FINCHforum

I've been trying to come up with something better to line the trays of my cages aside from newspaper. Some of my finches and budgies love to pull the paper through the grate and rip it up.

My idea was to go to Walmart and get some cloth cut to lay flat on the tray. I could then scrape the larger stuff into the trash before washing the cloth in the washer. Has anyone done this before, and is it even worth the time?

I use layers of butcher paper and just roll up the soiled sheet and toss

Raleighwheels

I use newspaper on top of the grate, with a layer of plain paper towel on top. The idea of cloth never crossed my mind. Are you going to make a bunch of these, or wash it everyday?

~Elana~

lovezebs wrote: Raleighwheels

I use newspaper on top of the grate, with a layer of plain paper towel on top. The idea of cloth never crossed my mind. Are you going to make a bunch of these, or wash it everyday?

~Elana~

My idea was to make a bunch and switch out soiled ones with fresh ones.

That's an interesting idea. I wonder what type of cloth would be most durable and practical.

I don't want to wash any more clothes than I have to wash now! I like to roll up the newspaper I have down over their grate and throw into the trash!

I buy puppy potty pads in bulk and use those in the breeder cages on top of the grate (which has saved some babies that fell out of the nest) and under the bathing bowls in the big flights to absorb the water that gets splashed out.

If you do the cloth thing, I would sew the edges so that when you wash it, it won't unravel. I can't think of what material you could use, and I'm thinking maybe something pre-quilted, which you can buy like that at hobby stores. I would avoid fleece or anything which seed and poo would stick into the fibers.

I use plastic placemats, which are washable and reusable. My birds don't have any problems walking on them & I only have to clean them once a week. I've used newspapers, butcher papers, cloth, etc. So far, I've found the placemats to be the best liner for all of my cages.

Thanks guys. I didn't even think about fraying. Maybe it is a bad idea. I just get sick of seeing all the storage room I dedicate to newspaper. Plus, I'm constantly throwing away a couple bags of newspapers from the trays. I just wanted to think of something that would reduce the amount of trash I throw away.

If you do try using cloth, I would suggest cutting it with those anti-aging shears.

Toddmin wrote: If you do try using cloth, I would suggest cutting it with those anti-aging shears.

I sew, but I don't know everything. What are anti-aging sheers? Do you mean pinking sheers?

KarenB, that was a typo (stupid autocorrect). I meant anti-fraying, LOL. Yes, the shears you mentioned, that cuts the fabric with little zig-zags. Yeah, you can tell don't sew...

LOL, okay. Yeah, those are called pinking sheers.

I buy rolls of blank newsprint from Uline (http://www.uline.com/BL_1954/Newsprint-Rolls) and line my cage with that, but I also put paper towels over the paper that I change every day.