FINCHforum

I'm in the planning stages for making the ultimate cage. I'm trying to consider all aspects for me and the birds.

A very important question is: what to make the floor of the cage?

Should it be:

- cage bars - let's debris go through, keeping birds out of it, could be easier to clean, BUT can be dangerous to bird feet, getting their tiny feet caught or twisting a foot

OR

- flat surface - eliminates wire dangers, however, can expose birds to fecal debris, and other debris which they either tread in or even eat.

BTW, so many posts on this site now. Glad to see everyone participating with so many good ideas and info.

I would say absolutely flat surface. Most everyone here on this forum removes the wire grates There have been many accidents due to grates.

Be sure to post pictures of your cage. We would love to see your work!

I also say flat surface. My birds love to spend time on the floor inspecting things.

Thanks for the replies.

What do you put on the floor of the cage? What is ideal?

I saw messages about using butchers paper, and have seen liners, litter, and of course newspaper. I think newspaper should be out due to the ink.

I use newspaper.
My finches don't eat the newspaper so the ink is not a real issue.
More of an issue is the poop on the newspaper. So I have to change the paper often enough so the birds are not walking in the poop.

No wire grille and newspaper, change regularly...why waste money?

I took out the grills on all of my cages, as I had read other posts about the birds getting their feet caught in them. I put down newspaper, but when I notice that they begin laying eggs, ùi also put down corn cob pieces, being as how I know that I will not be changing for a while.

I don't have a cage since mine are in an aviary, but I do put some into a large cage sometimes when I have to seperate them.

I use newspaper (and have been for 2 years) with no problems at all.
When the birds are in the cage, I change it daily. Doesn't take but a second to do that. I put it under the perches and poop areas in my aviary on the tile floor and it gets changed daily also. I think like poohbear said..... it's free and no problems with it.

I use newspaper in all my finch and parrot cages for years - no problem.

My societies tear up the newspaper from the floor and use it in their nest but I think newspaper inks are vegetable-based now so the toxicity is low if not eliminated. I think the problem before was with wet puppies/kittens born on the petrol-based ink newsprint and then licking themselves. I could be wrong.

Newspaper is free and the risk minimal. I'd keep using it.

Thanks for the responses.

I was thinking that their feet would get blackened by the newsprint like your fingers do.

The vegetable inks info was very interesting.

I also like the flat cage bottom. My GBs love to forage on the bottom.

I use kraft paper, a bit heavier than newspaper, and holds up even when wet after a bath, so I can roll it up and get to the garbage can without leaking any water or seed. And I prefer the cleaner look than newspaper. I get it on a huge roll from a packing company, so one roll at $24 will last a year (even with daily changing). But if I had several cages, instead of just one, I might be inclined to go with newspaper - it's cheap.

The daily papers here in the Vancouver area (24 & Metro) are printed with non-smearing ink. Nice for the reader, and probably nice for the finches, too.

I think most members here know my feelings about grates or grills on the bottom of cages--I hate them! They can cause injury, they are just one more thing to have to clean, and tossed babies don't fare very well when they land on wire. I use newspaper for the most part, and most of my birds like to spend a fair amount of time on the floor--have never had a problem with it. In my divided breeding cages, that have two trays, I have used bermuda hay in one tray and newspaper in the tray where food is placed. The bermuda hay is on the side which has the nest, so can cushion tossed babies, but the other side, where seed and food is placed, needs to be cleaned more often, so newspaper is used.

I hate newspaper..... I don't like the ink transfer...(my yellow canaries always had grey tail feathers) I also hate the way newspaper looks.
In my breeding cages I always use a wire grill. After years and litterally 1000 birds, I have never had one get hung in a floor grate.
In my cage banks I use rolls. either butcher paper (nice and white to observe droppings, plus it is not ugly like newspaper) ABBA also sells rolls of paper that are brown and resist water penetration. This is the best.
I also have many aviaries. In some I use the carefresh bedding, an attractive grey that absorbs much moisture and dries out readily. This is becoming one of my new favorites, the seed falls to the bottom and the bedding stays clean looking. Also the cardbord material absorbs moistur and ODORS I find I do not have to change it very often so it makes it very affordable. (especially if you order the large size on line)
The one problem with flat floors and bedding material is that the breeding pair will take the material into the nest.....poop and all....
Other aviaries have concrete floors so a shop vac and hosing is all that is needed.
The newest aviary will have just an uncovered linoleum floor...sweeping and damp mopping should handle that.
I have also used atrractive plastic place mates that could be removed and washed...or outdoor tableclothes...these look good and hold up well and are reusable. Some people have used terry towels but be carful that the birds do not get thier claws snagged.
There is a lot of ways to go with cage bottoms...the one that works for you is best. I personally enjoy not only the beauty of the birds but an attractive way to house them also Newspaper is not free...I have to pay for mine but it is ugly

Actually, there are a lot of free daily newspapers around here.

I use the Carefresh as cat litter because it's so light to carry home. It does a good job of odor control. But so does a bit of meadowgrass hay, scattered on top of the kraft paper.