Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    My tiels were extremely dusty when I first got them.  A number of things
    have all contributed to dust reduction:
    
    .  I think some of their dust may have been caused by some kind of 
    mites, cause after I sprayed them, I found a lot of dust on their 
    perches with little white dots in it.  The amount of dust declined
    dramatically after that and the dots have yet to reappear (I spray them
    once/week).
    
    .  I started out using just paper in their cages, as recommended by a
    book, but later switched to shavings and now use corn cob crumbles.  
    The shavings and corn cob both seem to catch and hold onto some of the 
    dust -- I like the corn cob best since it stays *in* the cage.
    
    .  My new parrot had terrible dander when I first got him -- 1 good
    bath improved that dramatically.  I lightly "shower" the tiels and the
    parrot weekly (except while the tiels were sick).
    
    .  I empty and tear down the tiel's cage each week and rinse it
    thoroughly under scalding water.
    
    .  I "pick out" their cage at least every other day and clean any
    soiled spots on their perches daily to reduce "guano dust."

    
    
     ditto on the corn cob!!!
    
     This stuff really cuts down on the mess.
    My biggest tip is to get the corn cob at
    an Agway type store. You can buy it per
    pound for 35 cents(give or take), which
    is MUCH cheaper than pet stores. Also 
    they are now selling a 25 pd. bag for 
    something like $7. This is real handy
    as I use about 8 lbs. at a clip in my 
    aviary.
    
         In terms of Lucite cages...
    
     I built my own cage/aviary that has a 
    full plexiglass front. The sides are plexiglass 
    about 1/3 of the way up and the back is peg
    board,(great for mounting things). The reduction
    in mess, dust... has been incredible. And that's
    saying a lot for I have 2 teils, two keets and
    one canary in there. Now if I could just get the 
    finches to clean up thier act! :-)
    
    
    gerb
    
    

    Thanks for the advice.  I have determined that most of my mess comes
    from the birds flapping their wings and blowing eveything around.  I
    presently use newspaper to line the cage bottom (which is changed
    daily) and it seems things just sit there waiting to be blown up by
    flapping wings.  Does the debris "stay" in the corn cob or does it blow
    around?
    
    Also, my husband is home in the afternoons and he lets the birds out of
    their cages at 1:00.  So.... by the time I get home and set up to clean
    around 6:30, the birds have out for quite some time spreading their
    dusty feathers and seeds all over the room.
    
    I kept the birds in their cage "all day" yesterday, and the mess was
    substantially less than usual.  Then again, the birds looked
    substantially more bored than usual.  So, it looks like I'll just have
    to live with the mess.  
    
    I am working on getting an outdoor avairy built (if hubby ever agrees)
    and that would be great!  Less indoor mess and more room for the birds. 
    Time will tell!
    
    thanks,
    
    
    Jeanne
     

    
    
     Well- feathers will always fly but it seems that 
    seed, droppings... get caught up into the thousands
    of little crevices between corn cob particles. An 
    added heads up if you go to an Agway type store 
    is to get the large grain size corn cob. The really
    small ones are lighter and can fly around as well.
    
    chet
    

    I don't keep Tiels, but maybe it would help if you gave them a misting
    more often(every moring ?)?

    They are misted each day, sometimes twice a day.  I really think it's
    because they have the run of the room for so many hours.  Lucky
    Birds!!!
    
    I think I'll try the corn cob.  Sounds like it may help some of my
    problems.
    
    thanks
    
    Jeanne

    Ditto again on the corn cob.  One of my tiels is molting big-time right
    now, and most of her feathers stay in the cage.  I think static
    electricity also helps keep stuff stuck to the cob crumbles.  
    Mine like to hang vertically from their fave perch and flap like crazy.
    
    Also, I've seen enclosed cages advertised in Birdtalk -- look like they
    cost big time.
    
    Mary

    BEST BUY FOR CORN COB
    
    Dodge Grain in Salem, NH sells it by the 40lb bag for around $10. 
    Great price and you don't have to keep going back to the store, since
    it keeps forever.....of course if you're like me and have many, many
    birds (lost count), then you make a pit stop to Dodge Grain every 2
    weeks.
    
    Denise
    
    P.S>  Be careful with Corn Cob with larger birds.  Veterinarians are
    finding that they (the birds), eat the corn cob and it lodges in their
    gizzard.  Unlike grit or other smaller substances, it swells with the
    fluids and becomes lodged over months/years.  I have just included a
    very good article by a veterinarian on this subject in the upcoming
    issue of the SPBE Journal (Society Of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors)
    If you would like a copy of the article, please drop me a line on
    E-mail with your External mailing address and I will gladly forward it
    to you.

    Re .8
    
    Thanks for the heads up on corn cob and larger birds.  I had not
    planned on using it for my Pionus as I find him to be much less dusty
    and much cleaner than the tiels.  A daily change of newspapers works
    fine for him.
    
    I don't live in NH any more but I shopped a lot at Dodge Grain when I
    did.  I have a 2-Bar-O out here in Arizona and I'm sure they have the
    corn cob as well.
    
    Next time you're in Dodge Grain, say hello to Frank (the owner) from my
    husband (John DeFranco)  Tell him we still love Arizona!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jeanne
    

    The last time I brought one of my birds to the vet (a couple of 
    months ago), Dr. Kilgore noticed the corn cob at the bottom of the
    cage and told me that as of late, there are been cases of fungal
    infections in birds from the corn cob.  Just an FYI.

    re .10
    
    Thanks for the information.  Gosh, you just can't win with these
    things!!  Well, I'll stay with paper and just keep mopping up.  What I
    would give for an outside aviary!!!!!
    
    thanks,
    
    Jeanne