acrylic or wire?

xreinx

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four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
http://pennzoni.homestead.com/files/birdcage1.jpg is the bird cage I was told to get if I didnt want the "mess". but I grew up believing that birds needed air flow. no drafts but airflow.

And whats the diffrence between a home made acrylic cage and one you buy? besides price?

(still havent gotten a bird yet, doing as much research as I can before I bring one home)
 

Atwee921

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Sprite the cinnamon green cheek conure.
I would personally get acrylic because of course there is air flow in them... I would get acrylic but the only reason im not is the cost...
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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the cage I plan on building is going to look something like this one. Features include

I had thought of leaving it open top, but my bird is going to be fully flighted, (personal preference) so I might stick a top on it, I had thought of putting a wooden back as a brace, but I think Its going to be acrylic all the way around, it seems to look much better that way.
 

suebee

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oh wow, i've never seen acrylic cages before, they look fab, won't you get a kinda greenhouse effect if in sun etc?? also when cleaning you'd have to be really carefull as acrylic does tend to scratch?

anyway never say never with a bird lol i always thought wing clipping was very un-fair for the bird, my nearest avian vet will not even entertain the mention of it, but a few times of nut flyin over to bite me, kinda warmed me to the idea of wing clipping, and after what i've read here, the feathers grow back and it's great for training

so what bird are you thinking of getting??
 

merlinsmom13

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Jul 27, 2010
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Beckley, WV
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Merlin a Red Crowned Amazon
Wow, aren't you creative. I think MikeyTN has a similar cage, he could probably give you pros/cons. ps. I you make any extra, I would love one.
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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I'm thinking of getting a TAG, IF I dont find a adoptee that meshes with me, and tell you what merlinsmom, If this falls threw like it has the last 2 times I was "ready" to get a bird and life changing things happened, and I have the cage already built, you can pay the shipping and Ill send it to you for 200. ? because I dont have the room for an empty cage.

And your right suebee, I hate the idea of clipping, but nearly every bird that ends up in the shelter has to get clipped, the place is just too big for a flighted bird, and there are ways for them to go into the main part of the building where the dogs are. it saves us both, me from worry cause they DO fly out of their cages now and again, and them too, because these dogs will eat eachother if they have the chance. (just has a cupple of old cats, they were afraid of my pigeon, im pretty sure they will stay away from a big parrot, sadly, no dogs)
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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I dont know anything about acrylic, It might, not being glass, but even glass scratches if you dont take care of it right, though I like the Idea of acrylic its stronger then plastic, lighter then glass, you can drill holes in it. Alot of cages nowdays are made from it, tanks included cause its easy to bend.

as for sun and heat, thats why im not putting a top on it, if a bird can fly out the top, then the cage is too big anyway (not that im changing the size) it just means I have to find a way to keep the bird in without droping a ugly screen on top of it all, Greys are smart, Ill find a way.
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
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Oh I almost forgot, heres the link to that website, sense you liked the cage, might as well give you the chance to get one. acrylic bird cage samples

though they are easy to build, Id build before I buy acrylic, simply because its cheaper.
 

suebee

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oh you will have to let me know how happy birds are in them :) as my partners ahndy with power tools lol, nuts new home could look like a display case lol
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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Yea I will tell you when I get a bird and theyve been in it for a while, a display case sounds Great. Why do you call her nut? lmao Nut in a display case.. dosent sound like a bird, but it Does have a good ring to it though.
 

suebee

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cos she's nuts her proper given name is angel, she answer, to both, if she's in the mood!

well i have thought, about it an my man can build like a cabinate, with solid doors below to put all the needed food, papers etc in, draw and i'd use the plastic trays from current cage and the bottom cage wires

the main cage area will have the acrylic walls, but with the doors at the side, and the front section that can slide down so cage can open fully, as nut spends very little time in a cage unless we are out or its her sleep cage

and prob a wire roof

my main problem will be, if we drill any holes into acrylic nut will chew at them

and as her cage is so big, to lives at the back of the room near tea time lol but during day it has to be in the front window! or she will throw a complete wobbler, so any new cage will have to be easy to move about the room lol

she is currently un-hookin my curtains!
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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I do have two cats -Riply & Nano bites-
four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
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Id plug them, its easy to plug them with screws and ... nuts. as for moving, Id put wheels on them, infact I have 5, insted of four, because the base is going to be so big.
Shepherd 6 in. Tri-Dolly - 9299 at The Home Depot

cost me a pretty penny but they hold upwards 200 pounds each, (dont expect it to weigh that much) and she sounds like a firecracker, I cant wait until I get one, do you take her outside?
 

suebee

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oh they look like good wheels :)

nut only goes out caged, as she is a dam good flier, she's never that bothered about being out side, she was more into it as we were havin a bbq, and it was where every1 was outside :)
she hates bein on her own when ppl are about lol

i have never had a bird before as a pet, and all my pets have had free range of our home, except the stick insects an fish lol and i have to admit, nut is like the naughty child i never had!!! lol

the list of things she will do to be naughty or entertining is endless, as a family we all worked together with her behaviour problems at the start, an now we spend a little time each night when she is in bed, putting curtains back up, cleaning her cage an dishes, prep-in food for next day etc not to mention the hoover, finding the curtain hooks etc but its all worth it! and this is from a non pet person!

so its well worth getting one :) nut bit every1 after the wks honeymoon period, but she is good now an very rarely bites, she is not trained as such, but does most of her poops over her cage, will come if she feels like it, and on the whole is really settled with our routine and she tends to join in with everything we do
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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I do have two cats -Riply & Nano bites-
four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
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thats Great, yea I was told I need a heavy duty vacume before I get a bird, and my bird will have the full run of the house too, though I am going to have to bird proof my house I think.

I am already looking at bird flight harnesses, I plan on taking this baby with me everywhere, though I have to ask, whats your view on ordering a baby from a breeder over the phone? having it sent by Plane to another state? I live in alaska, and That is the only way I can get a papered hand tamed sexed young bird from anyone that is reputable. Believe me, Ive done a lot of research. Ive Not found any breeders that are still in busness up here, and I mean CAG and TAGs. (at least I havent found any, and ive been looking)
 
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MikeyTN

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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Its so much cleaner especially with dusty birds!!!! But the acrylic is a pain to clean.
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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Alaska
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I do have two cats -Riply & Nano bites-
four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
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cleaning the glass is easy, 1 part vinegar, 3 parts water, a spray bottle and a soft rag, the vinegar dissappears after its dry, the glass is clean and I am going to have a vary big door, debating weather or not to have a flap for the bottem because theres no reason why the cage needs to be closed while I am home. (cleans for a living)
 

MikeyTN

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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
You think its easy until you try to clean big'o dry bird poop off of it....lol.... this is my second Acrylic cage first one I built, this one I bought....
 
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xreinx

xreinx

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May 24, 2011
342
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Alaska
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I do have two cats -Riply & Nano bites-
four snakes- china, dip & stick, and Grand Chahee-
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I do have to ask, can you use a flat razor on the acrylic? its what we use for dragon poo and lizard poo in the tanks we have when the animal is adopted. (almost the same thing as a scraper for the flat stove top I have)
 

MikeyTN

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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
No! Acrylic will scratch plus you will scrape the acrylic since its pretty much plastic. I did the spray bottle and soft cloth like you mentioned.
 

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