British Bird Council
SHOW CAGES
Hardbill Cages

Hardbill Show Cage Paint
After a review of the show cages in use by our members and the colour codes previously listed, it has been decided to simplify the standard to a more uniform colour code.
This has been made possible by the improvement in colour matching and wider availability now with certain suppliers.
The previous shades of green will still be permitted to be used in shows, but we ask that the colour code listed below is used for all new cages and any cages that are repainted, so that eventually all will be identical.
British Hardbill Cage Colour:
Georgian Green Gloss: obtained from Johnstones Trade Decorator Centres using Code: 2959-G09Y
Follow the link below to locate a stockist
Trade Paint & Paint Colours - JohnstonesTrade.Com
Hardbill Show Cage Colours
Front wires, top / bottom rails and inside of cage to be Georgian Green Gloss -
Manufactured by Johnstones trade paint centres using Code: 2959-G09Y
D cup drinker to be a similar green to match
Outside of cage to be Gloss Black
SIZE No.1
For: Lesser Redpoll & Siskin
English Pattern
There is not an English pattern No.1 Cage
Scottish Pattern
Length: 9" (229mm)
Height: 8 1/2" (216mm)
Depth: 4" (102mm)
Pattern
Front: No.14 Gauge wires set at 5/8" (16mm) Centres
Drinking Hole: 3/4" (19mm) diameter
Bottom Rail: 1 1/2" (38mm) high
Top Shaped Rail: 1" (25mm) outside, curved to 1/2" (13mm) at centre
Perches: 1/4" (7mm) diameter, set at 3" (76mm) from the bottom, 3" (76mm) between perches measured from the outside cage back.
Door Size: 3" or (75mm) circle on right hand side of cage, 3 1/2" (90mm) from the bottom and centred across width of the cage
SIZE No.2
For: Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, Siskin, Goldfinch, Linnet, Twite, and all Mules and British Hybrids whose size does not exceed the size of these finches, including the Redpoll x Bullfinch
English Pattern
Length: 11" (279mm)
Height: 9 1/2" (241mm)
Depth: 4 1/2" (114mm)
Scottish Pattern
Length: 10" (254mm)
Height: 9 1/2" (241mm)
Depth: 4 1/2" (114mm)
Both Patterns
Front: No.14 Gauge wires set at 5/8" (16mm) Centres
Drinking Hole: 3/4" (19mm) diameter for Redpoll & Siskin, 7/8" (22mm) for the remainder.
Bottom Rail: 1 1/2" (38mm) high
Top Shaped Rail: 1" (25mm) outside, curved to 1/2" (13mm) at centre
Perches: 1/4" (7mm) diameter for Redpoll & Siskin, 3/8" (9mm) for the remainder.
All set at 3" (76mm) from the bottom, 3" (76mm) between perches measured from the outside cage back.
Door Size: 3" or (75mm) circle on right hand side of cage, 3 3/4" (95mm) from the bottom and centred across width of the cage
SIZE No.3
For: Bullfinch, Bramblefinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Cirl Bunting, Reed Bunting, Yellow Bunting. Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet and Twite Mules and all British Hybrids whose size does not exceed the size of these finches.
English Pattern
Length: 12" (305mm)
Height: 10" (254mm)
Depth: 5" (127mm)
Scottish Pattern
Length: 11" (279mm)
Height: 10" (254mm)
Depth: 5" (127mm)
Both Patterns
Front: No.14 Gauge wires set at 3/4" (19mm) Centres
Drinking Hole: 1 1/8" (28mm) diameter
Bottom Rail: 1 1/2" (38mm) high
Top Shaped Rail: 1" (25mm) outside, curved to 1/2" (13mm) at centre
Perches: 3/8" (9mm) diameter, set at 3" (76mm) from the bottom, 3 1/2" (89mm) between perches measured from the outside cage back.
Door Size: 3" or (75mm) circle on right hand side of cage, 4 1/2" (115mm) from the bottom and centred across width of the cage
SIZE No.4
ENGLISH PATTERN
For: Hawfinch, Crossbill, Corn Bunting and Lapland Bunting plus all Mules and other British Hybrids whose size is similar to the hardbills in this category.
English Pattern
Length: 14" (356mm)
Height: 12" (305mm)
Depth: 6 1/2" (165mm)
Pattern
Front: No.14 Gauge wires set at 1" (25mm) Centres
Drinking Hole: 1 1/4" (32mm) diameter
Bottom Rail: 2" (50mm) high
Top Shaped Rail: 1 1/2" (38mm) outside, curved to 3/4" (19mm) at centre
Perches: 9/16" (14mm) diameter, set at 3 1/2" (89mm) from the bottom, 4" (102mm) between perches measured from the outside cage back.
Door Size: 3 1/2" or (90mm) circle on right hand side of cage, 5 3/4" (145mm) from the bottom and centred across width of the cage
Note
Permissible to use Scottish Pattern No. 4 (Listed below) wire setting for Buntings and smaller races of Crossbill and similar size Mules and Hybrids in this category
SIZE No.4
SCOTTISH PATTERN
For: Crossbill, Corn Bunting Crossbill Mules and Hybrids whose size is similar to the hardbills in this category.
Scottish Pattern
Length: 12" (305mm)
Height: 11" (279mm)
Depth: 5 1/2" (140mm)
Pattern
Front: No.14 Gauge wires set at 13/16" (21mm) Centres
Drinking Hole: 1 1/4" (32mm) diameter
Bottom Rail: 1 3/4" (44mm) high
Top Shaped Rail: 1 1/4" (32mm) outside, curved to 3/4" (19mm) at centre
Perches: 9/16" (14mm) diameter, set at 3 1/2" (89mm) from the bottom,3 1/2" (89mm) between perches measured from the outside cage back.
Door Size: 3 1/2" or (90mm) circle on right hand side of cage, 5 3/4" (145mm) from the bottom and centred across width of the cage
SIZE No.5
For: Hawfinch & Snow Bunting
English Pattern
There is not an English pattern No.5 Cage
Scottish Pattern
Length: 14" (356mm)
Height: 12" (305mm)
Depth: 6 " (153mm)
Scottish Pattern
Front: No.14 Gauge wires set at 1" (25mm) Centres
Drinking Hole: 1 1/2" (38mm) diameter
Bottom Rail: 2" (50mm) high
Top Shaped Rail: 1 1/2" (38mm) outside, curved to 3/4" (19mm) at centre
Perches: 9/16" (14mm) diameter, set at 3 1/2" (89mm) from the bottom, 4" (102mm) between perches measured from the outside cage back.
Door Size: 3 1/2" or (90mm) circle on right hand side of cage, 5 3/4" (145mm) from the bottom and centred across width of the cage