Birds & small pets
Cage size calculator for small pets, birds and chickens
Minimums from welfare and vet sources: a pair of guinea pigs needs 7.5 sq ft, a budgie 20 × 20 × 30 in with ½-inch bars, a rabbit pair 10 × 6 × 3 ft of space (PDSA), and each standard chicken 2 sq ft of coop plus 8–10 sq ft of run.
Cage size chart
| Animal | Minimum | Bar spacing | For | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamster | 12 × 12 × 20 in | 0.5 in | 1 (Syrians live alone) | MSPCA-Angell |
| Gerbil | 20 × 20 × 12 in | – | 1–2 | MSPCA-Angell |
| Mouse | 12 × 12 × 20 in | – | 1–3 | MSPCA-Angell |
| Rat | 24 × 24 × 24 in | 0.5 in | 1–2 | MSPCA-Angell |
| Guinea pig | 7.5 sq ft (10.5 preferred) | – | 1–2 | MSPCA-Angell |
| Rabbit | 8 sq ft | – | 1–2 | MSPCA-Angell, PDSA |
| Chinchilla | 30 × 24 × 15 in | – | 1–3 | MSPCA-Angell |
| Ferret | 24 × 24 × 48 in | – | 1–3 | MSPCA-Angell |
| Budgie (parakeet) | 20 × 20 × 30 in | 0.5 in | – | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Cockatiel | 20 × 20 × 30 in | 0.5 in | – | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Conure | 36 × 24 × 48 in | 0.75 in | – | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| African grey or Amazon | 40 × 30 × 60 in | 0.75 in | – | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Macaw or large cockatoo | 48 × 36 × 66 in | 1.5 in | – | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Chicken (standard) | 2 sq ft coop + 8–10 sq ft run, per bird | – | – | Raising Chickens For Dummies: flock size and space requirements |
| Chicken (bantam) | 1 sq ft coop + 4 sq ft run, per bird | – | – | Raising Chickens For Dummies: flock size and space requirements |
These are minimums. Welfare groups agree that bigger is better, and several (rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets) also need hours of extra space outside the cage every day.
Citing this? Link to https://tools.thesturdypaw.com/cage-size/. Minimums from MSPCA, PDSA, the Merck Veterinary Manual and Raising Chickens For Dummies. Free to reuse with a link (CC BY 4.0).
Questions
What size cage does a budgie need?
At least 20 × 20 × 30 in with bars no more than ½ inch apart, per the Merck Veterinary Manual; the same goes for cockatiels, lovebirds and parrotlets.
What size cage does a guinea pig need?
At least 7.5 sq ft (30 × 36 in) for one or two guinea pigs, and 10.5 sq ft (30 × 50 in) is better for a pair.
How much space does a rabbit need?
MSPCA asks for an 8 sq ft pen plus at least 24 sq ft more for 4 hours a day; the UK’s PDSA sets 10 × 6 × 3 ft as the absolute minimum for a pair.
How big should a hamster cage be?
MSPCA’s minimum is 12 × 12 × 20 in or a 20-gallon tank; that is a floor, and many owners now go much larger. Syrian hamsters must live alone.
How much space does a chicken need?
About 2 sq ft per standard chicken inside the coop and 8 to 10 sq ft each in the run; bantams need about half that.
How big should a rat cage be?
At least 24 × 24 × 24 in with several levels for one or two rats, and bars no more than ½ inch apart (MSPCA).
What size cage does a cockatiel need?
At least 20 × 20 × 30 in with ½-inch bar spacing, the same Merck minimum as a budgie; long-tailed birds benefit from more.
How big should a ferret cage be?
At least 24 × 24 × 48 in for one to three ferrets, with 6 × 3 × 2 ft ideal and 4 hours a day of extra space (MSPCA).
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