FINCHforum

Hi again
I've decided on a flight cage I want to get for 'Squeak' and 'Squawk' but I have a few questions. They 'seem' to be displaying signs of wanting to build a nest (I could be wrong)....Is it ok to put a nest in the cage they are in now and move it to the new cage maybe next week when it arrives? The cage has a wire floor with a pull out tray underneath for cleaning....is it best to put newspaper on the floor or dont they mind the bars underfoot? Squeak only has one leg (the other is a stump) so I'm worried she may not cope with the bars. And should the cage (bars all round) be covered on 3 sides and fully covered at night for security and darkness for them? I've read you should and I've also ready you shouldnt...quite confusing!

Cheers!
Chainey

As far as covering the cage, it depends on where it is located and how much disturbance at night. My bird room is separate from the house, so no need to cover, though I provide a small night light. My quarantine cage, which is in use right now, is in my computer room, so when I work on the computer at night, I disturb the birds. I still don't cover the cage, they are doing fine. Covering three sides is done sometimes by breeders who have multiple cages to give privacy to each cage, but you won't need to do that.

I wouldn't put a nest in the present cage, waiting a bit won't hurt. I am in the process of changing most of my breeding cages over to ones that have a removable wire grate, so I take it out and put newspaper on the floor. I love not having to clean grates! However, if you have just one or two cages, it might not be such a big chore. I can't even guess at whether Squeak will have a problem with the bars--does her present cage not have them?

Hi, thanks for your reply
The cage they are in at the moment is a borrowed parrot cage (with chicken wire around it to keep them in) that has a flat bottom so Squeak has had no trouble getting around. She does spend most of her time on the perch but I want to make her life as easy as possible considering she only has one leg to get around on. Just amazing how they adapt.

I'm really enjoying getting to know these little creatures & all that goes with them!

Chainey

Finch Cages ahould not becovered. Finches spazz... a lot. And they also have bad eye sight in the dark. So to avoid injury i suggest you not cover thet cage.

If you have a nest you will have eggs. Wich will make it hard to switch cages if eggs are laid. SO I would wait until you put them in the new cage.

Also, I don't remeber if yo said this on this post of another one but: The wire at the bottom a cage is just a pain in the butt. So in my old cge I took it out. This cage was bought for $20 at a garage sale (Would have origanly been $100) adn it didn't have that in there.

I never thought of taking it out, I might give that a go. I have newspaper on top at the moment and will see how that goes...so far so good but not having the bars at the bottom would be better still....thanks for the tip!

Chainey