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Post by Loz on Jun 6, 2022 20:24:01 GMT
I'm currently musing over my current cage setup. I currently have a couple of these: I believe it was Hezz who suggested laying the cages on their sides, in order to provide more horizontal space, which is more suitable for budgies - currently the space is vertically orientated. This makes sense and I'm mulling it over as I think I have a suitable methodology for changing things around. The question on my mind is droppings and other litter. The cages on their sides do not provide for collection of the droppings which means a mess on the floor, or whatever I use to cover the floor in order to protect it. The obvious step is to construct or buy a proper cage/aviary solution but then I'd be writing off the substantial money invested in the two cages. Plus I'm not made of money! Anyone have any bright ideas or suggestions? Something elegant, preferably! It's possible my interest in making a big change like this may fade but if I can come up with a really cool setup, I may go with it. Plus it solves the issue of Chocobo nesting under the cage!
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Jun 6, 2022 21:10:19 GMT
How about trying silicone sheet material that is used to line cookie sheets in baking? Its non-toxic and can be wiped clean. In the US, it can be bought in rolls for custom fit. I use it around my boys cage because its easier to clean than the floor. You might look around in kitchen supply stores for liner type materials. If it says its food safe, you can use it without worry. Watch to make sure the hens aren't chewing the cut edge.
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Post by Hezz on Jun 7, 2022 1:18:05 GMT
Make, or get made, a cage tidy type of thing. Moulded rubber would work, possibly, but for anything to work well you would need to have broom or vacuum cleaner space underneath for a decent cleanup.
You could make a trolley to fit using aluminium box section and nylon joiners, with perhaps a ply shelf top and bottom … one for the cage and one for storage. Birds don’t like to be down low so you would need to get it up off the floor.
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Post by Loz on Jun 7, 2022 2:51:11 GMT
I probably should have mentioned - if I go ahead with this, I'd be mounting the cage on a pair of adjustable-height builders trestles (the adjustments can be locked in place for safety). I will be able to obtain a height for the cage that the budgies would be happy with. Cleaning underneath would be fairly simple but there would have to be a protective cover for the wooden flooring. I like TPM's silicone sheeting idea. A cage tidy arrangement might be ideal but prohibitively expensive, as I lack the skills to make one myself.
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May 30, 2022 0:12:25 GMT
ingrid
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 14
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Post by ingrid on Jun 8, 2022 14:46:10 GMT
It looks like nice big cage, I think it's fine as is. I love it actually. I'm guessing this was purchased in the UK? I'm in Canada and I've never seen it before. What's the name of it? Needs a plant on top.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,829
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jun 8, 2022 15:40:00 GMT
Silly question perhaps, but will it be structurally sound if laid on it's side? It's an odd shape.
Your birds get a lot of outside cage time anyway don't they?
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Post by Loz on Jun 8, 2022 15:55:52 GMT
It looks like nice big cage, I think it's fine as is. I love it actually. I'm guessing this was purchased in the UK? I'm in Canada and I've never seen it before. What's the name of it? Needs a plant on top. I am in the UK. I bought two of these cages, imaginatively named "Tall All Metal Corner Aviary Cage" from Little Pet Warehouse. I'm very pleased with them overall but my kakariki spends too much time under one of them for my liking. Hence my idea of a reconfiguring. You're right, a plant on top is a great idea ... except no plant would survive beyond a day or two if the budgies and my Chocobo take a shine to it 🤣
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Post by Loz on Jun 8, 2022 16:06:34 GMT
Silly question perhaps, but will it be structurally sound if laid on it's side? It's an odd shape. Your birds get a lot of outside cage time anyway don't they? Not a silly question at all and this was my initial concern when Hezz first suggested the idea a few months ago. I have some full-width perches which could be used as structural supports for the cages if I rotate them. My chief concern now is that on their sides, I do not have space for two of these cages. I'm not sure I can get away with just one cage now as the relationship between Chocobo and Squeak has broken down completely and I cannot risk them in the same cage overnight. You are correct, the budgies spend only as much time as they want to in the cages during the day. They generally speaking have the run of the downstairs (and the upstairs landing, should they choose) so cage size is not so critical. I would like to cure Chocobo of her under-cage habit (she's back under there today 😞) and my reconfiguration idea would have worked for that. I'm just going to have construct something that keeps her out of there.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,829
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jun 9, 2022 7:47:15 GMT
It's hard to know how to stop her going under there Blocking the space off or making it too light are all I can think of.
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Post by Loz on Jun 9, 2022 9:41:08 GMT
I need to construct a proper barrier for each cage. The improvised barriers I've tried so far are wholly inadequate. The carpet will be coming up in the not too distant future. That is when I will put the barriers in place. It'll be all-change then!
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Post by Loz on May 15, 2023 11:49:46 GMT
The time has come.
I've had an Elegance cage for some time now (the Elegance is effectively two Hamberley cages side by side with a removable barrier in the middle.) The budgies love it, the chocobo loves it and when it comes to time to clean it, I hate it less than the two tall cages I use in addition to the Elegance.
I'm going to replace those two cages with another Elegance. I promise you, the additional space in case I rescue any more budgies was *not* a factor. Delivery is scheduled for tomorrow when there will be more than the usual amount of chaos (already near the absolute maximum possible for our space-time continuum.)
Expensive year for budgies this year, and that's before I factor in what additional perches, toys & bowls I might need! (Hopefully not many/any.)
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Post by Ira on May 15, 2023 17:19:53 GMT
Nobody believes you regarding not getting more budgies! But a second Elegance sounds like a grand plan!
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Post by Loz on May 15, 2023 17:42:31 GMT
Nobody believes you regarding not getting more budgies! [...] Not true. I believe me!
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Post by ffiscool on May 15, 2023 18:27:36 GMT
Maybe you could sell the others? Cage, not budgie
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Post by Loz on May 15, 2023 18:31:11 GMT
I'd love to sell them but I won't sign up for eBay again, nor Facebook.
I guess I'll rely on word-of-mouth.
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