FINCHforum

Tonight I put a new cuddle bone into my finches cage and remembered something that happened a while back. I thought I should mention it because I never would have expected this could happen. One day I found my female finch's foot bleeding all over the cage. I had no idea why until I saw the cuddle bone fell and she had cut it on the sharp metal wrap clip. I stopped the bleeding and she was okay but it might have turned out differently. I hate those clips and never use them any more. I make my own now. I just thought I should mention it so no one else has the same experience. They are so sharp and never fit right anyway.

I hate those clips...totally useless....I drill a hole through and attach the cuttlebone with a bolt and washers to the cage....It stays put and is safe!

try this instead...a philips head screw driver makes a perfect hole, thread a thick zip tie through it and attach it to the cage.

cindy wrote:try this instead...a philips head screw driver makes a perfect hole, thread a thick zip tie through it and attach it to the cage.

I'm doing the same thing! Only I attach it to a branch in the aviary...

I actually bought about 40 of these at Walmart, for $150 each

lovemyfinch wrote:I actually bought about 40 of these at Walmart, for $150 each

Janine... you spare no expense on your birds...$150 each I love typos
I too use different type clips for cuttle bones. These are my favorite for use with finches
https://www.birdsupplynh.com/catalog/pr ... ts_id=1912
though the ones I have have plastic hooks instead of meatal.

I hate those, they never fit, they slip off the bars, and the cuttlebone ends up falling. I just stick the cuddle bone between two bars of the cage next to a perch and my birds land on it and oeck at it.

It's amazing the many variations of attachments finch lovers can come up with to protect our birds. I've been using a plastic zip tie. It's looped around the cuddle bone and then I can just slide the new one into it, old one out. It's the small version of what the police use as handcuffs...as my husband tells me they do. Oh, because he has used them on criminals, not because he's been in them. Just thought of how that sounded.

I loop craft wire around the cuttlebone and tie it to the bars. The ends are in back on the outside of the cage where birdies can't get to it.

Corkysgirl wrote:It's amazing the many variations of attachments finch lovers can come up with to protect our birds. I've been using a plastic zip tie. It's looped around the cuddle bone and then I can just slide the new one into it, old one out. It's the small version of what the police use as handcuffs...as my husband tells me they do. Oh, because he has used them on criminals, not because he's been in them. Just thought of how that sounded.

I like the idea with the plastic zip tie! Never thought of that... I am always a little worried about using those normal plastic coated metal zip ties, because the plastic can get chewed off and then the metal wire sticks out and they could get hurt. (Since I don't have cages but I'm attaching it to a branch in the aviary, there's no way of completely hiding it.) Great tip! Thanks!!

A word of caution don't use the paper coated metal bag ties. The paper can be chewed away and the metal can be as much of a hazard...it can contain zinc or it can be like thread and cut or tangle up a foot.

Using a philips head screw driver put the cuttlebone on a hard surface and press gently and move the screw drive until a hole is drilled through. Don't press to hard the cuttlebone will snap.

cindy wrote:A word of caution don't use the paper coated metal bag ties. The paper can be chewed away and the metal can be as much of a hazard...it can contain zinc or it can be like thread and cut or tangle up a foot.

I use plastic coated ones. And yes, that's exactly why I think that the idea with the all plastic zip ties is a great one. I won't be able to re-use them if I stick to my method of drilling a hole and looping the zip tie through and then around a branch, but there's no metal in them and therefore they should be safe.

Birds get their feet, toes caught in the tiniest of cracks, anything that does not cut or tangle easily is a blessing...I keep a big canister of zip ties of different sizes on hand...they are handy for securing nests, closing a gap between cage sides, securinf a swinfg in a spot, even fastening around two cage bars under a perch to keep the perch from sliding down.

oh...for fastening the ever popular silk plants to the bars!!!

Yes, mee too. When I go to Ben Franklin they have clear zipties in the $1 section of the store, three lengths. It was an easy pick up for me to always have those on hand. I go through quite a few.

The philips head screw is a good idea too! If the cuddle bone ever breaks at least it can be shaven down onto their food. I like hearing everyone's input because someone may just use the paper ties not thinking of that being a problem. Whatever keeps our birds safe and happy!