone through anevolution of cage designs and havefinally arrived at something that I feelis practical, easy to clean and service,and is appealing to the eye as well asthe bird. I was not alone in puttingtogether such a project but was great­ly helped by my friend Jim Pestoorwho had much experience with theengineering side of production.

Photo 1 shows one of my two birdrooms. A series of cages are linkedtogether and each cage is individuallylighted. It's stunning for the visitor tosee everything so clearly, the birds, thefood, the nests and the ease withwhich to look at the young. Let megive you a bit more detail.

I hate cages that are made of wiremesh, clipped together and stackedone on top of the other. They remindme of my early chicken coops andunsightly enclosures for pigeons. I stillhave scars from the many scratchesthat the unfinished wires have givenme and I also remember the unfortu­nate accidents with birds who havegotten entangled in a loose piece of

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AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTUREtIfte :Mission of tfie J'l!FJ'l is to Pr011Wte tfie .9lt£vancement ofJ'lvicufture.

1998 OFFICERSGARY CLIFTON, President 602-830-4920 fax 602-830-3828 • DWIGHT GREENBERG, 1st Vice President 407-631-9800 fax 407-632-4338

JANIS CLARK 2nd Vice President 419-825-2839 fax 419-825-2939 • JIM HAWLEY, JR., Chief Financial Officer 602-838-4770 fax 602-987-3389

LAURELLA DESBOROUGH, Past President 510-372-6174 fax 510-372-0306 • LOUISE DITTOE, Secretary 512-937-1991

MEMBER CLUBS

NATIONAL AINTERNATIONALORGANIZATIONSMild Sparzak, Director410-282-9233 fax 410-285-6694African Lovebird SocietyAfrican Parrot SocietyAmazona SocietyAmerican Cockatiel Society, Inc.American Lory SocietyAsiatic Breeders AssociationAvicultural Society of AmericaCanadian Parrot Symposium, WestEndangered Species TrustInternational Conure AssociationInternational Parrotlet SocietyModel Aviculture ProgramMidwest Avian Research Expo- INrNational Cockatiel SocietyNational Fmch & Softbill SocietyPionus Breeders AssociationSociety ofParrot Breeders & Exhibitors

NORTHEASTERNREGION

Bob Sunday, Director860-525-8338

CONNECTICUTState coordinator:Tony Duarte 860-644-7817Connecticut Association for

Aviculture, Inc.

MAINEState coordinator:Jean Smith 207-677-2939Maine State Cage Bird Society

MASSACHUSEITSState coordinator:

*Aviculturists of Greater Boston,lncMassachusetts Cage Bird Assn.

NEW HAMPSHIREState coordinator:Ann Mare Sullivan 978.fJ63-94I4Birds of a Feather Avicultural Soc.

NEW YORK (EASnState coordinator:

*Big Apple Bird AssociationBuffalo Hookbill Assoc.Capital District Cage Bird Club

NEW YORK (WESnState coordinator:Yvonne Brass 716-328-7725Central New York Caged Bird ClubFinger Lalces Cage Bird AssociationGreater Rochester Hookbill Assoc.Hudson Valley Bird FanciersHudson Valley Cage Bird OubHudson Valley Caged Bird SocietyRochester Cage Bird Club

RHODE ISLANDState coordinatorDiane Crosby 401-823-8994

VERMONTState coordinator:Peter Lowry 802-754-6494

MID-ATLANTICREGION

Yvonne Catena, Director908-806-6378 fax 609-924-3149

DELAWAREState coordinator:Nancy Selz 302-798-8625

DISTRICf OF COLUMBIAState coordinator:*

MARYLANDState coordinator:*

Baltimore Bird FanciersMaryland Cage Bird Society, Inc.Southern Maryland Caged Bird Club

NEW JERSEYState coordinator:*

Central Jersey Bird ClubReal Macaw Parrot Club

PENNSYLVANIAState coordinator:Kelly Williams 610-369-35%Butler Caged Bird SocietyO1ester County Bird BreedersDelaware Valley Bird ClubDelco Bird OubErie Cage Bird OubGreater Pittsburgh Cage Bird SocietyYork Area Pet Bird OubNortheastern PA Cage Bird Oub

VIRGINIAState coordinator:Tom Marshall 703-777-3252Feather Fanciers of FredricksburgNational Capital Bird ClubParrot Breeders Assoc. of VirginiaCommonwealth Avicultural Society

WEST VIRGINIAState coordinator:Barry Thaxton 304-766-9180

SOUTHEASTERNREGION

Wanda Elder, Director901-853-9988 fax 901-853-7030

ALABAMAState coordinator:June Hendrix 205-776-2992Central Alabama Aviculture SocietyRocket City Cage Bird Club, IncWiregrass Cage Bird Oub

GEORGIAState coordinator:Harold Bowles 770-748-4627Aiken Bird ClubCompanion Bird Club of AtlantaCSRA Exotic Bird AssociationGeorgia Cage Bird Breeders &

ExhibitorsGeorgia Cage Bird Society

KENTUCKYState coordinator:Jerry T. Clarke 502-935-5440Kentuckiana Bird SocietyFeathered Friends Bird Society

MISSISSIPPIState coordinator:Nancy S. Speed 601-673-8100Central Missisippi Bird OubSouth Mississippi Cage Bird Society

NORTH CAROLINAState coordinator:Greg Bacot 919-766-3766Raliegh Durham Caged Bird Oub

SOUTH CAROLINAState coordinator:Barbara Hine 864-878-8698Palmetto Cage Bird Club of Aiken

TENNESSEEState coordinatorHelen Thompson 615-745-8179Middle Tennessee Cage Bird OubSoutheast Tennessee Aviculture SocietyTennesee VaUey Exotic Bird Oub

FLORIDA/P.R.REGION

Jerry Kane Director941-422-0029

FLORIDA (CENTRAL)State Coordinator:

*Central Horida Bird BreedersImperial Bird ClubSun Coast Avian SocietySunshine State Cage Bird SocietyTreasure Coast Exotic Bird OubWest HOlida Avian SocietyWest Pasco Exotic Bird Club

FLORIDA (NORTH)State coordinator:Alan Cooper 904-234-2140Big Bend Bird ClubEmerald Coast Avian SocietyGainsville Bird FanciersHome Grown Exotic Bird SocietyHorida West Coast Avian SocietyGreater Brandon Avian SocietyJacksonville Aviculture Society

FLORIDA (SOUTH)State coordinator:Judy Lewis 305-253-7887Aviary & Cage Bird Society of

Southern FloridaGulf Coast Bird ClubPanhandle Aviculture SocietySouth Bay Bird societySouth West Horida Bird OubTampa Bay Bird Club

PUERTO RICOCoordinator:David Negron 809-251-1153O.PA

VIRGIN ISLANDSState coordinator: *

MID-EASTERNREGION

Diana Holloway, Director419-636-3882

ILLINOISState coordinator:John Petty 8I5-92-8224Greater Qricago Cage Bird ClubSouth Suburban Cage Bird Assn.Stateline Bird Fanciers, Inc.

INDIANAState coordinator: *Central Indiana Cage BirdHoosier Exotics

MICHIGANState coordinator:Bob Zalewski 313-365-5942Ann Arbor Cage Bird ClubGreat Lalces Avicultural SocietyMotor City Bird BreedersWest MI Feathered FriendsMichiana Bird Society

OHIOState coordinator:UoydMcArthur 419-539-7535Classic FeathersGolden Crescent Cage Bird OubGreat Lalces Bird Lovers OubGreater Cincinnati Bird OubMiami Valley Bird OubNorthwest Ohio Bird Club

WISCONSINState coordinator:Gloria Scholbe 920-826-7478Madison Area Cage Bird Assoc.Cream City Feathered FriendsKenosha Exotic Bird ClubWings Bird SocietyWisconsin Bird Lovers & ExoticsWisconsin Cage Bird Club

SOUTH CENTRALREGION

Darrel Styles, DVM Director512-858-2057 fax 512-858-7029

ARKANSASState coordinator:Jim McGuire 501-965-2427

KANSASState coordinator:Mike Langerot 316-479­3235Kansas Avicultural Society, Inc.Mo Kan Cage Bird Club

LOUISIANAState coordinator:Jeanne C. Mwphy 504-833-4241Acadiana Bird ClubCapitol Area Avicultural SocietyLouisiana Aviculture SocietyMarshland Exotic Bird SocietyCapitol Area Avicultural Society

MISSOURIState coordinator:Paddy Lambert 314-962-8I86Greater Kansas City Avicultural Soc.Gateway Parrot ClubMissouri Cage Bird Assoc.Mo Kan Cage Bird Club

OKLAHOMAState coordinator:Gary BIankenbiller 405'{)91-3553Central Oklahoma Bird ClubOklahoma Avicultural Society

TEXAS (NORTH)State coordinator:Linda Smith 817-790-8015Cen-Tex Bird SocietyDallas Cage Bird SocietyFort Worth Bird ClubPlano Exotic Bird Association

TEXAS (SOUTH)State coordinator: *Alamo Exhibition Bird ClubBay Area Cage Bird Club, Inc.Capitol City Caged Bird OubCoastal Bend Cage Bird ClubRiver City Bird ClubTriangle Bird Breeders Club

6 November/December 1998

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fits neatly on top between the cages.Individual cage lighting has broughtout the best in these units and I wouldnot think of doing without them. I useVita Lites and each bank of six cagesand light fixtures is put on a timer.This allows me to slightly stagger thetimes when light turns on and off.

As I indicated earlier, I use thesecages mostly as breeding units,though there is little wrong with usingthem in what ever other way youchoose. Since each cage is only about36 inches Wide, 21 inches high andeither 14 or 20 inches deep, I try togive all birds more space at least partof the year.

Once the young birds have hatchedand are completely weaned I removethem to my second bird room whichis made up of walk-in flights, includinga few indoor-outdoor units. Here theycan practice flight, put on more mus­cle and obtain a healthy looking feath­er coat. From these flights I eventuallyselect my breeders for the next seasonand the entire cycle starts all overagain.

One final note. Obviously, thosecages are not for everyone. Most peo­ple complain about the initial invest­ment and rather continue with whathas worked for them. I, on the otherhand, find it most satisfying to look atthis as a once in a lifetime acquisition,enjoy the ease of cleaning and haveothers compliment me on how beauti­ful the birds look in these modem cageenvironments. And, perhaps mostimportant, I now have an admiring andsupporting spouse who rarely com­plaints about my bird rooms or myoften intense avicultural interests. •

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wire.Since I keep only small hookbills

and finches, all my new cages aredesigned to accommodate one breed­ing pair per unit. My collection includeslovebirds, parrotlets, Australian grassparakeets, and small African finches. Afriend of mine also keeps Cockatiels inthese units, although we redesigned thecages to adjust for the birds, crests andlong tail feathers.

One of the things I have learnedover the years from European breedersas well as through my own experienceis that successful breeding occurs onlywhen birds hear each other but can'tsee each other. Hence all my unitshave solid sides made of a very durableand easily washable plastic. The wirefront is of a professional design andpowder coated. The front easily slips inand out of the cage for thorough clean­ing once the breeder birds have fin­ished raising their young. I prefer onlyone big door in the lower centerbecause I use feeding and wateringdishes at the bottom of the cage. Otherarrangements, however, can be easilymade. I also have one door in theupper right or left, which gives meaccess to the breeding box which sitson a metal platform. For finches I oftenremove the platform and simply hangthe natural nest right on the side of thecage. A sturdy powder coated tray fitstightly into the bottom and whenremoved for cleaning the opening canbe closed with a neatly fitting plasticdevice. This keeps birds from escapingwhich is especially important for themore flighty finches.

Finally, each cage is fitted with asmall fluorescent light fixture which

LOS ANGELES AREAState coordinator:Joel Tatom 213-463-8262California Gamebird Breedm; Assoc.East San Gabriel Valley Bird SocietyHemet Valley Bird SocietyLong Beach Bird BreedersNorco Valley Bird BreedersOrange County Bird BreedersSouth Bay Bird SocietySouth Coast Finch SocietyValley of Paradise Bird GubWest Valley Bird Club

HAWAIIState coordinator:Joe Baker 808-966-6966Hawaii Parrot Fanciers IncBig Island Bird Society.

UTAHState coordinator: *Aviculnrral Society of UtahWasatch Avian Education Society

NORTHERN£ALIFORNIA

REGIONDonna Tondreaul!, Director530-642-9050 fax 530-642-0874

NEVADAState coordinator: *Las Vegas Avicultural SocietyReno Area Avian Enthusiasts

SOUTHERN£ALIFORNIA

REGIONAletta M. Long, DirectorPhone/fax 562-596-7429

NEW MEXICOState coordinator: *New Mexico Bird Gub

CALIFORNIA (NORTH)State coordinator:Diane GrindoI408-384-6548Aviary Association of KernButte County Bird ClubCapitol City Bird SocietyCentral California Avian SocietyCentral Coast Avicultural SocietyContra Costa Avian SocietyFoothiJI Bird FanciersGold Country Aviculture SocietyGold Country Bird SocietyGolden Gate Avian SocietyMonterey Bay Caged Bird ClubRedwood Empire Cage Bird ClubRedwood Exotic Bird SocietySanta Clara Valley Bird ClubTn-counties Bird Gub

WYOMINGState coordinator:Lloyd Baily 307-468-2871

SAN DIEGO AREAState coordinator:Marty Muschinske 619-468-3201Coachella Valley Bird SocietyFinch Society of San Diego CountyHookbill Hobbyists of So. CaliforniaNorth County AviculturistsSan Diego Bird Breeders

NORTHWESTERNREGION

Natalie Frumin-Weiss, Dir.

253-927-6983 fax 253-952-6983

WESTERNREGION

Brent Andrus, Director

702-732-1281

NORTH CENTRALREGION

* Director

MINNESOTAState coordinator:Steve &tebo 612-985-5728Minnnesota Companion Bird Assn.

IOWAState coordinator:Chuck Sudds 712-642-4578Beakers Parrot SocietyMid America Cagebird Society

COLORADOState coordinator:Carol Brasaemle 303-420-0782Front Range Avian SocietyRocky Mountain Society of

Aviculture, Inc.

ARIZONAState coordinator:Joyce Baum 520-825-3400Ariwna Avian Breeders Assoc.Arizona Avicultural SocietyArizona Seed Crackers SocietyAvicultural Society ofTucsonTropical Bird Fanciers of ArizonaYuma Imperial Exotic Bird Gub

NORTH DAKOTAState coordinator: *

ALASKAState coordinator:Mark Lyke 907-346-2008Alaska Pet Bird Club

IDAHOState coordinator:Margie Loewen 208-939-1041

MONTANAState coordinator:Laura Lee Neva 406-322-4444

SOUTH DAKOTAState coordinator:Royce King 605-393-1720Black Hills Cage Bird GubMinnekota Pet Bird Society

OREGONState coordinator: *Finch ConnectionMid Oregon Bird Breeders ClubNorthwest bird ClubRose City Exotic Bird Club

NEBRASKAState coordinator:Joni Hansen 402-496-3676Greater Omaha Cage Bird SocietyHeartland Avicultural SocietyMidwest Parrot Gub

WASHINGTONState coordinator:Jeri Wright, 206-838-9802Avicultural Society of Puget SoundCascade Canary Breeders Assoc.Northwest Exotic Bird SocietySouth Sound Exotic Bird Society

the afa WATCHBIRD 7