Tray liners for cages?

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:08 pm

Does anyone use any type of tray liner for their cages? I have a 18x30 floor and the sandpaper job just doesnt do it. I have been using newspaper. I found some tray liners on dr.fostersmith.com, they are listed as "wax" and I wasn't sure about it. I want to use them incase I get deployed and my wife needs to do the cleaning. Is there another altenative or does anyone else have any experiance with liners?

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:23 pm

Have you considered using litter at all? I used walnut shell litter for a long time but got tired of the dust so I switched this weekend to kaytee "bird litter" (they claim it' 99.9% dust free) made of recycled paper. If your cage has a pull out tray you can just fill the tray with litter, scoop it clean occasionally as needed, or just throw all the litter out when you clean. If you have a shop vac you or your wife can just use the shop vac to suck it up and just pour it in fresh. That would make cleaning a breeze. After all the litter is gone you just clean up any poo that sticks to the cage. When my husband deploys I get the shop vac since he's been using it in his barracks. I'd rather he not be deployed, but that wouldn't change anyway, and I AM looking forward to the shop vac rather than just pouring it in a garbage bag and usually spilling some of it.

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:32 pm

I have thought about litter before, but everytime I read something about it someone says its toxic and can kill. This is the only site I have read where many use it just fine. I actually used a box of sand gravel on one of my small cages a few years ago..works great until bath time. I may try to swing by the store and see what litter they have. I would like to get what ever is smallest so they can't reach through the cage bottom and nibble any up.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:46 pm

We use butcher paper or news paper in our cages, and oil dry clay absorbent in our flights. The oil dry does not get mucky when wet like litter can, and it doesn't have any smell crytals that are toxic for finches to ingest. Stay away from cat litter since so many of them have a scent or crystals which are toxic.

What branch of service are you in?

I'm a full tim Fire Fighter at the 183rd here in Springfield. I'm losing my job when our F16's leave due to the BRAC. Really sucks becsause working the 24-48 has allowed me to really help Michele run the finch business.

Sean

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:52 pm

fairestfinches wrote: What branch of service are you in?

I'm a full tim Fire Fighter at the 183rd here in Springfield. I'm losing my job when our F16's leave due to the BRAC. Really sucks becsause working the 24-48 has allowed me to really help Michele run the finch business.

Sean

I was active duty Marine Corps '97 - '02, I switched over to Navy Reserve in '04. The BRAC has really changed things again. The entire Navy Reserve was realigned to go along with it. There were some centers that closed, even my old center in Wilimington, NC got split a few months ago. They will stay open but changes come at anytime now. I'm back in my hometown in Greenville, SC doing drills here. I'm anticipating being activated by the end of this year so I'm looking for voluntary billets that are 6 mo to a year. Europe anyone?

Post by **Hilary** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:52 pm

I use newspaper in the trays, and recently began putting paper on top of the grates as well. I need to change out the top paper more often, but no longer have to scrub poopy grate bars - a definite benefit in my eyes.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:19 am

I've tried everything, and now I just use newspapar. I put several layers on and just remove the top piece every two days or so. Then when I'm near the bottom, I take it out, scrub it and then put several layers on again.

I've used walnut, corn cob, shredded paper, etc... and I found that it was more expensive and messy to deal with.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:13 am

I also just use newspaper in my flight cage. But I have heard you can get the rolls of "end paper" from newspaper printers for free or a very small fee. It might be worth checking into.

I clean the cages in the evening so after I clean the grate I leave out the grate until morning and then put it back in. That way it is not so poopy from the birds night droppings at least!

TammyS · Post by **TammyS** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:50 am

I also do what Emily does - I put layers of paper in and a layer as needed. This method seems to greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to do the cages. Plus, I have removed the grates from my individual breeding cages - I don't see the need to have them with finches.

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:37 am

I used to use newspaper all the time, and as someone else said, I used layers of it and took the top sheet off every day. I thought it was ugly and when bath time came around it got a weird smell to it. All four of my birds like to hop around in the litter and kick it out of the cage when they take off to fly, and they have eaten bits of both kind of litter without any harm. I've heard that pine bedding causes respiratory problems in rodents so I would avoid that, and I am leery of corn cob bedding because of all I have heard about mold growing in it. Walnut shell litter was by far the most attractive and were it not for the dust I would still use it. I just ended up with so much fine brown dust it made me crazy. So far I like the paper litter, too. It's uglier but slightly larger pieces so they don't kick it around.

Off topic- Where were you stationed when you were active duty USMC? My hubby is stationed in Camp Pendleton.

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:09 pm

beccafigs wrote: Off topic- Where were you stationed when you were active duty USMC? My hubby is stationed in Camp Pendleton.

I was in 29 stumps..I mean 29 palms CA for 2 years and Camp Lejeune for 2 years.

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:10 pm

I might go ahead and try some some of the liners on the website. They seem reasonable @ $25 for 150. It's more for if my wife needs to do the "housework". I get a local paper free each week and use that so I guess for now I'm OK.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:06 pm

Another source of free newspaper is your local Library....they would save the daily newspapers for you if you picked them up on a regular basis.

So far I have not had to resort to my Library as my Son....my Mother-In-Law and Hubby all save papers for me...so I am in good supply...LOL!

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:59 pm

SWEET!! Thanks. My wife is alway at the library checking out books. Maybe if I'm super sweet she will pick some up for me.

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:38 pm

Again I am a bit off topic... My uncle was in 29 stumps (and drove home to AZ every night), and my hubby has been there for comm school and some training in Camp Wilson.

Good luck with the cage liners if that's the direction you decide to go.