cage lining idea...

[dpedersen]

I've been thinking about the litter that lines the bottom of my cages and it seems like everything has it's drawbacks. I've been using newsprint (unprinted) to line the bottom of my cages, but the finches keep pulling it into their nests whenever they can get a hold of it (sometimes trying to build a nest on top of eggs).

I'm wondering if I could get a few packages of flat cloth diapers and just change those out every day and wash them separate from our regular laundry. This way it would be too big for the birds to lift, it would be easy to change and it would cut down on the mess. Has anyone tried something like this? What do you think? Is their a fault in this idea that I'm somehow missing?

[franny]

The only fault I can find is the extra work!

Someone else here was having trouble with the birds shredding the newspaper. They just put a piece of the wire hardware cloth on top of the newspaper. Not like a grate, but rather just laying on top of the paper so the birds couldn't tear it up or lift it, but still could stand on it and forage on the bottom of the cage. Just lift to take soiled paper out from underneath and toss. Much easier in my opinion, than using cloth.

[dpedersen]

I didn't even see it as extra work Fran. I hate having to buy bedding all the time and I just thought something reusable would be nice and the cloth diapers seemed like a possible solution.

I have some hardware cloth leftover from building the aviary, so I'll try that idea.
Thanks!

[nixity]

I have been using inexpensive towels in my larger flights for over a year now and I wouldn't have it any other way
Every week I shake them and bang them to get the dried poop off, then pop them into the washing machine on the ultra lava hot heavy duty cycle and voila, they are ready for round two.

I have multiples stocked up so that I can swap the towels out without leaving the bottoms coverless

[ac12]

The wire mesh user is me.
My birds (societies and zebras) would tear the newspaper and take the pieces of newspaper into the nest. If they have eggs, they buried the eggs under layers of newspaper. They also learned that when they bath and splash water on the newspaper, it tears a lot easier.

I use 1/2" square plastic coated wire mesh (from Home Depot) over the newspaper. This really cut down what they shred and take into the nest. Now they only take small pieces that they manage to rip and pull between the 1/2" square holes in the mesh.

Whenever I change the newspaper, I scrape and wash the wire mesh of dried on poop.

[dfcauley]

I also use towels and love it. I flip mine over at the end of day one and use the other side the second day. That way I am only washing every other day. It is GREAT!

[dpedersen]

Okay, dfcauley & nixity talked me into it. I picked up a package of twelve cloth diapers last night which I will be lining cages with tomorrow. I hope it works!

[CandoAviary]

I like your cloth diaper idea. There are no loops like in a terry towel for the birds to get claws hung on.
My latest thing has been TyVec, like you use to cover plywood during building construction...
Really don't want to be washing towels...maybe because at the grooming shop I have washed my share, at least 187,200, not to mention all the doggie blakets from the indoor boarding facilities

[dfcauley]

[I have some Tyvec, but never thought about using it. Do you take it out and rinse it off? That stuff is a bit noisey though......

[CandoAviary]

Made a new post about the tyvec

[MLaRue]

I've had a few birds get stuck in the towels now so I stopped using them and now use cheap sheets for my flights and cheap pillow cases for smaller areas. I still prefer paper - it is easy as in just throw it away and start with new and no worries about washing them.

[saffronfinch]

How about using corncob bedding? I've been using it for years in all my cages and most of my birds leave it alone. Plus it looks clean and natural in the cage.

[nixity]

Corncob has been linked to numerous problems related to mold :/

[ac12]

Tiffany,
How about the compressed wood pellets?
Are they any different than corncob re mold?

[nixity]

I think in both cases it really depends on a lot of factors.
With corn cob - you probably wouldn't have the issues with mold as long as there isn't a lot of water being thrown around (bathing birds) and as long as the droppings are very tight and dry (NOT critter poop!).

I have used the compressed pellets before myself and I did not have a problem with mold when I used them, but if water gets on them, they do blow up and expand so I think the possibility is still there if they aren't changed and/or the soiled pellets aren't removed often.

My biggest issue with those is they are expensive.
I'd rather use Uline paper or newspaper :\