FINCHforum

OK, Canary experts...I am itching to bring Gretel (my female American Singer) down to the main level, in my family room. She needs to be in a cage that is hung from the ceiling, so that she is safe from my kitties. Any suggestions on a cage that can be hung and is also big enough to accommodate her flight needs? I haven't found anything that seems suitable and was hoping someone may have a recommendation. Thanks

Ginene, why can't the cage that you have your canary in be used?
lou

lou
She is in the top part of a bi-level cage. I have a pair of BC Zebras in the bottom half of the cage. Each level is 30"Wx18"Dx25"H. All of the hanging cages max out at 24"W. She has to be high enough so that the cats cant jump up and swat the cage. My 1 year old cat, cut his front paw open twice on a flight cage. I since moved all of my birds up to a spare room, for their safety and the safety of my nutty cats. I may have to talk my husband into building something. That will not be easy...

Ginene, how about using a scatt matt? you can use any cage i would think, use a i-hook screwed to the ceiling then attach a string to the cage and through the hook to lower and raise the cage, you get the idea?
lou

Most of the double breeder cages (the 24 and 36 inch) that I've seen have a "handle" on the top and can be hung as long as you don't make the contents inside too heavy. Hopefully you know to never use round cages for canaries and do try to place the cage in a corner to provide the bird with a sense of security. Bob

30 Seconds to Bob
Thanks, Bob. The cages they advertise for canaries are ridiculous...I'm looking for something at least 30"Wx18"Dx24H. I have a beautiful corner in my family room near a window. I may have to build something, and just be sure to anchor it into a beam. I want her to have plenty of room to stretch her wings. Something 30"Wx20"Dx30"H would be perfect.

Ginene, how about using a scatt matt? you can use any cage i would think, use a i-hook screwed to the ceiling then attach a string to the cage and through the hook to lower and raise the cage, you get the idea?

Hey Lou, I have no idea what a scat matt is...but I am curious to know, please. I agree that I can probably hang any cage as long as the base is secure and I can be sure it stays level. May have to use hooks on all 4 corners to ensure it remains level when she takes off and lands...

Find the cage you want her in, then adapt it for hanging.
Hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot sell decorative chain off a roll, I'd run chain up all four corners from the base, not just the top, so that the cage is supported from the bottom. Maybe even have it run under the cage, and going up each corner. Secure the cage to the chain with nylon zip ties or with wire, then hang it from either four hooks, one at each corner, or two hooks, one at each end that the two chains at that end come together to.

Most cages the handle at the top is just for a quick pick up and move, not designed to support the cage for any length of time.

Also, zip tie all parts of the cage together to strengthen it to make sure it can't come apart on its own, or if bumped. And I'd add little metal clips or twist ties on the cage doors, again, make sure no one gets out or in by accident.

And if the cat starts eyeing the cage, Squirt Bottle. Silent, surprise attack when he least expects it. That way, you create some paranoia, and they don't figure out that you have to be there in order for them to get squirted, they never know when it's coming. I also park the squirt bottle in front of the place it's protecting, pointed out at where the cat will come from, again, a little intimidation goes a long way.

(Long time ago, had a roommate who also had a cat, taught her the squirt bottle technique. One day, both our cats were playing chase, and went up on the kitchen table, a big no no. She couldn't find the squirt bottle, so she grabbed a bottle of maple syrup, held it out and went "sssssst ssssssst", and both cats fled in terror. Generally, they learn quickly.)

Nerien
Hey Ruth, Thanks for the tips!!! I think that is probably what I will have to do, if I want to move Gretel into the family room. I was hoping for something easy, as both Joe's think she belongs in the bird room and I didn't want to involve them in her move. She was much friendlier when we first got her from the pet shop. Since being in the bird room, she's less comfortable around people. If she had a companion I wouldn't even think of moving her, but she's alone in the top part of the bi-level cage. She tries so hard to peek to the cage below to see the zebras. Its so sad (for me, anyway ). Well, until I find a cage that I like for her, she will remain in the bird room. After all...she is a bird and she should have birds for company, not people (the words of Big and Lil Joe's)...

Well, hey, if they think she should have birds for company, and right now she has to be alone in a cage, then they are telling you you need more birds, right? She should be with her own kind, so you have to get her at least one of her own kind...

more finches. more birds. finchaholic out of control....

Nerien
Lol!!! I may wind up alone with the birds, if I keep adding to my flock . Actually...that doesn't sound so bad

With a couple of hooks or shelf brackets, you could mount in on the wall rather than hang it from the ceiling. It would probably be a bit more secure and stable that way, too.
Just a thought.

Just a word of caution: Never trust a cat with a bird completely. When my daughter was little we also had 2 canaries in a cage mounted high on the wall, in her room. The cat managed to jump up, cling to the cage and insure one of the canaries so badly reaching into the cage with a paw that it died a few hours later. I would never mix cats and birds again! If you can keep the cat out of the family room when nobody's in the room, I would do that.

With a couple of hooks or shelf brackets, you could mount in on the wall rather than hang it from the ceiling. It would probably be a bit more secure and stable that way, too.

That's a really good idea...but I think Ursula is right...My kitties are crafty, and they may figure out a way to get to the cage. I think Gretel will have to remain in the bird room with the rest of the birds.

How about some type of flight cage made from a cabinet with an acrylic/glass front? You would have to make sure to have some cat proof ventilation slots so the birds aren't too cold or too hot. That would be not only nice for the birds but also pretty to look at. The cats would soon figure out that they really can't get in.

I didn't think of that option way back (over 20 years ago!). Nobody I knew had birds in anything other than a cage. (I would now not use a small cage anymore either that I used back then. It was really quite small for 2 canaries. )

Ginene, a scatt matt has an electric current running through it, it's made for this sort of stuff
lou