You don't need to use re-usable ones if you have the other kind which is single use - but then you have to cut them off every time you want to open a door and that is kind of a pain - so we just went with the kind you can undo and re-do with your fingers.

Rather than spring for about 60 bucks at a pet store for a "special pet lamp", we chose to buy our own version of full spectrum light : 

Clamp Light 8.5" was $8.99 at Lowes or Home Depot also detailed at:
http://www.doityourself.com/invt/1110386
and Full Spectrum Compact Flourescent bulbs at Home Depot and Lowes usually about $6.00 per 3 pack make sure they say FULL SPECTRUM or DAYLIGHT on the label and use low wattage like about 40 watts or less- this gives the birds enough light without frying them.

Hospital Cage for when your bird might be ill or injured and need bedrest. We used tightly woven 100% cotton Bistro towels from BedBathandBeyond or Gerber or Evenflo cloth diapers on the floor of this container. Do not use terry cloth as the loops may snag the birds toes. Put a heating pad under it on low and use a reptile-type stick-on thermometer to monitor cage temp. We got the thermometer at Petco - for about $6.99 and the faunarium container was about $11.99 also from Petco. Approx cage dimensions are 12"wX8"dX10"H. Get the size where the trap door in the lid needs to be just large enough to put your hand and forearm through.

Some folks use a show cage instead, but we found this type easier to keep clean. We bought 2 of them so you can prepare a clean cage to transfer the sick bird into each day and have it ready next to the dirty cage when you want to move the bird from the dirty one to the clean hospital cage. It is less stress on the bird than trying to catch him/her additional times for moving.

We bought our cages from Tom Bashaw of Sonora Calif. at http://www.thecountryroost.com/ When you get a flight cage, choose one that is usually designated a "breeder cage" as they have a removable divider in the middle - this makes cleaning it with the birds inside really easy.

We use the Conair Steam Cleaner to really give a thorough cleaning weekly and sponge it clean daily. The tray at the bottom removes likes a drawer - you can just change the newspapers in it daily without disturbing the birds at all.

A few words about purchasing cages:

If you can wait for the next (usually every other month) BirdMart, it is almost always WAY less expensive to buy your cage there than going to any pet store in town.

Choose a size you can easily live with that will of course, also suit your birds' needs. Generally the more flight room small birds have, the better.

If you choose a large bird that sits most of the time rather than flies, vertical cages will work. Read any bird discussion group for a few weeks and see what others who have been there, done that, have to say about what kind of cage to get and which to avoid.

Employees at pet stores are not always well-trained and knowledgeable, and remember, their job is to sell you something.

Calendar of BirdMart Shows 
in Santa Clara area