Bedding - What to Use on Bottom of Cage

[kenny]

i have done and still do use sand, you can sieve the pooh out for a few days as it dries pretty quick on sand and when i think it needs renewing i just vac it up!

ken

[martin]

If it's an aviary, I suggest soil and gravel. Bring nature to them. I also stopped feeding them in dishes. After handfeeding them every morning, I merely throw whatever their menu is on the ground. It's nice to see them get in between the gravel too. Finches love the ground.

If it's a cage, there will be more considerations since I assume it is indoors. But then again, it is how you want to serve your birds in trying to bring nature to them. Adding a tray with soil and gravel on it would be nice.

Observe your baby finches. The first place they spend time in is in the bottom of the cages. Even as adults, they always spend time in the bottom if there is soil. I am not particular or nervous about other organisms that the soil will bring because they will always be on top of the food chain if there is bio diversity within the cage.

When I lose some finches, I charge it to nature. Last month I had five new chicks and one died. It left me with two baby pairs from different parents. Nature takes over sometimes. We can only do so much but we should remember that what we do should be more for them than for us. Without that responsibility, we should probably think if we are truly capable of owning them.

[Hoji]

I use newspaper (no grate) under an assortment big rocks, tiles (12"x12" rough fake stone), potted plants, and 'ponds'. The rocks and tiles are great for their nails, they love to climb around on the big rocks, different shapes and so forth. The 'ponds' are 10" clay plant saucers set into plastic plant saucers, really easy to clean everyday. The clay gives them footing and the plastic keeps the floor dry. I also use smaller clay saucers to offer commercial egg food with seeds and also for fresh foods. Seeds are really easy to sproat in them them 'cause you can keep them really damp by filling up the plastic under saucer with water as needed.
My flight is indoors on a large plastic table.

[Shy2]

I realize this is an old thread but is interesting, as I am a first time finch owner, and still learning. So far newspaper is working fine for me.

StevePax, I like the idea you had about using the packing paper and cutting it to size. Would make things a lot easier, as my newspaper doesn't fit nicely.

Hoji. do you have pictures of your table top avairy that you can share. I like the ideas you mention about the stones and saucers, but get seem to picture it in my head.

[Hoji]

I haven't been on for awhile. I'll see if I can get a couple of photos posted.

[fairestfinches]

We use oil dry.

Oil dry is just clay that has been fired at extremely high temps. It does not contain any of the harmful things that most cast litter conatains, and becuse of the way it is made it doesn't get mucky like cat litter when it gets moist.

Other than that we use butcher paper or news paper in our small hospital cages.

Sean

[Sandra]

I am using sand as bedding in some of my cages (thanks to debbie276), and I see them foraging around in it.

Sand, like the playsand? Never thought of doing that.

[Sally]

I am using builder's sand--at Lowe's, I go in the area that has cement supplies and get the cheapest sand they sell. The bags are very heavy, and when putting sand in trays, it adds a lot of weight to the trays. I started out putting the sand fairly deep, but now put a lot less. With my plastic trays, I am putting support under the middle of the tray to keep it from bowing. I hoped it would be a bedding that would stay in the trays, but my birds are flinging it all about too--like a beach on my birdroom floor!

I should probably split this off into a separate topic, since this thread is about grit and vitamins. If there is further discussion on the sand, I will do so.

[Sandra]

I am using builder's sand--at Lowe's, I go in the area that has cement supplies and get the cheapest sand they sell.

Am wondering, is the sand still working for your finches? I guess there is no chemicals in those sand bags?

Am so tempted to try it out. Seems like a easy cleaning, as you just scoop droppings out. I have playsand from Toys R Us ... might try it if its safe for my Gouldians if they ever nibble on it.

[debbie276]

For about 6 years now I used sand in my aviary's without any problem. I also use the contractors sand in home depot or lowes. You just use a reptile scoop to strain out all the mess. Best part is you can compost it or even sprinkle it under bushes rather then fill your garbage can.

[MissEdie]

So many good idea and information, i can't decide what to use.

[DanteD716]

I use newspaper, but I used to use corncob when I only had a couple birds, now that I have downsized I may go back to it!!

I used a scoop for wet chunks to trow away, and cleaned the entire thing every week, it has a glue smell to it, but actually makes the cage seem fresher, never had any molding problems. And newspaper smells horrible when it gets wet

[Sandra]

For about 6 years now I used sand in my aviary's without any problem. I also use the contractors sand in home depot or lowes. You just use a reptile scoop to strain out all the mess. Best part is you can compost it or even sprinkle it under bushes rather then fill your garbage can.

I might ask my husband to pick up some sand at Home Depot ... any ingredient in those bags that I should avoid?

Any of those good? Is playsand also good?

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-co ... 0kg/902210

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-sa ... 0kg/902201

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-sa ... 0kg/902208

I have those Vision cages, the bottom is full like a large basket, so will be perfect for sand, can put in about 2 inches

[MissEdie]

This company(http://www.mylivingdesign.com/index.php ... &Itemid=53) that the cage came from(well I got it from a nursing home) is coming out today to finish setting it up (and help teach me how to take care of things),Uses corn cob bedding.Seems it will need alot of it ,as big as it is. I don't know about sand.It will need a lot of it also,but sounds easy to take care of(scooping and all).
This is the first experience with birds my husband has had and it is gonna be on such a grand scale,I'm hoping to make it a pleasant experience.No Smells and such (LOL , his nose smells the slightest odors). He isn't sure of this whole thing,lol.I would like something easy to take care of(being it is such a large aviary) and keeps smells down.

How often did you change all the corn cob?
How often does all the sand need to be changed?

[Sally]

I got mine at Lowe's, so the bag looks a little different from the third one you linked, but what I use is called Sakrete All-Purpose Sand. You would not want to use the center one you linked, as it has portland cement in it. Not familiar with the first one.

I have to use a fairly thin layer on my cages, especially the ones that have a plastic tray, as the sand is very heavy--a plastic tray will bow, unless it is sitting right on a shelf or table. I believe the Vision cage is designed so you could put the sand in the bottom, which is basically sitting right on the table.

I'm thinking I remember reading that Debbie used playsand one time, and found it a little too fine (but I am not positive about this).

One little note on the sand--I had cleaned out an empty cage and filled the trays with sand. Left it overnight, and the next day, there were little tiny pawprints in the sand! Put out a mousetrap, and last night, I hope I got the mouse that left the tracks.