my seed catching solution :D

[EyesofFreedom]

Ok so when I had my 18"x18"x30" flight I had a skirt around the cage to catch seed, feathers and whatever mess the birds made...

When I went up to my larger cage I have been trying to think exactly what I wanted to do...

I didn't want a skirt because the drawback was it was a pain to remove without losing all the miscellaneous stuff it had caught. Also I wanted something on the inside that would keep everything inside so all I had to do was dump the tray.

I couldn't just put up flat sheets of anything because I have smaller side doors that I like to use... like my external bird bath.

So I was walking around Hobby Lobby and came across super thin 24"x36" plexiglass sheets for $5.95 each... I bough two.

I cut strips 8" wide and measured them to fit length wise exactly one after another for a tight custom fit... I even trimmed out the access door for the bird bath. I trimmed the panels with super adhesive electrical tape to soften the edges and give it a finished look. I attached the panels with screw washer washer nut combo's

For $14 total I like the results

[Ginene]

EyesofFreedom
UGH!!!! I am so jealous !!! I have spent approx $100 on seed guards and still have to vacumn @ least once a day! I have tried to cut plexi, but had NO success...let alone drilling holes for attaching with screws!!! What I would do for a pair of willing and able "man arms!!!!"

[debbie276]

Looks perfect to me!!

[carlamay]

Thanks Will!! I am on my way to Hobby Lobby!!! I have cut plexiglass with a box cutter but never tried to drill a hole...is there a trick?

[ranchnanny]

Looks great Will Brings that old song to mind "Its so nice to have a man around the house" I guess I will just have to pass the vac over the floor several times a day

[ac12]

Correct drill bit is important, don't use a spade bit.
Slow speed drill.
Don't push down hard, let the drill cut its way through the plastic.
Put the plexi on a piece of wood. The wood prevents the plexi from cracking as much when the drill goes through. Sort of like a cutting board with knives.

Get some scrap to practice on before you drill the main piece.

[Toddmin]

Looks great! Great idea!

Before you drill, place some masking tape over the area where you want the hole. It will help prevent cracking. After the hole is drilled, you can slowly remove the masking tape.

[cindy]

We have done the same thing to the bottom of flights and parrot cage....we used tape as Todd suggested prior to drilling. For large hookbills we used stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers to hold the plexiglass in place. For smaller non hookbils, thicker zip ties.

For heavier or larger pieces go to Home Depot or Lowes with exact measurements and they will cut it for you to size.

[cindy]

another recycle trick is to use plexiglass from the poster frames sets....inexpensive to.

[Nanajennie]

I am so jealous too! Could you scoot over to Vermont and fix mine? Nice job

[EyesofFreedom]

I have tried to cut plexi, but had NO success...

The trick is to score it... not cut all the way through... then just snap it off... usually 5 passes with a new bladed box cutter does the trick

I have cut plexiglass with a box cutter but never tried to drill a hole...is there a trick?

Yes... start with a small bit and run at speed until you are in... then slow down and let the drill du the cutting... let it go as slow as it can when its about to go through... then you can always make the hole larger with a second bit...

another recycle trick is to use plexiglass from the poster frames sets....inexpensive to.

I thought of that... but the cheapest poster frame I could find at walmart was $14

[cindy]

I found some on sale a while back and since my daughter was no longer in the stage of hanging posters I recycled the plexiglass in the frames. when you go to score the plexiglass run tape down the area you want to cut, sort of the way you do when you drill the holes and score the line a few times gently.

[EyesofFreedom]

when you go to score the plexiglass run tape down the area you want to cut, sort of the way you do when you drill the holes and score the line a few times gently.

Yep... with my sheets it had protective covers on both sides to prevent scratches... I left those on as I scribbed each section...

I still have a lot left... I bought some picture frames for the girl's spring school pics... long story short I already broke two glass plates so my next project is to replace the glass with plexi...

[finchandlovebird]

poster frames are really cheap at thrift stores That's where I got mine

[PrettyBird]

Hey Will what a great idea! I have a cage just like this. I may use this!