FINCHforum

I was cleaning some of my breeding cages this morning and had a brainstorm for covering the bottom grate of the cage. (My cages have grates that cannot be removed and I hate seeing the finches having to fight to stay put on that grate. And not to mention it looks like torture on their little feet.). So anyway, I usually cover the bottom with newspaper.
Anyway, since I am getting back into breeding the dartfrogs, I have to start my flightless fruitfly cultures. After the medium goes into the jar you have to put a strip on plastic canvas in the medium so that the flies can have something to crawl up on to breed. The canvas strips were in the same spot as I keep the newspaper, and bingo! I said let me try to use the canvas for a cover. It looks better than paper and it can be washed and put right back in. I see no reason why it would not work well but I set it up in one cage to test. I need to make sure that their nails will not get caught in it. But the holes seem to be a size that would not cause a problem. If it works I will post back after observing for a few days.
After watching for aprox. 20 minutes the birds seem fine on it. No problem but I will still watch before I put it in the rest of the cages.
See pics

Very clever!
Hope it continues to work well for you.

It sure does look better than newspaper but I'd hate to have to wash them all the time.

looks like a plan...simple soak in hot water and a little bleach, sun dry for a few hours and you are set to go again. I do like the plastic canvas idea....it would avoid a lot of dangling baby legs through the grate and keep parents from pulling the tray paper through the grate.

I've been using this method...newspaper covered in paper towels. I open the paper up several sheets of newpaper, make a template for the size of the grate and then after cutting the shape of the bottom out of a thick stack, cover a few layers of newspaper in paper towels and secure the edges of the toweling underneath with masking tape. To get into the cage roll it, slip it through the door and unroll. This is great for babies but the parents tear the toweling up for nesting material.

I use kraft paper (the kind used for mailing parcels) overtop of my grates...It keeps the grate clean, and makes it easy to check on poops!

I am watching the birds spend lots on time on the bottom and so far it is working great. Washing it would be no problem for me. I would just soak it it hot sudsy water, scrub, dry and put back in.

hi
looks like a good idea to me,hope it works out for you

ken

Well so far no problem with the canvas. The birds are actually spending more time on the floor since I put it in.

I really like these canvas sheets. They are easy to clean. Soak and scrub and they are like new. I put them down in all my cages.

good to know they have not caused any problems!
thanks for the update

What a neat idea...I am glad to hear it is working out for you JohnBoy. It is always helpful when something like this is shared.

I was thinking of trying some of those outdoor or marine grass carpets. I see there are some on sale at our Fleet Farm store. I seem to remember some people here using them. And I don't know how hard they would be to clean.

But I have so much newspaper at the moment I don't need anything else....but still, I am tempted!

It's been 6 weeks now and every cage now has the plastic canvas on the grate. I love it. It is working fine for me. It's easy to clean. I always have a clean one ready to apply while the others are soaking. And those will be ready for the next time.

What a great idea! Do you have any issues with poop, seed, etc getting stuck in the holes?

John...I bought some of the mesh a while ago to make mesh nest baskets out of. I placed it on the floor of the cage and it helped little ones get use to moving around the bottom a little. It helpd save a little one that got topped from the nest to early. When it gets dirty I soak it in some mild bleach and water rinse well and dry over night. Once the chicks start weaning you can even cover it with paper towels and put a little seed and pellets to tempt them to pick.

The mesh is bendable and easy to get in and out of the cage doors.

nelloyello11 wrote:What a great idea! Do you have any issues with poop, seed, etc getting stuck in the holes?

Not at all