Reusable cage liners?

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Reusable cage liners?

Post by j » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:06 am

Does anybody use cage liners that can be washed and used again? I don't get newspapers (although I'm sure I could find some somewhere), and don't want to pay for paper liners that I'm just going to throw away.

I know many guinea pig owners who use fleece over towels to line their cages. Would this be something that could be done with birds? I'd think they might pick at it if they could reach it, but fleece doesn't have any loose threads. Some of you use fleece houses/tunnels/tents for the birds, right?

Thoughts?

Would it make a difference if the fleece is under the wire cage bottom or on top of it?

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Kiko
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Post by Kiko » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:09 pm

WHile you could wash fleece, what about a heavy plastic, or even better if you can find a piece of organic flooring (like vinyl but not) that wouldn't have any smell or off-gasing that would be bad for the finches. It would wash easier than trying to get those poops out of fleece. You would have to hand wash the fleece first, to get all the lumps off it.

Just a thought!
Lynn

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Post by j » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:49 pm

Hmmm....it'd be pretty hard to find a good plastic or tile that doesn't off-gas, I think. Even real linoleum (all-natural materials) has a very strong smell to it.

I'm not too worried about washing fleece, though. I think a quick shake in the trash can to get all the seed hulls off...or maybe brush it off with a little whisk broom? We use cloth diapers, so our washing machine can definitely get poop out of cloth. Granted, the kids' poops don't harden into cement like bird poop does...hmm... :lol:

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Post by Kiko » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:09 pm

I used to use fleece for my rats cages, and I had a bucket of water in the laundry tub that I used to throw them in every day, which would soak off the icky bits. Then I used to wring them out and do a wash a couple of times a week of all the fleeces. The rats pee really did a number on the fleeces though, they would only be good for a couple of months on rotation and then I would want to throw them out. Because of the pee I stopped using fleece, but it is a good idea.
Lynn

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Post by FeatherHarp » Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:34 am

Ewwww....are we talking bird diapers here? :-#

I will keep using newspaper. :wink:

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Post by poohbear » Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:37 am

I use newspaper...cheap and absorbent...plus I take great pleasure in putting pictures of obnoxious politicians etc. face up for the birds to mess on.
Paul.

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Post by Sally » Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:27 am

How about checking with friends or neighbors, to see if someone would save their newspapers for you?

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Post by FeatherHarp » Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:28 pm

Or you can check your local library...they always have daily newspapers that need recycling. :wink:

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Post by ckoral » Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:05 pm

I know this is an old topic, but everyone thinks about it. Some put paper down, others put sand down. Bottom line is the worst part about cleaning a cage is the bottom.

Why not a running water recirculating filtered bath? It may even be possible to hit the water with UV, then the birds could use it to drink. I am sure going to the floor to drink is natural, and UV would ensure organisms are dead before water gets returned.

I come from the salt water hobby and I am thinking about the design of my cage. The last time I had finches was decades ago. With my salt water hobby, we automate stuff like there is no tomorrow. It seems like such a simple cleanup job could be automated somehow. My thoughts are a thin sheet of water would ensure the floor stays free of debrise.


Am I nuts? Has this been done before?

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Post by CandoAviary » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:49 pm

I would hate to think of what would happen if a chick was tossed out of the nest, then caught in the rapids.... going over the edge to be caught in the sterilizer....Yikes!!!! Not to mention all the seed sprouting in the cracks...I just don't see this system working for the bird cage.

I had a really cool antique 6 sided cage that I kept a singing canary in years ago.... It was a hand made wrought iron beauty that had a metal tray. The metal did not hold up well to the poop. I found some water proof place mats and sewed them to the shape needed. They worked great, looked good, and could be wiped or washed in the machine.
I hate the way newspapers look...plus I hate the ink soiling bird feathers.
If you want to use paper...I buy the rools from ABBA for my cage bank or if you don't need waterproof you can buy rolls of white butcher paper or brown packaging paper. These can be found relatively cheap from suppliers.

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Post by dfcauley » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:04 am

Those placemats would be great for clean up. But personally I would not want my birds walking around on those slippery things. :lol:

I have found nothing better than newspaper. I use it in cages on top of the grates and also on the floor of my aviary under the perches.

I have never had a problem with ink on the feathers of my birds.
It is easy to keep clean. Just pick it up.... throw it away and put down fresh each day. I do change it every day. This keeps them from accidentally ingesting poop while foraging on the floor.

I also use poohbears idea with the politicians face up. :lol:


I do agree with sheet of water is not such a good idea for many reasons.
Donna

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Post by CandoAviary » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:05 pm

The place mats I used were a texured bamboo type fabric. It was a nylon? tweed? type fabric made by martha stewart and purchased at K-mart. The birds did not slip, did not chew, they looked great, had no odor, and last forever.
Placemats have come a long way since the plastic coated flower scenes.............. :D

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Post by dfcauley » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:12 pm

CandoAviary wrote:The place mats I used were a texured bamboo type fabric. It was a nylon? tweed? type fabric made by martha stewart and purchased at K-mart. The birds did not slip, did not chew, they looked great, had no odor, and last forever.
Placemats have come a long way since the plastic coated flower scenes.............. :D
ahhh okay.... it has been a long time I looked at place mats. I do not use them. :lol: I am making a trip to K-Mart this weekend to get some shoe boxes.... Believe it or not I am going to TRY to harvest mealworms. :roll:

I said try.... :lol:

I will have to check those placemats out. :lol:
Donna

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Post by hfentj » Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:13 pm

I use puppy pad or bed pads. I use the bed pad in my cages over the wire on the bottom on the inside of the cage. So if any babies fall out of the nest they will have a soft landing. Also they are large enough to go up the sides of the cage to catch seeds. Most of mine I got at yard sales for very little. :)

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Post by nixity » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:57 pm

I use cheap towels for my two flights and a tray bottom wire 3' flight.
I got about 10 from Target for $1.99 each.
I have enough to where I can pull them up and I have enough clean extras to lay down in their place.
I pull them up at the end of every week, shake them out outside, bang them against the brick - throw them in the washing machine on the HOT cycle with gentle detergent, and they are good as new after drying.

Simple, small initial investment, very little time devoted to cleaning, and I don't have to buy newspapers, paper towels, shavings, etc., etc. every month.

Some others have expressed concern over their toenails getting caught. I have never had this happen. The cheaper the towels, the smaller the loops, the less likely this problem. Also - maintaining your birds nails so that they are not absurdly overgrown also makes this a non-issue.

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