Got My New Flight Cage

[FeatherHarp]

I just wanted to share a pic of my new flight cage that came yesterday! I am in the process of decorating it and trying to figure out the optimal perch...and food cup placing....it is harder than I thought.

I also bought the Vision Daisy flower thingy (an impulse purchase ). It will be interesting if the finches like it. Does anybody else have this too...and if so...how do you like it? I wonder if the finches will like landing on the flowers being they move like real flowers?

Well...off to get the cage ready for my finches. OH...besides my 2 male Zebra's....I have a pair of Gouldians now too!

The male is a normal red head and the female is a black head that they said she is "split to blue". I will post more pics when they get settled.

If anybody knows where I can view pictures of what the baby Gouldians would look like from my pair I would like to see them. I basically know nothing about this split coloring... I don't plan to breed them but was just curious.

And one more thing....I did buy the Finch Handbook and am enjoying reading that but still have some $$ left on my Barnes & Noble gift card so I hope to find a Gouldian book.

That's all the news from my Nest...gotta get back to cage decorating.

New Flight Cage


The Vision Daisy Thingy

[S. W. Houston]

FeatherHarp,

IT LOOKS GREAT !

I like the Stand too, been looking for something to “load” the extra stuff in for my “assembly”.

BIG DOORS too, you’ll be able to really “spruce” it up. I’ve been changing my Perches up, giving mine some variations in that area.

ENJOY !

Have a good Day !

[Sally]

New cage looks great! I have the same cage, and love it. The only problem I have had with it is the upper large door. Nothing wrong with the door, but when you open that top one, since the birds like to perch in the top half of a cage and that door is pretty big, I have had escapes a couple of times. Now I am a lot more cautious when that upper door is open, and use the lower door as much as possible--haven't had an escape from that door yet.

[S. W. Houston]

This is a TOTALLY ugly thing, and you probably won’t like the idea, but….

I have a heavy black Plastic Coated Wire Cage, and it has a BIG door in it, much like yours.
I like to put natural Branches in my cages, and the Big door really helps, most of them are fairly convoluted.
The Branches of course !

Anyway, I cut a heavy piece of black cloth, sorta like Blue Jean material, hemmed it and ran a rod through the top and bottom hems, and put a pair of hooks on it, thus, hanging it on the inside of the Cage covering the door. When I change out the feeders or mess with the perches, it flaps back over the opening completely, and I don’t have to continuously close the door behind me, when I’m moving things around.
(shhhh, don’t tell anyone I can use a Sewing Machine)

I also have another larger Curtain, which I’ve used to divide the Cage up, when one of my Males got TOO pushy, and it gave me some time to acquire another Cage. Great stuff, rolls up and stores until you need it.

Have a good Day !

[FeatherHarp]

S.W. Houston......LOL!! You made my day.

Any man that can cook or sew is on the "A" list in my book!

What a great idea using the fabric like that. Your suggestion comes at a perfect time because I was just thinking about how can I easily cover up this huge cage at night especially with all the greenery I have put on top of it...

I LOVE the idea you had about having a rod in the fabric and using hooks to hang it as that would solve my problem. I could hang curtains around the cage and not have to throw anything over the top....hmmmm....this sounds like a job for "Inspector Gadget" but since you live so far away...I will employ my Hubby's Engineering skills to help me with this (even though he can't sew ) I can sew but just barely...

Thanks again for the great idea....give yourself a pat on the back from me.

[S. W. Houston]

FeatherHarp,

PAT PAT, thank you ! . OH WAIT, I thought I was “Grandpa” Gadget now !

Anyway, operating/repairing Mechanical Equipment, has been a part of my whole life, and I’ll accept the kudos when it comes to them (the Curtains) being functional and practical.
But, aesthetics are and have been beyond my creative reach, I’m looking forward to seeing what the “feminine touch” will produce on your project !
(I can’t do a Triple Pleat to save my neck ! )

I’ve dropped a Photo “Door & Divider Curtains” in the Gallery in Gismos, Gadgets and Gimmicks, just to show the basic items. I use both of the shown Curtains Inside the Cage, but, that just how I use them…..ummm !

See Picture at:
http://www.finchforum.com/gallery/displ ... fullsize=1

I will add this though, in inadvertently choosing Black for the Curtain color, I think I may have caused some hesitation on the Birds part, to “challenge” the Curtain. Sorta like them seeing a “dark” place, and given their poor vision, are suspicious about approaching it.
That being “sheer” supposition.

Have a good Day !
PS: These Black Curtains are not as photogenic as I had hoped !

[FeatherHarp]

Thanks for posting the pictures of your fabric creations...that is very helpful.

I will have to get to the fabric stores and see what they have in the scrap bins. I was thinking about getting some fleece since you can cut that and don't have to hem it. I made a fleece Harp dust cover for one of my harps and it was so easy to sew since I didn't have to hem the fleece at all. I am so lazy I like to take the easiest route if possible...lol

Now just to find a pattern the birdies will like...

[S. W. Houston]

FeatherHarp,

Glad to do what I can, but, the clarity was really "wanting" !

You wrote:
"Pattern the Birdies will like"

Keep the "sheer" supposition in mind, they're not looking at the same thing you are !

Have a good Day !

[FeatherHarp]

Now I don't know what to do....buy a fleecy type fabric to keep them cozy ( I live in MN--very cold here...ya!). But in the summer maybe a lightweight fabric will suffice. Maybe I am over thinking this way too much!

No use asking Hubby as he already thinks I am the crazy bird lady with my decorating the cage with ivy and baking birdie bread for them...

I guess I will just see what the fabric store has to offer.

[S. W. Houston]

FeatherHarp.

Why not both ? Get something Airy and patterned for the Curtain, and then put a heavier Sheer behind it for the colder months.

Velcro comes to mind !

Have a good Day !

[plantsandbirds]

I have that cage also - in the beige color. I use silk garlands inside for perches, the natural manzanita wood perches and there are several swings inside as well.

RE: the big top door......When I open the door to clean or change seed and etc.... I lean very close to the cage, use my left arm above my head and fan out my fingers to block any would-be escapees. This works.

If you'd rather not do the gymnastics or you are doing things that require two hands clip a sheet with clothespins across the door and crawl under it. Wrap the open edges around yourself and you will have a a blockade!

You may get a few finches attached to you ever so often but they can't go anywhere because of the sheet.

I wish now I had purchased the double flight available in this model because it has a divider you can slide in! Instead I have two of the single flights.

I use newspaper in the bottom over the grill because my finches love to bathe and hop around on the bottom of the cage.[/img]

[S. W. Houston]

plantsandbirds,
Not that I’m making an assumption you don’t know this, but I did notice where you had a Link/Image command at the end of your post. IF you were having difficulty in placing a picture in your post, you might check out:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=14918#14918
there are some tips there, that may help you (or someone).

Have a good Day !

[FeatherHarp]

Plants&Birds.....Your cage decor sounds very nice....do you happen to have picture of it you are able to post?...as I am curious to see what kind of garland you have for perches and how your swings are placed as I only have one "bling" swing in mine right now. I can always use decorating ideas!

To keep the poops off my walls I am using some clear plastic sheeting around three sides of the cage. This stuff is a little heavier than regular plastic and hangs nicely and is pretty clear so you don't notice it. When I get a chance I will post some pics.

Grandpa Gadget....I found some nice fleece material at 50% off for the birds cage cover....I will post it once I get it ready to hang.
I like the idea of "summer PJ's" for my birdies...maybe I will have to go back to the fabric store again.

[plantsandbirds]

S.W...I had thought about posting a photo and then got distracted....sorry! I will upload from photobucket in just a moment...

[img][img]http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/ ... corner.jpg[/img][/img]

This is my "finch corner". It shows the two cages side by side.

The lighting system in this photo is my old one - I now have two separate full spectrum lamps.

I put the silk garlands (craft stores sell them) up with plain cotton string. Make sure that the garlands are very plain and don't have any little pieces because your darlings will peck at them. I've also found that a variegated ivy sort of garland helps disguise the poopers until you can change the garland out or wash it.

As I take a look at the photos I also see that I've changed out my feeders/waterers since this photo. I now use the seed hoppers I bought on recommendation from this site and the tube waterers, which the water keeps more fresh in because the finches aren't always trying to bathe in it!

[plantsandbirds]

Here is a photo I took for some humor! It shows one of the finch flock's favorite things!!! SHREDDED PAPER!!! Weeeeeeeee! Look at my floor! I only give them this when I feel like a big cleanup because they stick it everywhere in the cage