FINCHforum

At the mart last weekend, a vendor had this cage for sale for $80. I happened to be walking past his space as he marked it down to $50. For $50, I can always use this size cage. It was missing the door latches, but the vendor said he had more at home. Took my address so he could mail me some latches--we'll see--but I can always fix something up. For now, I have the doors shut with twist ties.

Anyway, I went to reverse the grate and tray as I have done on the other cages, and I was not able to slide the tray in on the glides that are for the grate. They must have changed these up just a bit. For now, the grate is in place, with newspaper to cover it, and I will have to figure out something else. If I take out the grate and leave the tray where it is, there is too big a gap just above the tray. I may have to add either strips of plexiglass or wood molding to cover up that gap.

Speaking of gaps, yesterday morning I found two juvie male Goldbreasts outside the HQ double flight. This morning, I found their sister outside the cage. I know the HQ cages have gaps in them, and Goldbreasts are escape artists, but I finally realized what happened. The grates are removed on this cage, and the tray on that side had bowed quite a bit in the middle front, enough that I think that is the gap used by these youngsters to escape. These birds keep you on your toes!

Sally, your new HQ single flight sound like ours here in Canada as we have exactly the same issue of not being able to fit the tray in where the grate was. I believe Fran installed a wood frame. I simply left the grate in and covered with newspaper - about 10 layers so I only have to remove the top 2 layers and slide one new sheet across to cover the other half of the grate.

For $50 - you got yourself a great cage IMHO!!

Hope the little GB's didn't cause too much trouble for you being on the loose like that.

Sally,
I caught up a goldbreast that I was taking to the bird mart. The MINUTE I put it into the cage out it went. My husband was standing there and we couldn't believe it. Thankfully, I closed the door really quick in the computer room and went to get a net. They are so tiny!

L in Ontario wrote:Sally, your new HQ single flight sound like ours here in Canada as we have exactly the same issue of not being able to fit the tray in where the grate was. I believe Fran installed a wood frame. I simply left the grate in and covered with newspaper - about 10 layers so I only have to remove the top 2 layers and slide one new sheet across to cover the other half of the grate.

Yes, but mine is not an HQ cage. (Similar size, but much lighter weight.) With the HQ you can remove the grate without having to support the cage with a wood frame inserted. But you still need to take care of the gap above the tray. I think one large flap type door attached with cable ties should work. Similar to what I'm doing, but you just don't need the interior wood frame to keep the cage "square". Oh and you'd need to put something under the tray for a "bottom" if you can't put the grate there - like the masonite I'm using.