Inexpensive (Free?) covering for floor?

[sierranomad]

Hi:

I have a flight on my back deck, and it is currently covered with a tarp for easy cleaning. I'm not crazy about the look and would like something more natural, but can't afford to put something out there that has a recurrent large expense. My flight is @ 12' x 8'.

I may be able to get enough grass clippings to cover it. Also, we have a lot of oak trees, so I could use oak leaves. I looked at another thread that recommended hay (though that would cost money). Should I be concerned about mites etc. being in either hay, grass or oak leaves?

Thank you

[Ursula]

In an outside aviary I would be more concerned about too much moisture and mold buildup when using hay or leaves or grass clippings. And bugs would certainly get in there...

What about one of these "fake grass" carpets? Can't be that expensive and you can probably pressure wash it and it would look at least better than a tarp...

Example: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Artificial-Gr ... g/11987712

(I don't intend advertising for Walmart, it was just the first link that popped up when I googled it... )

[Sally]

I don't have outside aviaries, can't be of much help, but I do use hay in my breeding cages (indoors). I agree with Ursula, outside I would be concerned that the hay would get/stay wet and promote mold.

[Mozelle]

I think the "grass" option is a great one.
Looks nice, and easy to pressure wash (even just to sweep periodically).
An outside aviary.. sigh...
I'm not jealous - well, maybe a bit

[JohnBoy]

I use a good quality hay in my aviaries. It's never caused a problem. I replace it about every 3 months.

Now if the hay gets wet it can be smelly until it dries but I have shades I pull down when it rains so the hay stays dry.

[sierranomad]

Thanks JohnBoy. It's good to know that hay is an option. My sister has horses, so I'm sure I could buy some from her.

[nelloyello11]

Be careful with hay, as it can mold if it gets wet. (my mom has horses and this is an issue she has had to deal with). I would just worry that they might eat seed, etc that might fall to the aviary floor and ingest or inhale mold spores.

[kenny]

hi
is there any chance you could use the weed supressant sheeting,i laid this on my aviary floor before putting pea shingle down and the good thig was i could hose the ground down and the water passed through but the weeds didnt.maybe you could lay it on the floor and put some of that wood chip covering on top it comes in pellets like cat litter but its made specially for birds.

ken

http://www.petsmart.com

just go on to where it says bird then go to litter on the list,the bags are quite large,and inexpensive as far as i can see

ken

[Ursula]

hi
is there any chance you could use the weed supressant sheeting,i laid this on my aviary floor before putting pea shingle down and the good thig was i could hose the ground down and the water passed through but the weeds didnt.maybe you could lay it on the floor and put some of that wood chip covering on top it comes in pellets like cat litter but its made specially for birds.

ken

http://www.petsmart.com

just go on to where it says bird then go to litter on the list,the bags are quite large,and inexpensive as far as i can see

ken

I use these pellets in my parrotlet cage and for that they are great. They absorb very well. However, I can't imagine that you can use them outdoors. When they get wet they puff up and then fall apart. You'd end up with goo of wet sawdust on the floor...

[kenny]

hi
this is turning out to be a bit of a problem for you.....is there any chance you could use ,the lino floorcovering for it some of it is really water resistant...to be honest i am running out of ideas bacause we use so many different things on this side of the world..i will carry on looking though we may crack this yet
ken

[Mozelle]

... put some of that wood chip covering on top it comes in pellets like cat litter but its made specially for birds.

Quick question - I saw pellets specifically for "pellet burning wood stoves". The bag says 100% wood product, and they look exactly like this litter. but it is a LOT cheaper. $6 for a Huge bag that would last forever in my lil bird room. My only concern is potential additives, though I would think that if it's used for indoor wood stoves there really shouldn't BE any contaminants. Has anyone tried these?

(sorry - not trying to steal the thread... )

[nelloyello11]

Quick question - I saw pellets specifically for "pellet burning wood stoves". The bag says 100% wood product, and they look exactly like this litter. but it is a LOT cheaper. $6 for a Huge bag that would last forever in my lil bird room. My only concern is potential additives, though I would think that if it's used for indoor wood stoves there really shouldn't BE any contaminants. Has anyone tried these?

(sorry - not trying to steal the thread... )

Tracy, you might try going to the website for the brand of pellets you are looking at. Or try calling their customer service to ask about additives, propellants, etc, that they might add, to determine if it would be safe for birds.

[sierranomad]

(sorry - not trying to steal the thread... )

Don't worry about it I already got the information I need.

[kenny]

hi
i have seen those but ithink they are for barbeques and as you say wood burning stoves......but i think they have some sort of accelerant coating on them so they burn quicker i dont know wether they are the same ones,but if they where and someone went outside for a cigarette and through it on the floor i reckon you would have a few bbqd finches


ken

p.s. how are the smoking laws in your country,i dont smoke myself but nobody is allowed to smoke in any building not even in our pubs or bars everyone has to go to a designated place to smoke away from the building....my son works for the college giving out student loans and half of the people in his office smoke...he doesnt! but he is on the 3rd floor and when they want a smoke they have to go all the way down to this little shelter they had built(so they dont get wet) ans they have to smoke there ....seems like a good reason to give up to me having to go all the way down there....but its cheaper than paying the hefty fine that they get if they are caught smoking in a building

ken