Generally, the sort of housing you select for your bird will vary with the bird's size and wingspan. Usually, the cage should provide sufficient space for the bird to perch, exercise, play, eat, and spread its wings, making short flights. Your bird should be kept in a draft free area, and its cage should be well ventilated. Most birds will be more comfortable when their cages are kept higher rather than low to the floor. Because they are quite social, most will do well when kept in rooms that receive plenty of human traffic. Although most birds are housed indoors, others may be kept outdoors and some may be rotated between both areas. Indoor cages are usually used for smaller songbirds like canaries or finches, while aviaries situated either indoors or outdoors are often used to house doves or larger birds.

Most cages made for birds are constructed of metal wire or mesh. This should be uncoated, as coatings may poison birds that chew on their cages. If the cage has bars, they should usually be vertically oriented and should be too small for your bird to fit its head between them. Many cages come with removable bottom pans that can make cleaning more convenient. Although many attractive wooden or bamboo cages may be available, they can be extremely difficult to clean and it may be better not to use them in order to aid you in maintaining healthy, sanitary conditions. Cages should often be wider rather than taller, since most birds exercise by flying horizontally rather than vertically. Usually, the enclosure should hang at about eye level in order to provide a sense of height for the bird. Many bird owners may also wish to place a vinyl remnant on the floor area beneath their bird's cage to prevent the floor from becoming soiled. Such remnants can often be obtained from a home improvement store, hardware store, or carpet store.

Aviaries are usually much larger than cages, and can allow for full flight. These enclosures may be hung from a height or placed on the ground, and may be situated indoors or outdoors. If you do wish to keep your bird in an outdoor aviary, you should be sure that it remains in an area protected from predators and from the elements. You may wish to construct a fence around your aviary. Some aviaries may also be topped fully or partially with a waterproofed, reflective cloth in order to provide shade and protection from the elements. Often, indoor aviaries are known as lofts. These are usually suspended from a ceiling or may be built as another, upper level of a room, perhaps in a barn or shed. Ground accessible aviaries should have concrete based floors and edges, to prevent rodents and other animals from burrowing into the cage. Suspending aviaries is a more simple way to help eliminate rodents. Often, another tactic used by bird keepers to eliminate the incidence of rodents in their aviaries is the use of fine mesh or doubled, overlapping, welded wire.

Many times, aviaries have a small room or antechamber attached. In this manner, a keeper can enter the room and shut the door before opening an inner door to the aviary. This will allow you to access the aviary for cleaning or maintenance while preventing the possibility of birds escaping. You may also wish to keep a large cage in this room so you could bring the birds indoors in instances of harsh weather. If your aviary is located on the ground out of doors, it should be secured so that it cannot be blown over or pushed over. Although some outdoor aviaries have a roof over the entire enclosure, others may only be covered partially or may make use of shade cloth. In open aviaries, the use of enclosed nesting boxes may be especially important to help protect your birds from the elements. Some aviaries used to house homing pigeons include a special trap door light enough for the bird to push open from the outside, but impossible to open from the inside. If your birds are all inside their aviary, you should be sure to lock the trapdoor so no undesirable predators or wild birds are able to enter the enclosure.

In cages, often a bottom grate will separate a bird from the cage floor, consisting of a removable pan on which an absorbent substrate is kept. Some cages may not have this grating, and many owners will add it in order to keep more hygienic environments for their birds. The substrate may be newspaper, wood shavings, or some sort of compressed paper litter in the bottom of the cage. Any items your bird could consume, any dusty items, or any strongly scented or oily items, like cedar, should not be used. In an aviary, the bottom of the enclosure is often covered by a more natural substrate. Items like newspaper or wood shavings may not be as practical over such a large floor area. If you are using some natural substance like soil or moss, it should be sterilized or heat treated in order to kill any harmful germs or parasites that could be present. Some aviary keepers prefer a simple concrete floor that can be hosed off daily and scrubbed and disinfected on a regular basis.

Usually, birds will thrive under set periods of light and dark. Birds receive the most benefit from light when allowed direct sunlight that is not filtered through glass, which can block many valuable ultraviolet rays. However, they should have some shady area to retreat to if they become too warm. Many people that keep their birds indoors will place their birds' cages outside in a protected area on nice days. If you choose to do this, you should make sure that your bird is not fully in direct sunlight or it may become overheated. Also, you should ensure that no predators can access your bird or cause it stress. Birds that are kept constantly indoors may benefit from the use of a full spectrum ultraviolet light. Another important aspect of the photoperiod for birds is the nighttime session. Birds need uninterrupted blocks of sleep. Generally, if you find that you are active in the room where your bird is kept after it has tucked itself up for the night, you may wish to cover its cage so it will not be disturbed. However, in quiet areas, many birds do well without cage covers. If you are using a cage covering, you should be sure that it is not made of open weave material, or some sort of material that could easily snag the bird's nails or beak, trapping or injuring it.

Many songbirds, like canaries, are from warm climates and may not do well when kept outside in cold areas. It is important to choose a more weather tolerant type of bird if you wish to keep it outside. Many European type doves are native to cooler climates, and are more often kept outdoors than are smaller, more tropical birds like finches. You should remember to keep an enclosed area in the outdoor aviary, even if you live in a fairly mild climate, so that your bird can shelter from the elements and keep itself warm.

Usually, it is important that the air in the area where your bird is kept remains dry. Birds should be allowed fresh drinking water at all times, and may have some sort of bathing requirement. For drinking, water bottles and bowls are both available. If you choose to use a bowl, you should place or hang it in the cage in an area where it will not quickly become soiled with droppings. It should also be in an area where the bird's tail feathers will not easily trail into the bowl. Many food bowls have hoods to protect the water from soiling. However, some birds may be leery of these structures and may not use them. If your bird is kept outdoors, the water should be located in a shady place so it can remain cool. Many people will also provide a shallow, sturdy bowl in the bottom of their bird's cage so that the bird has the opportunity to bathe itself. In outdoor aviaries, any standing water, like puddles from rain, should be removed before it becomes stagnant.

Generally, a few basic furnishings should be present in your bird's enclosure. These are often perches, and, in outdoor enclosures, nesting boxes. Often, perches should be slightly squared or rough rather than smooth, making them easier to grip. They should not be placed low enough in the cage that your bird's feathers drag in its bowls or on the floor. There should be at least two perches present in the cage, and they should not be placed in areas where they might obstruct your bird's flight. Also, while the bird is perching, its tail feathers should not rub against the sides of the cage. Many experienced bird keepers will provide a variety of shapes or textures in their bird's perches. Often, a natural, bark covered perch is provided, in addition to a flat perch where the bird could simply sit.

The substrate in your bird's enclosure should be changed as it becomes soiled. Usually, this cleaning should occur daily. At regular intervals, the entire enclosure that your bird inhabits should be cleaned and disinfected. All furnishings, bowls, and toys in the enclosure should also be removed and cleaned. The bottom, sides, and top of the entire cage should be thoroughly scrubbed. Mechanical cleaners can be used to aid in removing physical soiling, and disinfectants should be used to eliminate any germs. After cleaning, you should be sure that all items are rinsed thoroughly, as even traces of chemicals that remain could harm your bird.

A variety of toys may be available to place in your bird's enclosure. Such items can include ladders, mirrors, bells, rattles, or balls. If you wish to allow your bird to play with toys, you should be sure that they are safe. Anything that hangs from the cage should not allow any opportunity for the bird to become entangled in the line or to get its beak or toenails caught. The toys you offer your bird should also be free of any small parts that could break and become ingested by the bird.

Usually, songbirds do not flock in large numbers in the wild. Often, male canaries may fight, and it is often best to keep even males and females separately unless you are planning to breed them. However, some birds, doves for example, may do best when kept in pairs. These pairs should usually be male female pairs, as same sex pairs may fight. Often, doves may be kept in larger groups, involving several pairs.

Part One - Introduction

Part Three - Diet