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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

569.0. "Cleaning finch cages" by SALSA::DEFRANCO () Mon Jun 17 1991 19:00

    O.K.. I give up!  There has got to be a better way of cleaning finch
    cages than the one I'm using.  Each week, I take the finch cage, along
    with the finches, outside and clean the cage with much duress to both
    the  finches and me.
    
    I go sticking my hand in their cage, dish rag attached, and proceed to
    clean the spots I can reach.  Finches flying everywhere, nerves shot
    and still a long way to go before the cage is cleaned.  I then do the
    bottom which is no picnic!!  I generally use the garden hose, turned on
    very low, to wash out the bottom and to rinse some of the cage areas
    that I was not able to reach with my hand and dish rag.  
    
    Then I try to dry everything off with of course another killer dish
    cloth!!  Oh God, no, say the poor little finches!  
    
    Well, after this, the cage is relatively clean but all of us are rather
    shaken up.  How on earth does one properly clean a cage with the birds
    in it?  Its so much easier with the tiels and keets as they spend time
    on their play tree while I scrub their cages.
    
    Am I supposed to take the finches out of their cage?  If so, where do I
    put them?  How do I grab them without giving them heart attachs? 
    
    Please, all of you veteran finch owners out there, HELP!!!!!!
    
    
    Jeanne
    (and her eight little finches)
      
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569.1never easyALCTRZ::MAPPES_DOMon Jun 17 1991 20:5517
    Hi,
    
    I have 2 peking Robins alittle larger than finches but fast as
    lightning. I go to my bathroom and close the door, from there I
    take the top part of the cage off (usualy the birds stay to the top 
    because
    of the racket going on below) and set it on the floor once the cage
    is apart I fill the bathtub with hot water and scrub the bottom.
    then I put the cage back together then with a warm small rag I wipe
    the sides down. I do this every three to four days so nothing builds
    up. If the birds get out they are in a very small area and I usualy
    have to drop a kitchen towel on them because they are too fast for
    me to net I guess what I am trying to say is is will always be some
    sort of hassle.
    
    Donna in california
    
569.2I know what you meanMR4DEC::GCOOKSave the SkeetsTue Jun 18 1991 12:2920
    Hi,
    
    I know what you mean about the silly little things being terrorized.
    My zebra finches' cage  the messiest thing!  At least every other
    day I use a wadded up paper towel and sweep out the seeds and other
    crud from the bottom when I take the tray out to change the lining.
    Then once a week I take them into the bathroom and close the door.
    I undo the top of the cage and slide a barrier under it - the hen
    will zip right out if I try to move the cage without a barrier.
    Then I can dump out all the stuff and wash the bottom in the tub.
    I like to take all the perches and stuff out and wash (and dry) them
    also.
    
    One thing I have noticed about my birds (maybe this is only my
    imagination) is that they seem to get slightly less hysterical if
    I'm wearing a light color and if there aren't any sleeves on the
    part of my arm that goes into the cage.
    
    Gwen
     
569.3How I Clean My Buzzards Cage(s)JVAX::SIPILACan I go home now?Tue Jun 18 1991 16:3579
    Gee, I don't have any problems with my "little buzzards" when it
    comes to cleaning their cage(s).  
    
    Max and Maggie are in separate cages right now.  Maggie is
    rerecuperating from "the battle" that I wrote about in a previous
    note.
    
    First I take out their beds, water cups, seed cups, treat cups, and
    grit cups.  I take the seeds and put them in separate bowls.  The
    empty cups go into a sink full of soapy water to soak.   
    
    The spray of millett is checked out.  If there are still seeds on
    it, it is set aside for the next day.  Any fruits or veggies are
    taken out and thrown away too!  Their toys are also taken out and
    put into the sink to soak.  
    
    Then the cage bars are gone over with a sponge rinsed out in warm,
    soapy water to get rid of the seed hulks and poopies. 
    
    Then the cups and toys are washed, thoroughly rinsed, dried, and put up on
    the counter. 
    
    All this time they watch everything that goes on - and give out
    the orders!  Maggie has an ear piercing little peep!  She knows what
    she wants and she keeps it up until she gets it!  
    
    I take the bowls with the seeds in them outside and gently blow
    the seed hucks out and take out any poopies.  If the seed is to
    dirty, out it goes to the wild birds!
    
    Then the seeds are divided amongst the two now, and fresh seed added
    if necesary.
    
    While I am removing the bottoms of the cages they are to busy eating
    to cause any problems.  If fact I can take the bottoms off the cages
    and move them to the other end of the counter without them trying
    to fly out from the bottom.  
    
    Then the bottoms and trays in the cages are washed with warm soapy
    water, rinsed and dried.  A paper towel lines the trays and then
    white paper is put on top of that.  Their toys are washed and put
    back in, and then they are ready for the night.
    
    All this takes about twenty minutes if we don't play little bird
    games while we are doing it!!!!  
    
    They are clean, healthy birds and hate to be dirty!  
    
    One morning this week my husband took the cover off and caught it
    on Maggie's seed cup and spilled it.  She jumped down on the perched,
    opened her little beak in awe and stared at the mess then at
    my husband!  She couldn't beleive what he had done!  It was so funny
    to see her - beak open - wide-eyed - and not a peep!  
    
    They are fastidious little things!  They don't even like to get
    their beaks dirty. When they eat juicey fruit they are always cleaning
    their beaks on the perch.  When they have had enough they usually poop
    on it! 
    
    They bathe every night in tepid water.  Max really enjoys his bath,
    but Maggie takes one if she feels like it!    
    
    They are so spoiled, but we enjoy them!  I never really realized
    birds had personalities until these two little gray balls of feathers
    came into our home.  They rule the roost!
    
    I have so many cute stories about these two buzzards!  Maybe that
    would make for another interesting topic!  I am sure everyone has
    lots of stories.
    
    Regards,
    
       Susan
    
    
    
    
    
    
569.4Cooking Spray?WMOIS::FLECK_SLove me, Love my dogs, cats, etc.Mon May 13 1996 15:527
    
    	I need some advice.  My sun conure's cage is black wrought iron, 
    and he tends to stay on the bars and his poop runs down the front of
    the cage.  Is there any special cleaner that makes it easier to get
    it off after it has stuck on?  Maybe after its clean I could spray
    it with no-stick cooking spray and it would come off easier next
    cleaning.  Would this spray be harmful to the bird?   Thanks Sue
569.5lots of H2O and a little timeNEWVAX::WHITMANgun control = 5% gun + 95% controlMon May 13 1996 17:2827
<    	I need some advice.  My sun conure's cage is black wrought iron, 
<    and he tends to stay on the bars and his poop runs down the front of
<    the cage.  Is there any special cleaner that makes it easier to get
<    it off after it has stuck on?  Maybe after its clean I could spray

    We have the same problem only about 25 times over...  What my wife does is
she moves the birds to a perch or temporary cage and then she hoses down the
cage with a garden hose out on the driveway. She really soaks it.  Lets the
cage stand for 15 minutes or so and then soaks down it again.  She then takes a
stiff brush and briefly scrubs any tough spots.  She lets everything air dry and
the puts the birds back in the cages. It is not a quick way, but it works, 
though you might have a problem in the winter, depending on where you live.

    Great job for the kids.  Lets them get all wet AND gets some work out of
them too. 

    I guess the point is that water works fine in large quantities as long as 
you let it soak long enough to soften the droppings. Even droppings which have
dried on the floor come right up if you leave a very damp towel on the spot for
10 or 15 minutes. 

    I wouldn't think spraying something to keep the dropping from sticking to
the bars would be very good, as the bird might have difficulty climbing.

Good luck,

Al