When relocating to a new home, the thought of moving furniture often brings to mind such items as a couch, bookcase or dresser. While moving these belongings are common practice, there are other furniture pieces that require a bit more consideration to transport. Those who house parrots in an indoor aviary (flight cage) or custom furniture-style cage often face unique concerns when moving it to a new location. For instance, wood-framed bird cages, often known as "furniture cages," are functional bird enclosures that are aesthetically pleasing and decorative enough to be called furniture and, therefore, will require special handling or dismantling procedures when being moved. If you have to move a furniture bird cage, follow these simple tips to make the task easier:

1. Break It Down

Not all designer bird cages are constructed as one piece of cabinetry. Many of these custom furniture cages have interlocking pieces, caster wheels, slide out storage drawers or a wooden stand or pedestal the cage body sits on.

After your bird is safely placed in temporary housing, it's time to break down the furniture cage you wish to relocate. If possible, disassemble the furniture cage piece by piece. Before doing so, gather a storage box large enough to store some of the smaller pieces. Here are a few tips for dismantling the cage:

• Remove the Wheels: If the cage has caster wheels, remove them and wrap them securely in a piece of soft cloth or other fabric before packing them in the box labeled as "Bird Supplies." It's best to remove the wheels before dismantling any other pieces, in order to prevent the cage from moving around as you work.

• Detach the"Hood" or Cage-Top Play Perch: If your custom cage includes a separate cage-top piece for a bird to perch on or play while out of the cage, it's a good idea to remove it before transporting the cage. Not only might this save space, allowing it to fit more easily through doorways, but it may prevent damage to the play-top piece. Wrap the hood or cage-top perch carefully in bubble wrap or newspaper before placing it in the moving box.

• Remove the Storage Drawers: Some of the more elaborate furniture cages include slide-out storage drawers for storing bird supplies. It's best to remove the drawers (and the contents) before transporting the cage. The same applies to a pull-out shelf beneath the cage. If it can be easily removed without having to remove bolts or screws, do so and pack the shelf separately for the move.

• Separate the Main Cage Body from the Pedestal or Stand: This only applies to cages that have two main parts: the body and the stand, also known as the base. If the cage rests on a stand, detach both pieces carefully. Before being packed away, the stand should be wrapped with padded material for protection.

• Remove All Perches, Cups, Bowls and Toys: All perches, food and water cups, toys and accessories (inside and out of the cage) should be removed before moving the cage. This will prevent rattling and movement while being transported, which could damage the interior of the cage as well as the perches.

2. Protect the Cage Bars or Wire Mesh (and the Frame)

A soft cloth should be wrapped and taped securely around all sides of the wire mesh or cage bars. This will prevent the wire from becoming bent while being moved. It may also prevent cage bar coatings from being scratched or chipped. The wooden or aluminum frame of the cage should be protected with a soft cloth as well. As a side note, you should not attempt to remove or disassemble cage bars or wire mesh, as this structure is not meant to be dismantled. Doing so may damage the wire.