Vintage, Victorian and Antique Bird Cages For Sale

The addition of an antique or Victorian style bird cage can lend some character and individuality to the room or area where you keep your pet bird. As pet bird owners, we should be putting the bird’s needs before ours when it comes to the various aspects of its care. The choice of the style of your bird cage is one area where you can look to satisfy your own desires without negatively affecting your pet. Your bird won’t care how the cage looks as long as it is big enough for the species you are keeping.

Comparison of Antique Bird Cages

Bird Cages Throughout History

Humans have been fascinated by birds since the first time they saw one fly. The practice of keeping birds, and housing them in cages, goes back thousands of years. According to Jerry Dennis writing in the Michigan Quarterly Review, the Sumerians, who are the oldest civilian to have kept written records, had a word for birdcage. Mention of captives birds speaking in human voices appears in Persian writings as far back as the fifth century BC.

Alexander the Great introduced the ringneck from India to Europe in the 4th century BC. When the western hemisphere was discovered it did not take long for native species such as macaws to make their way back to Europe. Birds have been kept for their beauty and companionship, as well as for utilitarian reasons such as using canaries as air quality monitors in mining operations. A common denominator in all instances of humans keeping birds is the need for a cage to display the animal and prevent it from taking flight and escaping.

The earliest bird cages were net enclosures and boxes constructed from wood, rope, reeds, and bamboo according to petcha.com. The practice of keeping birds has gone through various stages of popularity. In the 17th and 18th centuries there was a renewed interest in keeping birds, especially in the upper classes of society. They were considered entertainment and could be moved from room to room to provide a pleasant sound.

Cages began to be made in a more ornate style to complement the furnishings of the members of high society that kept birds. In many cases, the cage was almost strictly decorative, with the needs of its inhabitant relegated to an afterthought. They often appeared as miniature versions of human architectural dwellings. Below is a video that shows an example of a bird cage that resembles a palace.

Cages in the Victorian Style

The Victorian Era brings to mind the mid to late 1800s, particularly as it pertains to Great Britain. Bird cages constructed at this time were elaborately decorative and were often used simply as decorations without being used to house birds. Visually, these cages give the impression of the general Victorian style of architecture, with spires and gables.

A distinguishing feature of many Victorian style bird cages was the ability to hang the cage on a stand or from the ceiling. This made it easy to move the bird from room to room. The cages could be round or square, but in either case, were not designed with the bird’s best interests in mind. We now know that birds appreciate being next to a wall or solid surface so they feel safe when perching and relaxing. Round cages hung away from a wall will make for an anxious bird.

Other styles such as Victorian top cages also were in use at this time. These were more standard cages that concentrated the ornamental construction on the top of the cage. They were more suited to larger birds that would remain in one room of the house. A defining quality of most Victorian-era cages was the desire to make them as decorative as possible. Below is a video of a Victorian style cage constructed out of wood and metal:

A drawback to actual antique cages is that they were constructed before we knew the dangers of certain metals to both humans and birds. True antique cages should only be used for their decorative quality and not to house birds. According to petplace.com, lead and other materials used in their construction can prove deadly to your avian companions.

Nowadays, it is best to buy a modern cage that is designed to look like an antique or victorian bird cage but doesn’t have it’s drawbacks.

Review of 6 Quality Antique Style Bird Cages

Pet bird owners who would like to add a distinctive visual style will want to take a look at some of the below options that are available to you.

1. Review Of: Prevue Jumbo Scrollwork Bird Cage

2. Review Of: Featherstone Heights Victorian Bird Home

3. Review Of: Pawhut Hexagonal Flight Cage

4. Review Of: Prevue Pet Products Stainless Steel Bird Cage

5. Review Of: HQ’s Opening Victorian Cage

6. Review Of: House Shaped Parrot Cage with Stand

Summary