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Customer Reviews

Excellent Cockatiel Cage Review by Clare

Rating

I have recently downgraded my cockatiel from a Rainforest Santa Fe to the Rainforest Brasil II. First, I should point out that the Santa Fe is also a great cage, but my 'tiel is very people orientated, and the the Santa Fe was just too large to move around the house so she could be with us.

Pros:

* The proportions of the Brasil II are perfect for cockatiels, which spend a lot of time on the ground foraging. It is short and fat, and although it is a fairly bulky cage, I am still able to carry it up and down stairs and around the house. The round top means you can hang lots of different toys from the roof and they will hang at different heights.

* As I've come to expect from Rainforest cages, the Brasil II is very solid and sturdy. My 'tiel's first cage was cheap and flimsy, and although it did the job, I wanted something better quality for her. Unlike the Santa Fe, the Brasil II slots together rather than requiring tools (except for the base, which is supplied with a tiny spanner, though you'll need your own screwdriver). This makes it a lot easier to transport, e.g. to take on holiday.

* Although the food dishes are plastic, not metal, they are still high quality and easy to clean. The cage comes with 4 dishes -- I use two at a time, which means the spares can go in the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning. They slot into the cage very securely behind a set of sliding doors -- two on each side. I have also found the flat base of the dishes means they can be used outside the cage, as they don't tip over easily, even with my 'tiel sitting on them.

* The base of the cage is well-designed. My 'tiel loves to nibble and rip, and the deep base means she can't pick up her owns poops! Neither can she reach the newspaper at the bottom to rip it up. I expected the cage to have 1 tray, as noted in the description, but it came with 2. I think I would haven't preferred 1 tray, but it certainly isn't a deal-breaker.

* The stand which comes with the cage is very strong. I haven't put it together yet, but it is identical to the Santa Fe stand (only smaller), which is strong enough to hold 3 metal filing cases. Unlike the Santa Fe, the base of the Brasil II clips to the cage, so it's easy to move the cage off and onto the stand.

Cons:

* The Brasil II is a little more basic than the Santa Fe, and other larger Rainforest cages. I loved the Santa Fe's open play-top, and the large cage door was great for letting my 'tiel come and go as she pleased. The Brasil II has only one door, and it hinges downwards. This means if I want to let my 'tiel come in and out, I have to tie it up with a piece of string, which isn't ideal.

* I also miss the horizontal bars of the Santa Fe. Whilst the Brasil II does have horizontal bars at the front and back, the sides are vertical, which are far harder for my 'tiel to climb (it certainly doesn't stop her trying, though!).

Overall, the Brasil II is an excellent cage, and my top pick for my cockatiel. She settled in very quickly and loves her new cage. She especially loves being able to follow us around the house, instead of being stuck in one room, however big her old cage may have been.

I would definitely recommend this cage for anyone with a single cockatiel, budgie, conure etc. I don't think I would be comfortable housing multiple cockatiels in the cage, but the Santa Fe is my back-up! I did a lot of research before buying the Brasil II, so here are the dimensions for anyone thinking about this cage:

* Floor area: 0.28m^2 (very important to me, as my 'tiel loves to forage)
* Cage volume: 0.23^3

I also recommend buying from Scarlett's in general. Their customer service is excellent and they are clearly very passionate about birds (when I phoned up to check they had the Brasil II in stock, I could hear one of the Scarlett's Macaws chatting away in the background). Shipping is always very fast, and parcels are packed well and arrive in perfect condition. My only complaint would be the shipping costs, but my 'tiel doesn't mind -- that just means I end up buying more toys to justify it ;) (Posted on 4/16/2016)