My zebra finches make a terrible mess

[Cookie Monster]

Hi, I'm new here. When my kids were little we had zebra finches and we even raised several clutches of them. That was 20 years ago but I don't remember them making a big mess back then. About a year ago I bought a couple more. I think they are both males. I put news paper in the bottom of the cage. They just love ripping it up and playing with it. But between the shreds of paper and seed hulls, the make a terrible mess outside the cage. I put Plexiglas around the bottom 6 inches. That didn't help much. Is there anything I can do or do I just have some naughty finches? Thanks

[MiaCarter]

It sounds like they're shredding up the paper for nesting material. Those nesting instincts can be super strong in males. They love to build things!

So I'd give them more appropriate nesting material, like bits of paper towel or Timothy hay or coconut fiber. That'll keep them busy. If you don't want them breeding, you just pull any eggs. (Obviously this won't be a worry if they're both boys. They should both have cheek patches.)

It could be boredom too. So you might make up a foraging bin. Get a small tupperware tub. Fill with a bit of timothy hay. Add in some goodies. Millet seeds or bloodworms or mealworms. Just whatever they enjoy for treats. They'll love rooting around in there trying to find the goodies. I restock the goodies every few days.

Obviously, playing with items you provide could create a mess. But I find that the mess is always worse when they're left to their own devices (e.g. ripping up the floor papers or the paper towels I use to line the shelves.)

[delray]

You can get a seed catcher. it goes around the bottom of the cage and catches a lot of the seed hulls and messy things. It is a pain though when you take the catcher off.... but it is worth it if you want to avoid all the multiple times a day cleaning.... good luck.

[lovezebs]

Cookie Monster

Welcome to the Forum.
Birds make a mess. It's just a fact of life. With three flights and three cages, I am forever sweeping and vacuming. You can put different things around the bottom of the cage to catch the seeds hulls, feathers, paper bits and so on, but some always land on the floor no matter what you do.

I always keep a broom and dust pan close at hand, and the vacume is only a step away. What bothers me is the mess I get on my walls and windows, from birds bathing, birds pooping and flinging it everywhere. It is very difficult to get it off the walls for some reason.

~Elana~

[Cookie Monster]

Thanks, I just don't remember them making that big of a mess before and we had a lot more of them.

[Sadie]

Hi Cookie Monster
How big is your cage? I have 2 female zebras in a 30"w x 21 1/2"d x 33"h and they make no mess. I use covered seed cups very near the bottom of the cage. I do not use newspaper, I use crushed walnut shell and there is a grate above it keeping the birds away from it. Mine play with toys, a small mirror and silk flowers which I attach to the cage which keeps them busy. (They think they are gathering nesting material)
I think the bigger the cage the less mess. I do very little vacuuming around their cage.

[Cookie Monster]

I have a big enough cage that is designed for finches. I have seed haul catchers. I even put Plexiglas around the bottom 6 inches of the cage. My biggest problem was them shredding up the newspaper and I had that all over my room. I think I solved most of my problem. I put card board in the bottom of the cage instead of newspaper. I need to find a better place to put the cage so I can clean under it easier or some how arranger this room. I have them by a window with a crab apple tree just outside. They like to call at the birds they see in the tree.

[Airlyn]

For the flying hulls, maybe try a seed hopper. My spice finches are the messiest of my crew. They love to toss the seeds they don't want all over the place! Now that they use a seed hopper I don't have near the mess I did
Airlyn

[Cookie Monster]

The seed hulls I can handle. It was the shredded newspaper that was my biggest problem. Now that I have had cardboard in the bottom instead of newspaper for a few days, that has been working out very well. I think my problem is solved.

Thanks everyone