Making HQ Single Flight Better

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:45 am

brilliant post Sally, should be a great help to others with the same cage

Post by **Sally** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:17 pm

I also have a couple of tips that apply just to the double flight, so will have to get busy and post those. I have slow dial-up, and Photobucket takes forever! I can fix dinner and eat it in the time it takes to upload photos.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:30 pm

Sally, you've been reading my mind! When I went to visit a Gouldian breeder friend of mine over the weekend, I noticed he didn't have any wire bottoms on any of his cages either.

With wire bottoms, I've noticed a lot of perfectly good food gets wasted. Mealworms or waxworms specifically.

I'm going to experiment around too. I have the same HQ cages and the tray in the "correct spot" still binds. I might just make a wooden frame the same dimensions as the removable wire bottom to close in that gap at the bottom of the cage.

Thanks for the ideas!

FinchezRule · Post by **FinchezRule** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:44 pm

I currently have the single, I was wondering if I buy the double flight would I be able to combine it with the single to have a super long flight cage?

Post by **Sally** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:06 am

FinchezRule - No, if you look at the cage setup, the cage sits on a stand, which is wider than the cage. The double flight has the same stand setup, so if you put a single and a double side-by-side, when the stands are touching, there will be a considerable gap between the sides of the cages.

atarasi - my trays also bind with them in the reversed position, and it is starting to bug me. I'm thinking if I insert the trays down one more slot, this leaves a huge gap on the front, but if I cut some plexiglass to make a sort of flap on the front, that would cover the gap. I'll get around to trying it one of these days--never enough time!

I got a HQ triple stack (which you can't find anywhere now), and right now I have to use the grates--this setup doesn't convert as easy as the single or double flight. Granted, the grates slide out like they were greased, and wipe down very easily, but whatever food falls thru is out of reach of the birds, and wasted. I also figure my birds wouldn't be walking on grates in the wild, so taking the grate out makes it more comfortable for them.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:08 am

Sally, if you're ever in the market for another HQ, I just purchased one from Amazon for $99. The best part is that the tray fits nicely and even better is that you can take out the bottom grate and move the tray in it's spot with binding. There is no gap at all and fits tightly against the bottom part of the cage. There is also a safety tab so the tray can't be taken out unless it's moved up.

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:51 pm

Sally,
You have given me a lot of great ideas on how to create a better environment for my future finches. I'll post some pics when I get it ready to accept my new 'kids'.

Keep the information flowing. I appreciate it.

Nipper06 · Post by **Nipper06** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:21 pm

I have the same cage and I put some plastic plants (vine types) in mine to give the birds more privacy - also makes it seem more natural. In this photo, I didn't put too many plants in but obviously I could do more. ]

Note: I put some plastics plants on top of the cage too and that adds to the "shelter" effect for birds while keeping some of the plants outside the cage where they'll stay cleaner!

I left the grate in mine but I put some things on the bottom of the cage - bowls, bathtub, millet spray. mineral block, etc so the birds have something to walk on other than perches.

FINCHforum

Making HQ Single Flight Better

Try plastic plants