What to use in the bottom of the cage
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- Hatchling
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 6:15 am
- Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada
What to use in the bottom of the cage
I have only had my strawberry finch since Friday and still have a lot to learn.
What is the best stuff to use on the bottom of the cage?
I have newspaper there now, and the cage has a wire grate. Do I put the newspaper above or below the wire grate?
Do I need to use something other than newspaper?
I noticed at the pet store, they have some kind of pellets in the bottom of their bird cages.
Just not sure the best thing to use, and the placement of the paper and grate. Seems like the grate is getting messy with birdie droppings, and will have to clean that too when the paper is changed.
Also is it safe to use baby wipes to do a quick clean up and wiping up of the inside of the cage, or is just warm water on a cloth better?
Thanks again for the wealth of information you all so graciously share here. I really appreciated all I have learned so far.
What is the best stuff to use on the bottom of the cage?
I have newspaper there now, and the cage has a wire grate. Do I put the newspaper above or below the wire grate?
Do I need to use something other than newspaper?
I noticed at the pet store, they have some kind of pellets in the bottom of their bird cages.
Just not sure the best thing to use, and the placement of the paper and grate. Seems like the grate is getting messy with birdie droppings, and will have to clean that too when the paper is changed.
Also is it safe to use baby wipes to do a quick clean up and wiping up of the inside of the cage, or is just warm water on a cloth better?
Thanks again for the wealth of information you all so graciously share here. I really appreciated all I have learned so far.
Sherry
- poohbear
- Weaning
- Posts: 1991
- Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:33 pm
- Location: Nottinghamshire UK
I use newspaper it's cheap and easy to swap over.Pet shops will probably use alternatives so they don't have to clean out so often.I have removed the bottom grills in all my breeding cages...I don't like the birds walking on wires.If you retain them and put the paper underneath you will have a lot more cleaning to do.
Paul.
Paul.

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- Hatchling
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- Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada
- 1of42
- Hatchling
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- Joined: Sun May 11, 2008 11:51 pm
- Location: Central Florida
I also use newspaper that I put down on top of the grate so that I don't have to do "the grate wipe". Your Strawberry finch will like to spend some time on the bottom of the cage. My little Strawberry male Shakti likes to sit in a little nest of shredded newspaper and some greens that I put down.
Your little Strawberry will also enjoy a bath. I offer a bathing dish to my finches every other day.
My veterinarian warned me about using the corn cob bedding and any other pelleted bedding. If that bedding is not changed fully regularly a mold can develop that is unhealthy for your birds.
I use that corn cob bedding in my parakeet cage but I make sure to completely change it out. Since finches love bathing so much that pelleted bedding isn't always convenient.
Your little Strawberry will also enjoy a bath. I offer a bathing dish to my finches every other day.
My veterinarian warned me about using the corn cob bedding and any other pelleted bedding. If that bedding is not changed fully regularly a mold can develop that is unhealthy for your birds.
I use that corn cob bedding in my parakeet cage but I make sure to completely change it out. Since finches love bathing so much that pelleted bedding isn't always convenient.
- poohbear
- Weaning
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- SamanthaL
- Pip
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- atarasi
- Weaning
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Paul,poohbear wrote:It's a Gouldian Finch...they come in many colours some of them natural in the wild.Shy2 wrote:Thanks Paul.
PS. What kind of finch is that you have on your avatar? It is beautiful. I love the colours.
Paul.
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That's a cool picture of your birds. Like how the birds in the back are out of focus, but you can still how how colorful they are.
- IBleed4Thee
- Hatchling
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mickp......I live two blocks from the beach and can all the "free" sand I want. Is this really a ok thing to use and like you said easy to clean and they would get some grit.mickp wrote:newspaper is cheapest and probably best but why not also try something like beach sand it is easy to clean and cheap. the birds can also obtain some grit from it if they want it
- jamezyboo21
- Weaning
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- Location: Pensacola, Florida
i use newspaper in all my cages too and even in the big flight cage. really easy to clean up. sometimes my the finches rip it up and put it in there nests.
Society Finches, Fire Finches, Strawberry Finches, Owl Finches, Plum Head Finch, Goldbreast Waxbill Finches, Orange Cheek Waxbill Finches, Blue Capped Cordon Finches, Zebra Finches, Bronzewing Mannikin Finches, Red-Cheek Cordon Blue Finches, and Button Quail
- mickp
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one section of my aviary floor is just beach sand with a couple of grass plants growing in it, I try to replace some of it every couple of weeks.
the birds love it. my gouldians actually have baths in it, it is hilarious when they do. like watching very tiny colorful quail having a dirt bath.
the other birds pick at it from time to time as well.
when obtaining the sand I always take it from above the high water part of the beach as this sand is certain to be dry
the birds love it. my gouldians actually have baths in it, it is hilarious when they do. like watching very tiny colorful quail having a dirt bath.
the other birds pick at it from time to time as well.
when obtaining the sand I always take it from above the high water part of the beach as this sand is certain to be dry
- IBleed4Thee
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- dfcauley
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