Astro Turf Is In!

[amandap]

The astro turf has been installed in the top story of the aviary. The Zebs seem to like it.

If anyone is interested, here's what I used. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P9Q ... UTF8&psc=1

[debbie276]

Looks great!!!

[delray]

amandap looks awesome!!!! Nice aviary,

[Acky]

I always like how the birds get confused. It is like they are saying to themselves "WOW! We have been set free" Looks really good.

[lovezebs]

amandap

Looks lovely, Amanda.

How do you clean it? Can you pull it out and hose it off?

~Elana~

[finchmix22]

amandap
That looks great, but do they try to pull out the blades of astro? LOL. I'd really love to remodel my bird room to make an indoor aviary with glass sides so we can see them from my family room etc. But, too much work, so I"ll enjoy your setup from here. LOL Thanks.

[dunker817]

It looks wonderful in your aviary. I'm also interested in how it cleans up.

[MiaCarter]

I second (or third) the request for info on how it's cleaned!

My worry would be with spills or splashed water from baths getting trapped beneath the astro turf and forming mold. Any area that gets wet, dark and lacks airflow gets moldy here in Florida, even indoors. Too much humidity, but I bet it wouldn't be a problem in a less humid locale.

It actually looks quite good! Not as cheesy as I imagined it would look.

Unfortunately, I don't think it would work in my bird room due to the hookbills who would try to pluck out the blades.

[amandap]

Thanks for the positive feedback, everyone!

MiaCarter dunker817 lovezebs - Regarding cleaning:
This level has glass under the astro (it's just a shelf for the cabinet that I put back in to separate the bad kids) and the bottom of the cabinet I covered in a sturdy adhesive vinyl flooring before putting in the astro. I had been covering both in newspaper, but didn't like the way it looked. I got this idea from another post on the forum. I can pick up little messes with a paper towel and then take the whole thing out to hose off and dry each weekend. I got it especially for the wet messes; the newspaper got gross too fast (after baths especially). The astro turf lets the messes fall into it and keeps it off of the birds' feet. And if the mess is big, I can just lift it and wipe under really easily.

In other news, the garland I had hung vertically at first is now around the bottom and the birds LOVE it down there. One of the zeb boys sleeps in it every night. It's so cute because of course we can see him through the glass, but he feels like he's hiding. This is the next best thing to a nest, I suppose. I can't leave a nest in there even though that group is all boys because the two society boys get too territorial about their nest - they are expert nesters!!

[amandap]

finchmix22, I love sitting and watching them! We just bought an old etagere from CraigsList, took the back and one door off and replaced them with wire from Home Depot. Less than $100 and a few hours all in.

When we buy a new house later this year, I hope to get a larger hutch and do the same thing again.

[lovezebs]

amandap

Cool idea, bith the astro turf, and recycling furniture into bird flughts. Keep them ideas coming.

~Elana~

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter

Mia, if you buy enough of this turf, to cut out two sets for ech fligut, you could have one in, one washed and drying. I'm thinking, that if you put it on top of the grid (instead of papers) it would have air circulation from the bottom (just above the tray) and then shouldn't get moldy.

What d'you think?

I might consider it for the bottomd of my flights. More appraling than newspapers or damp paper towels, I think.

~Elana~

[Sally]

I'm liking the looks of that, think it might work even in flight cages. My birds always have access to the bottom of the cage, since I don't use grates, and many of the waxbills like to spend a lot of time on the bottom. I'm thinking that they may feel like it is more natural than the white or brown paper I am using.

[lovezebs]

Sally

My thoughts exactly and it is more pleasant to look at. As mentioned above, as long as you have two pieces for each flight or cage, I think its a great idea. Will definitely have to look into it.

~Elana~

[amandap]

I have to give credit to Sunbay. Her (?) post was where I originally got the idea. So many great ideas from so many people on this board. I appreciate you all.