Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    I use the separator sheets from my printer (blank paper).  Why throw
    them out?  
    
    I have used Corn cobb, but with 4 cages, decided that I didn't like
    the smell in the room. (I have finches).
    
    cheryl
    

    My cages all have metal grates and then under that a two inch deep
    catch pan.  I put newspaper in the catch pan.  Two inches is fairly
    deep.  None of my birds can get their beaks that far down to grab
    the paper or any other nasty's for that matter.  Yes, changing the
    paper occurs daily as well as a little wipe with a bleach water solution
    on the grate.  It's a chore, but I know their environment is pretty
    bacteria free.

    A cage with a grate and a deep bottom is very good.  All my birds
    are in this type of cage and I use corn cob as well.  The corn cob
    is absorbent and the finer cob look good as well.  I do however
    clean the cages completely about every other day to reduce the
    possibility of having any bacteria problems.  I hope this helps.
    
    

    
    In my cage there is a deep and large bottom, where my Amazon is
    eager to walk. I have used newspaper two years now and have not
    noticed any harm. It is easy solution anyway.
    
    P�ivi

    In a previous note, several people mentioned they didn't use he
    bottom grates due to them just collecting stuff.  The reason I am
    concerned about bottom covering.....I had to take the grate out
    of the cage as the baby cockatiels were falling through it (I think
    the spaces are too big OR they just don't know how to navigate it).
     I was afraid one of them would break a leg.  Since they were hand
    fed, they are used to scrounging around the bottom like they did
    during the weaning process, so they spend a lot of time there.
    

    
    As I find it all birds are diffrent.  I suggust you find what works
    good for you and your bird and stick with it.  I dont like paper
    and I love the ceder chips (but Reggie hates them and he wont go
    down to the bottom of his cage if there is ceder chips) so we use
    the cord-cob.  When we clean the cage he runs down and rolls in
    the corn-cob, and he eats it to.  I do keep the grate in the cage
    otherwise he would be rolling in the cob all day long..so I have
    to padlock his grate in and his food dishes...
    
    I hope you find the one you and your bird will agree on
    
    LKP

    For little baby birds (or at least mine) I used oatmeal, and changed it
    twice a day.  The oatmeal soaked up stuff, and if they ingested it, it
    wouldn't harm my baby.
    
    Ed
    FWIW

    I use the unprinted newsprint sold by the moving companies.  It
    comes in 25 lb bundles costing about $12.50.  I put 2 sheets directly
    on the bottom of the cages and all my birds walk on it.  My pionus
    is the only one who messes it up by getting under it to play. also
    lately he likes to tear strips off the edges.  
    
    maybe max is a maxine?

    I tried corn cob in the cage bottoms this week.  The cockatiels
    seem to be trying to eat some of it....is this a problem???  I like
    the appearance and it seems easier than trying to fold newspaper
    in all kinds of weird sizes to fit the cage bottoms, but want to
    make sure it's not going to hurt them.  I tried putting the grate
    back in the bottom, but they still fall through.
    

    RE: .9 
    
    My birds have a tendency of trying to eat the stuff, especially
    my cockatiel and budgie.  I have not seen them harmed by it and
    most people that I have spoken with did not seem too concerned 
    about it either.  I do however, change the corn cob frequently
    which reduces the the possibility of them ingesting their own
    feces.  I do use the grates however.  A suggestion may be to have
    custom grates made that prevent you birds from falling through.
    I haven't experienced that problem myself.
    
    Jim Buccieri
    

    I was using ground up walnut shells after I found out
    that grit was not healthy but I found those lovley grain
    weavel sp? and now i am just putting paper towels (with
    no pattern on them) on the bottom.
    
    Donna

    I had been using newspaper until I found out that the newsprint
    is what was making Rita's tail grey. Rita is my albino budgie,it
    wasn't noticable on Tweety as his tail is blue.
                                       
    I have since switched to the used printer paper that I used to throw
    away. Her tail is gradually turning whiter now.
    
    Doug
                                        
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    I use the "Money Savings coupons" out of the sunday paper, since
    they are the perfect size to fit in my tray.  
    
    I like the idea of the printer paper.  However, I only have a laser
    printer so I don't get much throwaway paper.

    Isn't the colored ink in those toxic?
    

    Anybody tried butcher paper?  You can get it in roles for real
    cheap out here and it would pert-near last you forever.  

    Re .14 - Colored ink
    
    a - There is a grate at the bottom of the cage, so the birds are
    at least an inch away from the paper in the bottom.
    
    b - I've been doing this for years so far, and the birds haven't
    had any reaction.
    
    c - I've never seen H&G try to eat the stuff since they can't get
    at it.
    
    	-Nancy

    Seems there hasn't been much discussion on this topic for awhile. 
    Regarding corn cob, don't use it for babies.  We have (had) it in the
    bottom of the bins that our 2 to 3 week old cockatiels are in.  The
    youngest swallowed some.  We saw it swallow 2, but the crop feels like
    more.  Now it barely eats and is lathargic(sp).  According to the pet
    store and the vet, we shouldn't have used corn cob for babies.  It
    tends to absord water and swell.  It could dehydrate the baby by
    absorbing the water from the body.  It could also clog the intestinal
    track.  We have to keep a close I on it now to make sure it's passing
    stools.  The impression I got was with adults birds, they can pass the 
    stuff with no problem, and wouldn't bother eating it anyway.  But, for
    us, it's no more corn cob.  We'll use paper towels until they are old
    enough to go into a cage, then paper.
    
    regarding the paper:  We went to a paper outlet store and bought a roll
    of 4" wide, MEGA long paper.  We've had the roll for 3 years, covered
    every floor in our house with it at least twice, used it for heavy duty
    wrapping, and used it for bird cage bottoms and we're not even near
    half ways thru it.  It's brown and at least as thick as the store
    bought cage bottom brown paper.  Don't quote me now, but I think I paid
    $20.00 for this roll.
    
    Chris D.

    
    
    I noticed that nobody mentioned cat litter.  I've used it for 10 years
    with no problems.  My smaller birds, parakeets, cocketiels, lovebirds
    and conure don't have a bottom grid to their cage and they have never
    tried eating it.  I also have it in my yellow nape cage.  My larger
    guys, Macaws, have it in their cages but they have a grid.  Cat litter
    has worked wonderful for us.  All we do each day is take a "pooper
    scooper" and lift out their droppings and only change it when it's
    necessary.
    
    I do want to stress that I never used litter when my birds were young. 
    They are just like children, everything goes into their mouths.
    
    lori