Cage cover and/or see catcher design?

[Thalia]

Hi all!

I just got a new double flight, the only place for it is in my living room, so it's going to need a cover and seed catcher. I've got a sewing machine, so I was planning on making what I needed. Does anyone have a design for such a thing? I'm kind of new to sewing, so I am a little worried I may not be able to make something that works.

Thanks!!

Thalia

[delray]

Mine are in the living room and u don't use a Cover. They are fine without it. We just put it on when our cleaning people come. Can't wait to see your future birds!!!!

[finchmix22]

I have a double flight in my family room. I put one side against the outdoor window and the two sides have towels clipped to them, then the front has a sheer drape I bought at Target. So, I can see through it and they can see me, but they don't get the A/C directily on them and my cats can't scratch them. LOL. They sure like to watch them though. Post some pics.

I would love to hear other ideas for keeping seed off the floor!! I have that problem no matter what, so I end up sweeping all the time. I'm afraid to use a vaccum in case it spooks the finches. Thoughts?

[Thalia]

LOL Mine are going to have to get used to the vacuum! I have 4 cats, 2 dogs and a bunny all on hardwood floors, so we vacuum twice weekly.

I made a seed catcher a long time ago, it was pretty simple, I'll monkey with some cloth and see how it goes. I'm thinking of putting elastic around the top to hold it on and then having panels that I can flip up during the day and fold down at night. I was thinking of doing something with velcro or a zipper, I'm going to talk with the ladies at the fabric store and see what they think. If what I do works, I'll post pics and details for how I did it

My partner is a night owl, he often gets up in the middle of the night for a midnight snack and our living room is very bright in the mooring, so I don't really want the birdies singing at 3 am, like the wild ones currently are

I will definitely post pics once the cage is set up, it's pretty stark right now, with the stock plastic food cups and wooden dowel perches. I'm going to town soon and will do some shopping and hopefully find some nicer stuff!

OOH, Deb! I think we have the same set up! I love the idea of something sheer over the front.

[delray]

finchmix22 I have this catcher . It helps minimize some of the mess. We use a vacuum though and they don't seem too scared about it,

[Colt]

Deborah the vacuum has never bothered mine. They are actually more scared of the broom...

[wildbird]

I have one large seed cup in each cage & only fill it about 1/4 full. Also have a tube feeder for canary seed. A reptile food dish is on the floor with small pebbles in it which I add mixed seed to for them to forage for. Seed on the floor has not been a problem. But then I have neat Java Sparrows.

[MiaCarter]

I gave up long ago on keeping the seeds in the cage. LOL We just sweep up daily.
I've found the millet, clipped to the side of the cage, is actually messier than the seed cups.

But I have a friend who uses a big seed dish and it's on the floor in the center of the cage. Keeps everything very tidy. Just need to be sure to keep the perches away from it to limit pooping in the food.

A caution on the cage cover: be sure you use a fabric with a tight weave.
Years ago, I decided to use a fleece blanket to cover the cage. One of the birds landed on the side of the cage and got his toenail caught up in the fibers and he was stuck hanging there, fluttering.
I found him quickly and there was no harm done, but it could have been bad if he was like that all night.
I don't cover at all now. Just isn't necessary.

So that made me very careful to avoid exposing them to any fabrics with a loose weave or fibers.

[Thalia]

I picked up some nice cotton cloth yesterday, it's gloomy today, so after I get some of my other house chores done I'm going to start on this project. I'll post pics when I'm done (maybe today, maybe next weekend, I'm a slow sewer lol). I've decided to use elastics to keep the top and seed catcher on, then I'm doing 5 panels for the sides and will use velcro to tie up the front during the daytime.

[delray]

Ok cool keep us posted on it.

[sgolds]

I have found that to cut down on seed mess, it really helps to hang a feeder away from the edges of the cage. I found this little nut holder at a yard sale and thought it would make a cute finch feeder.

[Thalia]

Ooh! Cool idea Sgolds! I'll have to remember that! There's a pet store going out of business so I popped in and got some seed feeders, now I need to find some tube drinkers and decorations.

I got most of the panels hemmed yesterday, I just need to figure out how I'm going to do the top and elastic. I also had to make a little strip of material to go around where the cage divider normally go, there's a gap of over an inch, which a wee finch would definitely be able to escape from.

[MiaCarter]

sgolds --- Love it!
It has a great look!
My friend has hers on the floor of her cage in the center, and she gets nearly no seeds on the outside, but even without perches above, there's the issue of poop.

But this seems like it would largely eliminate the poop problem if you hung it, without a perch above.

I Googled "nut holder" and didn't come up with anything really similar, so I think this sort of thing must be limited to a thrift store/yard sale find.

Though I do have a home pottery studio (actually, to be accurate, I have the makings of a home pottery studio....still all boxed up from my move! Gotta get it all set up again!) I could easily make something like this!

ETA --- sgolds , how is that big stick held up in there?
Is that a homemade perch?
I have a few cool sticks that I wanted to use as perches. Too heavy to pound a screw into the end, for use with a wing nut and washer.
My idea was to cut them to the width of the cage, then put a screw in each end -- something that would fit through the bars -- and I could rest them on one of the horizontal bars. But I'm thinking there's probably a better way!

[Ginene]

I gave up on seed catchers a long time ago. I vacuum my bird room everyday. My guys sing like CRAZY when the vacuum is on. They're a very silly bunch

[sgolds]

ETA --- sgolds , how is that big stick held up in there?
Is that a homemade perch?
I have a few cool sticks that I wanted to use as perches. Too heavy to pound a screw into the end, for use with a wing nut and washer.
My idea was to cut them to the width of the cage, then put a screw in each end -- something that would fit through the bars -- and I could rest them on one of the horizontal bars. But I'm thinking there's probably a better way!

Yes, definitely homemade. It came with the cage though, I didn't make it, but it would be easy to do. All it is is a stick cut smooth from a saw and a hook with a screw on the end. There is a hook on both ends and they hook thru the bars on both sides. Very simple, yet sturdy!