GENERAL DESCRIPTION The cage is designed as a large flight cage for perhaps a half-dozen small birds. There are no gaps larger than ½ inch, so it is ideal for small birds. There is much space for the birds to fly, and four multi-compartment feeding watering trays---enough to accommodate many birds simultaneously and to hold a variety of foods. With modification, it can be used for medium size birds (up to the size of an African Gray or Amazon). Some reviewers complain that the cage (at 53" tall) is not as tall as it looks. Actually, the height may be ideal, particularly for parrots. If your parrot is lower than your eye-level, then you are "dominant", and he/she is likely to obey you, otherwise not. It might be coincidental, but my Senegal, which bit me at least once a month when living in a taller cage has not bitten me since I moved him to this new shorter cage a year ago. The vertical design is convenient for home-owners, but not ideal for birds. Height (elevation) is important to all birds, and socially significant for parrots. Parrots (particularly) will make little use of the bottom half of the cage--unless you place all the appealing toys down there. (But, if you do that, they'll quickly become covered with droppings and therefore become unappealing). Caveat, you can make the top half of the cage a dark zone (for sleeping) and/or warm zone (in the winter) by covering it with a dark cloth---which also encourages use of the bottom half of the cage--in which case, you need water dishes, feeding dishes, and toys in the bottom half. ALTERNATIVES More recently, I also purchased a very similar "ferret" cage,Prevue Hendryx 485 Pet Products Feisty Ferret Home with Stand, Black Hammertone which I find to be more appropriate for medium and large birds, even though the FO40 has some desirable features. > The middle shelf of the 485 makes a nice needed large platform (no middle shelf is included in the FO40). > The removable door in the middle shelf of the 485 makes the cage instantly convertible into 2 cages. > The "lift-out-able" top shelf of the 485 is makes access for cleaning and installing large items (e.g. tree branches, breeding boxes) much easier. > The sliding hatch in the top shelf of the 485 makes easy critter access to the top for playgrounds etc. > The huge front doors of the 485 make easy access or cleaning and installing large items (e.g. tree branches, breeding boxes) much easier. > The small plastic (or maybe metal in some shipments) platforms of the 485 are nice accessories. > The larger bar spacing of the 485 makes it possible to pet your pet's head, and hand-feed him/her without opening the cage. > The slide-out lower platform of the FO40 is much easier to clean (the lower platform of the 485 "lifts" out, but does not slide out). > The feeding doors of the FO40 provide more options for placement of feeding watering dishes (NO feeding doors are included in the 485). > The included perches and feeding trays of the FO40 are a bonus for owners of small birds. There is a larger version of the F040, thePrevue Hendryx F050 Pet Products Wrought Iron Flight Cage, X-Large, Hammertone Black QUALITY Very good construction quality. Mine arrived in perfect condition. OVERALL DESIGN > Except for the odd number of perch poles the design is ALMOST two independent cages, one on top of the other. Indeed, the addition of an intermediate shelf (NOT included) could convert it to two independent cages. Unfortunately, a "home-made" (non-slide-out) intermediate shelf would be nearly impossible to clean regularly. > The cage is an attractive almost "wrought-iron" pewter color. This "night camouflage" color scheme is also perfect for hiding bird droppings. > There are 2 large doors in front, and 6 small doors (total) on the sides. > Three 3/4" diameter longitudinal perch poles are included. > The 4 dishes can also be located almost anywhere, but are most handy adjacent to the doors. > The legs of the cage are rubber tipped--a nice feature if you decide not to use the rollers. > The black plastic waste tray slides out for cleaning. A bottom shelf, above the waste tray does not slide out with the waste tray, but can slide out separately. So, you can slide either out, independently, to clean, with no danger of the birds escaping. THE PERCH POLES > The 3/4" diameter dowels (perch poles) are a bit large for finches, and other small birds---I recommended adding some 3/8" and 1/2" diameter perches. > Nominally, the included perch poles can be placed anywhere within the cage. But in fact, the perch poles cannot be placed near the panel edges (i.e., where shown in the photo) after the cage is assembled (at least not without substantially loosening the screws). So, if you want the perch poles at those locations, install them while assembling the cage. > The excessive number of small doors, and their locations, greatly restricts the placement of the perch poles---especially for large birds which need some headroom and tailroom---the small doors seem to be in most of the prime locations for the perch poles. > The vertical bar-design also reduces the potential placement of perch poles (there are few vertical "stops"). This is another reason I would have preferred a 1 1/2" mesh for larger birds. > The included perch poles are softwood, easily destroyed by parrots. My Senegal destroyed them within a month. THE FEEDING/WATERING TRAYS > The arrangement of the 4 trays shown in the photo is NOT recommended. The lower feeding trays can easily be contaminated by feces. Lower watering trays can be contaminated by both feces and food thrown out of the upper trays. > The ideal location of the trays is all at the same level, in the upper 1/3 of the cage. Unfortunately the small doors are not well situated for such an arrangement. But there is no "law" that says you have to use the small doors for access---feeding trays could be placed on each side of the upper large door. > A medium-size or larger parrot will quickly destroy the plastic feeding/watering trays--so there is no point in installing them if your have medium or larger sized parrots. MODIFYING TO A PLAY CAGE---FOR BIGGER BIRDS I purchased the cage as a play cage for my medium-size parrot (a Senegal). It is not ideal for this purpose, but can be modified. I would have preferred a 1½ mesh for my larger bird to be able to feed him treats, scratch his head, etc., without opening the cage. A medium-size or larger parrot will quickly destroy the plastic watering trays--so there is no point in installing them. A medium-size or larger parrot is strong enough to force open the side doors, so these need to be wired shut or locked shut. A medium-size or larger parrot cannot really fly in the cage, so it needs climbing and other "recreational facilities". I constructed several platforms with 20 ½" long 5/8" diameter dowels. One platform is for a "swimming pool"--actually a terra cotta plant dish. The terra cotta dish is actually ideal for the purpose---1) it is too heavy for a parrot to lift and dump, 2) evaporation from the sides and bottom keeps the water cool and fresher, and 3) the rough surface is easy for bird feet to grip. One platform is for a "breeding box"--I actually just use a cardboard box which my parrot can hide in to sleep, or to get out of the wind, (or destroy for fun) etc. Other platforms are for toys, all connected by several 2' long ladders. The flat top is a good surface for an "outside" playground. I suggest covering the top with a green or black towel---birds instinctively fear attack from above---and are most comfortable with a ceiling. The 20 1/2"-long X 5/8" diameter dowel rods I use are cut from inexpensive "Home Depot" "48-inch hardwood dowels". Softwood dowels are quickly destroyed by parrots. Indeed, my Senegal's favorate "chew toys" are 2' softwood ladders. THE SMALL DOORS > The 6 small spring-loaded doors may be ideal for finches and other really small birds, but are mostly annoying and unnece
