they keep riping the newspaper at the bottom of their cage and throwing it out, i tried using care fresh instead and they tried to eat that. they have toys, food, treats etc... how can i get them to stop without getting a new cage(their cage is nice and big, dont want to change it.) or what litter can i use thats safe for them. i love them to pieces but i can only vaccumm so much!!!!
2007-02-20 06:19:22 · 14 answers · asked by lola7737 5 in Pets ➔ Birds
just try to put them somewhere where u don't really mind it getting dirty or try to put newspaper under and around the cage so for now on u just pick up the newspaper and throw that out. GOOD LUCK AND DON'T WORRY ALL 24 OF MY PARAKEETS DID THE SAME THING AND THEY FINALLY STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-02-20 06:25:28 · answer #1 · answered by hello 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can use several alternatives. One is ground up corn corbs. It sold at pet stores as bird litter. Relatively economical. Another is to spread gravel grit on the bottom.. For both you can use a slotted spatula and sift out the excrement to clean out the cage. It is perfectly fine if they eat either one. Birds actually need gravel grit to help digest the seeds. There are bird perches designed with gravel grit spread over them. ALso, Birds can be messy. They will flick there seeds and throw things out of the cage. You can purchase a bird cage guard or make one. It is a thin piece of netting that is see through but will not let seeds or things fall out of the cage. It simply fits around the bottom half of the cage.
2007-02-20 07:04:09 · answer #2 · answered by xmasjopresent 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alas, birds are SOOOO messy. I have two budgies and a quaker parrot, and they are plain messy.
Consider using ground nut shells in the bottom of the cage- that's available at PetSmart.
If the cage doesn't have a wire mesh floor, consider getting a piece of wire mesh from the hardware store and cutting it to fit in the floor. (Not aluminum or zinc wire, but the coated kind used in gardens.) Lay this over the newspaper to restrict their access. It can be rinsed when you clean the cage.
I just do a quick vacuum once a day and then more on weekends, but I have come to accept that birds are messy and I just have to deal with it!
2007-02-20 06:28:06 · answer #3 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most cages now have a grate that covers the bottom and I am assuming yours doesn't. The only thing I can suggest is that you try to find something you can you can use as a grate. Also, have you notices what they use in the pet stores, such as Petco, I do not know what it is for sure.
I really do not know what to tell you. You could measure your cage and maybe get on eBay and try to order a grate that would fit your cage. I know my birds can not even reach their newspaper.
I know what you mean by only being able to vacuum so much. My lovebird does not know how to keep his food inside his cage. My parakeet has to be cleanest eater.
2007-02-20 06:29:37 · answer #4 · answered by Mandie Moe 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
some cages have pars where there is wire over the bottom like(example)some pet cages have wire over the bottom, now for rodents thats bad becuse there little feet can get stuck.But if you have a bird they won't go to the bottom or there beak won't be able to fit. To see what i am talking about go to petsmart and look at a 15 dollar hamster cage they will tell you that there is wire at the bottom.thats a bad product i (told you why). But see if they have those for birds.its called All Living Things Single Level Hamster Cage if you go to the storeoffline you will see the bottom bars.
2007-02-20 06:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by calvincj13 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My parakeet cage has a grate in the bottom so she can't get to the news paper. Maybe you can try to make or order one. If you try to make one, make sure toes and nails can't get caught in small holes. On the flip-side, make sure feet or other body parts can't fit through. They make these skirt things you can put around the bottom of your cage to help keep things in. Birds are messy, that's all there is but maybe this will help to contain some of the mess.
2007-02-20 06:59:08 · answer #6 · answered by RB 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try putting a plastic covering under the cage on the floor. They carry special made ones at babies r us to use under highchairs. They arent too pretty, but neither are shavings all over the floor!! You just take it out and shake it a couple of times a week and easy to wipe down and sanitize if they poop out of their cage. Also have you tried the larger pellet looking bedding? I am not sre what to call it but it worked for my little Quaker. It is too large to put in thier mouths.
2007-02-20 06:30:40 · answer #7 · answered by Ashli 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They sell a little mesh apron that will expand around your cage and that will keep all that paper from going on the floor. Just go to a big pet store and tell them you want a cage apron. They will know what it is. It really works. It will keep your floor nice and clean.
2007-02-20 06:26:37 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. Blue 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
you can attempt what I do for my FIDs (feathered kids)
take out the grate on the bottom of the cage, do NOT use paper or sand or other crud, and clean it every day.
works wonders!!!
it also sounds like they need different types of toys, heres a site for ya... the ones it sounds like they would like are coffee filter or muffin cup ones. Punch holes in the middle of a bunch of muffin cups, thread a cotton string through it and hang it in the cage somewhere.
birds are NOT clean animals
2007-02-20 06:42:07 · answer #9 · answered by lilswanwillow 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
your parakeet is probally a female and is trying to nest taking the paper away will just make her shred more leave it in her cage for a while she will get tired of doing it
2007-02-20 09:07:45 · answer #10 · answered by Fashion Bug 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋