FINCHforum

In the cages, around the cages etc??? Anyone use live plants? I use a few fake in cages, but live outside in the room.

Do ya think your birds are happier with the greenery ? do they like hiding in it?

For the moment I use fake Ivy around my cage. But I hope to find some nice looking real plants in the future. I have seen some photos in the Gallery where live plants are used in and out and it looks darn nice!

I would like to think our birdies like the greenery.....fake or real. I like greenery...fake or real too!

I tried to put some ivy in and it drove my birds crazy. At first I wrapped it on the perches and they didn't like that it blocked their access to the twigs. Then I noticed that they were puffing and blinking, so I removed it immediately. LESSON?: WASH IT OFF FIRST. I'm going to wash the stuff and then reintroduce it as greenery and keep it of the perches. We'll see. Would appreciate any advice on that score....

I use sticks from the backyard as natural perches. I've heard there are those against this but if it were so bad I wouldnt have any birds in the yard either. Been doing this for well over 20 yrs.

I like to use natural branches from my yard as well. I use willow branches after washing and sterilizing them.

It has been proven it is better for the birds feet to have different size and shapes of perches to help prevent bumblefoot and other foot problems. Maybe not so much with Finches? I know the larger birds have more of a problem.

rfn1 wrote:I tried to put some ivy in and it drove my birds crazy. At first I wrapped it on the perches and they didn't like that it blocked their access to the twigs. Then I noticed that they were puffing and blinking, so I removed it immediately. LESSON?: WASH IT OFF FIRST. I'm going to wash the stuff and then reintroduce it as greenery and keep it of the perches. We'll see. Would appreciate any advice on that score....

If you mean real ivy plants, then that is toxic as far as I know.

I had real plants in my large flight and boy does it make a difference, however the maintenance is hard with birds around (when it's not a large aviary) as they pick on everything and Zebras would sit on them and it's really hard to get the poop off fragile leaves.

Now I'm thinking of getting fake ones soon and will try to decorate outside more than the inside and see how it turns out

Along with being a finch addict, I'm a horticulturist as well. I have more house plants than I can shake a stick at!!

The most intersting reaction that I had was from a Pathos plant. It is a very common house plant usually found in grocery store florist shops. They loved it! If I placed the Pathos next to the cage and allowed some of the vines grow around and through the cage, they would hide in and nibble on the leaves.

They did not care for the vines to grow on the top of the cage. They refused to go near the top of the cage if the vines were on the top, but they did chirp with curiosity when the vines were on the sides of the cage.

And yes...ivy is toxic...big no no!!!!

hilljack13 wrote:I use sticks from the backyard as natural perches. I've heard there are those against this but if it were so bad I wouldnt have any birds in the yard either. Been doing this for well over 20 yrs.

YEA for you, I actually dont use twigs or sticks what I did when clearing our property was get pieces of funky shaped roots, were talkin these babie swere far underground. then sterilized and thats whT I use.

Birds LOVE them they can rub beaks on them run up and down as there twisty and stuff.
When I run out i will definately use some bird safe type branches ..


As for your fake greenery After washing. lol try hanging a clump just down from the roof, mine hide behind hang off of, its cute.

I have a lot of fake greenery in and around my finch cages.....I like the fake stuff because I can WASH it!

I try to buy the softest fake stuff that I can find - with no sharp edges or little pieces that could be pecked off and eaten.

I drape some fake stuff around the cages too and have a few live plants on top of the cages. It softens the industrial look of the cages since they are in my living room.

I love live plants also and have a huge collection next to the cages. My friends call my house "jungley".

I also use fake plants inside my breeding cages--some of the birds have built nests inside, or on top of, the plastic plants. I use natural branches from shrubs in my yard for perches. I have tried setting small pots of live herbs in the cages, but in a matter of days, they are either destroyed or look disgusting. If you have an aviary, live plants definitely work, but I would pot them up so the plants can be cycled out of the aviary when they get a little beat-up looking.

My finches love the fake ivy I have in the cage. I notice with all the perches, nests, and baskets around = they love to sleep in the greens.

Christine

I noticed that my Zebras seem to like pulling off some of the smaller fake Ivy leaves as I am starting to find them on the floor of the cage....hmmmmm....busy little buggers!

Better pulling fake leaves than feathers!

Gosh...I never thought if it that way....Ok...off to Walmart for more fake IVY...better to have naked Ivy than naked birds!

yea fake ivy easier to replace, lol