Newbie budgie owner Cage recommendations and advice please

[Flowers]

Hi - We should be getting our budgie end of this month and I am really busy researching cages.  I have read a lot about the Hagen cages and am thinking about the medium cage but I don't understand a few things.  

Firstly what do you put if anything under the grid at the bottom of the cage does it have to be lined or does it stay empty?

Secondly if I line the top of the grid with newspaper how many layers should be sufficient and can I just peel off the top layer every day?

 Thirdly should I put the newspaper right across the grid or leave a gap under before reaching the seed bowls?

If my budgie is not tame yet how do I clean the base/tray of the cage and how do I clean the whole cage with the budgie inside?  If she flies out amd is not hand tame I won't be able to put her back in again.

What should I clean and or disinfect the cage with and how often does this need to be done?


I am getting so confused and would be really grateful for any help and advice and also if anyone can recommend any other good cages for me to look at I would be ever so grateful.

Thank you so much.

[Moogie]

Hi and welcome
I and alot of others here have Hagen cages...
I put 7 shhets of paper on top of the grill then on the last day (7th) i clean the whole cage...I cut around the seed trays so no paper is under them..
To clean while your budgie is not tame should not be a problem...With budgie still in cage (he/she will prob be sitting on a perch) just unclip the clips on the cage and put down on table or floor ect as budgie will probably stay on his perch whilst you do this (hope that makes sense)
If you can get hold of some f10 this can be used to clan cage and ALL things like water bottles seed trays toys ect heres a link for some
www.northernparrots.com/f10-super-concentrate-disinfectant-prod6501a/?src=froogle&gclid=CJf90Y-y_L0CFQvHtAodvAsAeg

I am sure some other members will be along soon to help you out some more and look forward to hearing all about your new friend

[Leanne]

I put newspaper under the bottom grate, saves having to scrub the tray when you clean it out. I have the l12, even though it is recommended for parrots my 2 budgies love the extra space! My 2 aren't hand tame. They do however take themselves back to the cage when they are tired. If you let them out make sure they are hungry. I.e don't feed them before they come out. I wait till they go back in to feed them/give them a treat!

[stace]

I don't have one of those cages, so I can't give you any specific advice, but if you spend a bit of time arranging the perches, you should be able to create a layout where almost all the poop lands on the newspaper floor.

[OP]

I also have a Hagen cage. I do not use newspaper at all, mainly because I never buy one and the free ones are very infrequent. I find that cleaning the bottom very easy and because there is no paper I can disinfect the bottom without having to wait for it to dry. I also do not use anything on top of the grid so that nearly all feathers, poop and other stuff fall to the bottom and my budgie does not spread it all over by walking in it. He very rarely goes to the bottom anyway, but has done on occasions. As Moogie suggests, separating the top and bottom with the budgie inside is easy. Usually the bud will go to one perch and stay there while you transport the upper part of the cage to a nearby table and back and back again. Having said that my bud is an oddball so does behave differently to most others some of the time.

[Hezz]

Apr 25, 2014 17:32:21 GMT Flowers said:

Hi - We should be getting our budgie end of this month and I am really busy researching cages.  I have read a lot about the Hagen cages and am thinking about the medium cage but I don't understand a few things.  

Firstly what do you put if anything under the grid at the bottom of the cage does it have to be lined or does it stay empty?
I leave the bottom tray as is; I line the grill with newspaper and take the top layer off each morning. At the end of the week, when the cage gets a proper clean out, all that is in the bottom tray are a few seed husks and feathers - easy to clean up.
Secondly if I line the top of the grid with newspaper how many layers should be sufficient and can I just peel off the top layer every day?
Yes! Top layer off, therefore 7 layers for seven days
 Thirdly should I put the newspaper right across the grid or leave a gap under before reaching the seed bowls?
Can't answer this one, as I don't have this specific cage
If my budgie is not tame yet how do I clean the base/tray of the cage and how do I clean the whole cage with the budgie inside?  If she flies out amd is not hand tame I won't be able to put her back in again.
As already mentioned, budgie will sit on a perch and stay there while you remove the base.
What should I clean and or disinfect the cage with and how often does this need to be done?
Moogie has already mentioned F10, how often - should be once a week at least

I am getting so confused and would be really grateful for any help and advice and also if anyone can recommend any other good cages for me to look at I would be ever so grateful.

Thank you so much.

Hi and welcome. The budgie taming question can be answered on its own ......... that is a whole subject to itself!

[starrymist]

I have newspaper under the grill & just take off the too sheet daily then use a DustBuster to Hoover up the remaining mess around the sides. It means that very little if any poo needs scrubbed off as none has stuck. Before I used the newspaper it got quite messy but this way it's much simpler. The whole thing is dismantled & washed (or the top 1/2 wiped down) every 7-10 days. I just use normal household disinfectant, (& washing up liquid) nothing special & that works fine.

[Flowers]

Thank you thank you thank you all so much for your amazing help , I could see myself literally getting into a flap about it all but now I know what to do and how to line the cage, clean etc it is a huge help.

[starrymist]

JennyB, this thread may be of interest? The lifting up bit of cleaning out the cage you were asking about is mentioned here.

[Flowers]

Hi jenny which thread do I look at please 

[JennyB]

Hi. I was tagged so I could read your thread. I was asking similar things about the Hagen cages last week. I've just ordered the Vision M01. I've requested family members start saving me their newspapers 

[starrymist]

Ah, yes, sorry Flowers, I thought Jenny would find your questions & the following answers interesting as she was asking very similar last week. X