New Flight Cage
Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 2:36 pm
Hi all —
I'm new to keeping finches (although I do have a little experience with canaries), and I've found posts on this website very helpful.
Last week, I bought two darling Lady Gouldian cocks — both red-head normal, but one with a purple breast ("Flitter") and one with a white one ("Flicker"). At the breeder's suggestion, I purchased a flight cage, choosing a Prevue F030. The birds seem to love it, although the bottom tray wants to fall out, as its lip doesn't fully fit in the track.
To work around the problem, I laid newspaper covered with paper towels on the grate.
I placed four manzanita branches in the cage, I hope in such a way to allow for plenty of flight space. In the next week or two, I also plan to add some live, finch-friendly "viney" plants on the window sill behind the cage to drape in, both for aesthetic appeal and so the birds will have something to play with/nibble on. I also have a full-spectrum light on a timer, and I try to turn off other lights in my office in such a way that F&F have time to get settled before everything is turned off. The small aquarium to the right of the cage has a blue "moon" light at night, and my computer's battery backup and the cable router also have a similar blue glow, so F&F seem to have plenty of light to avoid night frights.
Since the cage is in my office, I'm trying to minimize mess. Within the first 15 minutes of setup, I learned that the horizontal millet spray holder on the back of the cage was a huge mistake. Of course, the birds love it, and husks went flying everywhere! As I result, I installed a pair of wild bird feeders/waterers about six inches into the cage, which I hope will minimize floor scatter. The birds have accepted them well, and when they finish the current millet, I'll remove that holder and hang a spray from one of the perches, so hopefully, the husks will fall into the cage instead of on the floor.
Right now, I estimate about two thirds of the width and the entire length of the upper part of the cage is completely clear for flight. The lower half is about the same.
Any comments/suggestions to help make my new feathered friends comfy would be much appreciated!
Thanks.
I'm new to keeping finches (although I do have a little experience with canaries), and I've found posts on this website very helpful.
Last week, I bought two darling Lady Gouldian cocks — both red-head normal, but one with a purple breast ("Flitter") and one with a white one ("Flicker"). At the breeder's suggestion, I purchased a flight cage, choosing a Prevue F030. The birds seem to love it, although the bottom tray wants to fall out, as its lip doesn't fully fit in the track.
To work around the problem, I laid newspaper covered with paper towels on the grate. I placed four manzanita branches in the cage, I hope in such a way to allow for plenty of flight space. In the next week or two, I also plan to add some live, finch-friendly "viney" plants on the window sill behind the cage to drape in, both for aesthetic appeal and so the birds will have something to play with/nibble on. I also have a full-spectrum light on a timer, and I try to turn off other lights in my office in such a way that F&F have time to get settled before everything is turned off. The small aquarium to the right of the cage has a blue "moon" light at night, and my computer's battery backup and the cable router also have a similar blue glow, so F&F seem to have plenty of light to avoid night frights.
Since the cage is in my office, I'm trying to minimize mess. Within the first 15 minutes of setup, I learned that the horizontal millet spray holder on the back of the cage was a huge mistake. Of course, the birds love it, and husks went flying everywhere! As I result, I installed a pair of wild bird feeders/waterers about six inches into the cage, which I hope will minimize floor scatter. The birds have accepted them well, and when they finish the current millet, I'll remove that holder and hang a spray from one of the perches, so hopefully, the husks will fall into the cage instead of on the floor.
Right now, I estimate about two thirds of the width and the entire length of the upper part of the cage is completely clear for flight. The lower half is about the same.
Any comments/suggestions to help make my new feathered friends comfy would be much appreciated!
Thanks.
Good luck & have fun 
The birds are slinging food everywhere, including the water dispenser, and most of it is on the bottom of the cage. Just ordered the hoppers that Sally suggested. Thanks again!
