FINCHforum

I'm finally done building my cage and I think nothing beats plexiglass when it comes to looks however there is one problem with plexiglass and that it seems to draw empty seed shells to it like a magnet -static- and I'm wondering if any body here has had the same problem and if there's something I can do to get rid of the static. I'm also wondering if this can pose any problems to the finches. Thanks

If I remember correctly, there is an anti-static spray that you can wipe on/off to control the static. I've heard of placing removeable stickers to warn the birds there is a barrier there!

Try wiping it down with a fabric softener sheet.

I agree with atasari that you want to place something to let them know the glass is there. The aviary I used to have had clear glass and they would hit it at first. The aviary I have now has the shaded plexiglass around the whole bottom half and wire on the top half. That really cut down on hitting the plexiglass using the shaded version.

dfcauley wrote:Try wiping it down with a fabric softener sheet.

Or raise the humidity in the area, I had the same problem.

Thanks for posting this.. I didn't know about that static electricity probs with plexiglass.. I'm still in the development stage for my aviary..

Thanks to all who replied. I'm not sure if it's safe to use anti-static sprays or sheets around birds. I might have to put up with a few seed shells sticking to the glass or use a small cordless vacuum to clean them. The birds don't seem to care about the vacuum noise or my hand being inside the cage. And there is no problem with the birds hitting the glass. They seem to know there is something because they fly up to the plexiglass panel and then hover a sec and go back to the perch. The cage is just over 3 feet x 2 feet anyway. I'm just wondering if static would be a problem for the birds since they're really tiny finches.

How about a earth wire?I wonder if it can be earthed?

I've never experienced seed hulls sticking to the plexiglass on my flight.
This might be a soultion: I use a wild bird feeder from Lowe's ($3) and use aspen shavings for the flooring. The hulls fall from the feeder into the shavings which prevent the empty shells from flying around the cage and sticking to the glass. My problem is flying poop which seems to find its way everywhere but is easy to wipe off anyway. Hope that helps.

subersibo wrote:I've never experienced seed hulls sticking to the plexiglass on my flight.
This might be a soultion: I use a wild bird feeder from Lowe's ($3) and use aspen shavings for the flooring. The hulls fall from the feeder into the shavings which prevent the empty shells from flying around the cage and sticking to the glass. My problem is flying poop which seems to find its way everywhere but is easy to wipe off anyway. Hope that helps.

This is what I do too. I use shavings and put hay over it and use an outdoor bird feeder. They love to use the hay for nesting material and pick through it. They love the randon seed heads in it too. I don't have a problem with static either this way.

I think that Gomer may be right about grounding it somehow. I used to use Plexiglass as a seed skirt around the bottom of my cage (just about up to the 6 inch height. But it was just placed up against the wire of the cage and held in place with mirror clips. It wasn't for viewing because the wire was on the inside still. (I plan to do the same with this cage, but have yet to get around to cutting the plexiglass into the small pieces I'll need.) There was no static on the plexiglass at all, and maybe that was because of the wire frame it sat against.

Why not try just a very thin piece of picture hanging wire, running vertically, top to bottom along the edge of the plexiglass, near the end (frame) . At either the top or bottom run the wire outside the cage and attach to the stand or right down to the floor. It might work? And would hardly be noticeable.

solo_birdlover wrote: And there is no problem with the birds hitting the glass. They seem to know there is something because they fly up to the plexiglass panel and then hover a sec and go back to the perch.

that's nice to hear about how they 'know' the plexiglass is there. I hope I have the same experience with mine.