I've decided what finch I want - Cordon Bleu

mike · Post by **mike** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:04 pm

dfcauley wrote:Too bad you don't live closer..... I have some juvies and would give you a couple! I love my birds to have good and caring homes.

That would have been great! I thank you very much, regardless.

Liz, what sort of cage is on the bottom of your large cage in the 3rd picture? When I was at the place to pick up my cage I told them you had a second one stacked but they didn't seem to have the cage that fit under. Perhaps you didn't get it from the same place? They also mentioned a lady had recently picked up her 4th cage from them. Was that you? ;)

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:07 pm

Yep - I sure did get them all from the same place (Elite Pets) -

- 1 set of 4 cages (30x18x18) plus a stand (the stand holds 3 cages)
- 2 flight cages (the bottom rack holds the extra cage from the set of 4 perfectly with about 1/2" to spare.

The flight cages don't come with the cage for the bottom rack and I didn't tell them what I was doing with the cages - I didn't know myself until I tried it.

Which cages did you get from them?

No, it wasn't I that picked up anything from them within the past 4 weeks.

mike · Post by **mike** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:37 pm

L in Ontario wrote:Yep - I sure did get them all from the same place (Elite Pets) -

- 1 set of 4 cages (30x18x18) plus a stand (the stand holds 3 cages)
- 2 flight cages (the bottom rack holds the extra cage from the set of 4 perfectly with about 1/2" to spare.

The flight cages don't come with the cage for the bottom rack and I didn't tell them what I was doing with the cages - I didn't know myself until I tried it.

Which cages did you get from them?

No, it wasn't I that picked up anything from them within the past 4 weeks.

I picked up the A36, the one you have in picture #3. I made a comment to the lady that it was maybe the 4 pk cages that fit on the bottom but she wasn't sure which cage I was talking about. If I invest deeper into finches I will surely pick up the 30x18x18 cages.

The cage is really nice. The only criticism I have is that the bottom rack can't be left out because then the gap between the cage and the tray is large enough for a little bird to escape. It's no big deal, really. It just means I'll need to clean the rack. It comes out so easily it should be a non-issue.

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:45 pm

summert85 wrote:i would say a 30x18x36 would be fine, even better if you put two together and get a 60x18X36. but thats just my opinion. maybe others will have better suggestions.

Mike,

I did just as Summer suggested, putting two similar cages together. My birds love the extra room to fly in.

Good luck with your search.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:12 am

You're right Mike, the grate cannot be left out unfortunately. However Fran has devised a way to get around that by installing a wooden frame to fill the gap. I just leave the grate in and cover with newspaper.

I'm not surprised they didn't understand what 4 pack of cages you were referring to as I don't think most of the employees look at the cages. They are just a middle-person receiving boxes and boxes (shipload) of cages (and other stuff) from China and selling them from their warehouse in Scarborough.

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:05 pm

I'm very excited. I will pick up my finches tomorrow morning. I will need to get all the accessories (and food) tonight which is okay because I have to buy cat food anyway (no, not the birds). I'll take some pics maybe after they settle in.

L in Ontario wrote:You're right Mike, the grate cannot be left out unfortunately. However Fran has devised a way to get around that by installing a wooden frame to fill the gap. I just leave the grate in and cover with newspaper.

I thought of using wood. I'll try just using the cage as is and see how I feel about it. Sadly I don't keep newspaper around the house. Does soiled newpaper go in the trash or the recycle or green bin?

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:10 pm

Oooh how exciting - what kind of birds are you getting tomorrow morning? Pics!!

Glad to hear the birds are not going to be cat-food!

Tip from one of the others on this forum: Tape a pieces of clear vinyl about 1" larger than the big door on the inside just on top of the door. This will help prevent any escapees when you are placing eggfood dishes inside the cage or removing/replacing the newspaper. (I have access to tonnes of it here at work)

I suppose soiled newspaper can go either way but I just trash mine in the regular garbage. It will decompose there as well as in the greenbin (just no dog/cat feces allowed in the greenbin or yardwaste programs in our city of Barrie).

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:47 pm

L in Ontario wrote:Oooh how exciting - what kind of birds are you getting tomorrow morning? Pics!! Glad to hear the birds are not going to be cat-food!

Tip from one of the others on this forum: Tape a pieces of clear vinyl about 1" larger than the big door on the inside just on top of the door. This will help prevent any escapees when you are placing eggfood dishes inside the cage or removing/replacing the newspaper. (I have access to tonnes of it here at work)

I think I understand the tip about the vinyl. Maybe you could explain once more.

The birds are blue-cap cordon bleus. I have't seen them yet so there is always the slight chance I don't like the condition of them but there are 2 pairs and I don't really know exactly what is a good bird. I know about mites, raw skin, missing feathers, (missing body parts), etc. but I'm sure there will be things I should be looking for.
I'm kind of happy they are the blue-caps instead of the red-cheeks. I really liked the shade of blue on them so more blue is always better

My cats are going to go nuts.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:06 pm

Mike
I posted that before about the vinyl,I have a HQ cage that has two doors in the middle of the front of cage just above the top door is a brace I took apiece of plastic vinyl thats about 1 inch wider than the door opening and as long as needed to hang and cover both door openings on the inside of cage when you put food into cage it just moves a little to side. Haven't had any escape I even leave the door open to fill there water the opening is compleatly covered with the plastic .This is the heavy vinyl i got from walmart by the yard its nice to hang on the back of cage to keep the wall clean too

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:26 pm

Yes that's it, Bill. Thanks for making it clearer. I too have the vinyl around the back and 1/2 of each side of the flight cages.

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:46 pm

Okay that makes sense, now. Right now the cage is in an empty bedroom so it will be easy to clean the seed but I will look at the vinyl next time I'm at Walmart.

mike · Post by **mike** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:56 pm

Well I picked up the birds. The cats saw them and now the cats are going nuts. I locked them out of the room and they kept running back and forth trying to get in, screaming at me. So I figured I should just let them see the birds and get it out of their system. Well they won't give up. They jump on top of the cage and stare. I covered the top of the cage with newspaper and they tear it up with their teeth. So I pulled out the central vac and that scared them away and I shut the door. They are still sitting outside the door, crying. The birds aren't happy but I don't know if it's better to let them deal with the stress now or later. Well, maybe I've give the cats another few minutes, later in the day. Eventually I can leave the door open, can't I? It would be a shame if the room had to stay closed so I can never see or hear them.

... well it appears the cats can open the door. I put the running vacuum cleaner on the top of the cage. That seems to be working right now.

Anyway, here is a picture of them. It's not very good.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 2:10 pm

You will have to be VERY VERY careful. You may have an incompatible situation where the cat may see the birds as a snack, and sooner or later they will snack on them. The cat is a natural hunter, and birds are one of their preys. I've seen pet cats going after wild birds, and every once in a while they get one.

My wifes co-worker almost lost her parrot. Her dog had it in its mouth, luckily her boyfriend saw that and whacked the dog, freeing the bird. They don't know how injured the parrot is.

One separation option is to put a spring or hydraulic closing mechanism on the room door, so it can't accidentally be left open. But some of these are not strong and could be pushed open by a determined cat. And use a lock/latch mechanism that the cats CANNOT open. Use a round door knob, so the cats can't turn it, as they could a lever door knob.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:53 pm

Cats will be Cats..... I have 5 cats and 100's of birds. I have lost 1 canary to a cat..... head totally missing... body in the middle of the cage.... still don't know how that happened. But after that I have always protected my birds. The cats never have acess to the birds. The birds I have for viewing enjoyment are on my sunroom. The cats are not allowed out there....ever.
Even if they just jump around or on the cage the finches could die of stress or fright. A running vacuum can not be to desirable to the finches either.
You can order a scat mat...electric charge mat that gives a static shock if stepped on. This may work until the cats figure out they can jump over it.... Good luck.

Post by **Sally** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:58 pm

I have cats, too, and I do not trust them for an instant. I have lost several birds to cats, one got out of a cage while I was gone and a cat got it, and another was attacked in its cage by the cat. Cats by nature will wait for as long as necessary to get their prey. They will watch till the birds calm down and perch close to the wires, and then they have them. My birds are in a second bedroom, and the door is closed most of the time. If I am working in the house, I can leave the bedroom door open and if a cat goes in the room, the birds sound the alarm, I yell at the cat, and the cat leaves the room immediately. But if I'm too busy, or on the computer, or doing something that requires more of my attention, the door has to stay closed.

I've even thought about installing some sort of screen door on the outside of the bedroom door, so I could leave the door open and have the screen in place--not very attractive, though.

Oh, I got so busy talking about the cats, I forgot to tell you how nice your new birds are!

I'm sure you will love them, CBs have it all--song and color!