Waste Tray Liners

Just curious what others are using as waste tray liners?

I use to use old newspapers. Recently I switched over to using the "Puppy Pee Pads" and I LOVE them.

FIRST, ALL my cages have grates on the bottom to separate the birds from their waste at the bottom.

The Pee Pads have a thin blue plastic sheet, kind of like a thin plastic cheap trash bag, laminated to an absorbent cotton media. What's nice about the "Pee Pads" is the plastic liner keeps the metal waste tray dry ..... hence, no rusty trays down line. Also, the absorbent material soaks up spilt water from the bowls the birds like to try and play in or take a bath in.

Yes, newspapers are free and easily obtainable and the Pee Pads you have to buy, but the benefits, IMHO, off set the differences.

One note worth mentioning ..... I buy my Pee Pads at T.J. Max. They have discounted them WAY CHEAPER than a pet store does. Also, places like Tractor Supply also sells them a lot cheaper than pet stores do.

Give it a try at least once and see what you think.

We were using newspaper now we use wax paper/ freezer paper.
The vet says its good because you can keep an eye on their droppings

I used to use the puppy pee pads in my rabbit cages. It worked GREAT, making it so easy to clean their cages. Worth the expense. I didn't think about using them for my bird cage though! I will definitely go back to using them, instead of newspaper. Thanks for the reminder!

Don't know where you get your freezer paper, but if you're getting it from grocery stores or discount stores, check with your local wholesale paper or restaurant supply companies...you can get large rolls of butcher/meat wrapping paper much cheaper & it is white, so checking poop is easier, while having a waxed side.....

A 36"x1,000' roll costs about $55, but you can get shorter or wider rolls too...Staples also carries rolls of butcher paper, but somewhat higher priced.....

I use puppy pee pads too and LOVE them. I purchase them in boxes of 150 when they go on sale at Pet Supplies Plus for $25 to $35 per box. The best thing with these is that they are so easy that even my kids can change them out without making a huge mess all over the floor by the trashcan. We use these for guinea pig cages too and they really work well to absorb extra urine.

I use 'newspaper'. ATM, I've been putting down several layers of paper down (each layer consisting of 4 pieces of paper to cover the entire tray), then roll up the top layer as needed. Been doing this in Charlie's cage, but only doing one layer in the smaller birds' cage... mainly because they are much messier food-wise (well, heck, all of them are messy!) and their trays need to be dumped between cleanings!



I've actually been considering using sand and scooping out the 'bad stuff', but it would get wet so I've been hesitant to. At least the sand scooper would be easy to get!

http://c1.wag.com/images/products/p/hag/hag-876_1z.jpg

I use the pads for bed wetting, alot cheaper than the puppy ones

I usually use newsprint pads but my sister gave me a massive roll (36 x 48) architectural/blue print paper. It's HUGE and is going to last me a while lol.

i still use newspaper but I use the puppy pads when traveling and such

I think these may work out great for some people, but I'll probably keep sticking to newspaper. My boss gives me his every day after he's done reading it (free). I use them to line his cage, but also roll them up and let him shred them. I also (personally) pick any plastic or other non-compostable bits off, and put his used papers in the compost bin (99% of the stuff that ends up down there is compostable, and bird poo makes great fertilizer!). My hubby and I try to create as little waste as possible, so throwing away a plastic lined pad that can't be reused in any way every day seems a little wasteful to me, especially when I have to pay for it!

I do what Monica does, layer the paper and remove the soiled ones.
The newspaper I use is free, which is a huge cost savings for me, I have 16 cages.

crimson said:

I do what Monica does, layer the paper and remove the soiled ones.
The newspaper I use is free, which is a huge cost savings for me, I have 16 cages.

Click to expand...

I also layer my cages.

WharfRat said:

I use the pads for bed wetting, alot cheaper than the puppy ones

Click to expand...

I like that idea! I will check to see the price saving on that.

Thanks!!!

I use layers of newspaper but have to remove them all at once. Ekkies have a messy fresh wet diet so I can't lift off the top layer because it's well all the way through! I just roll it up like a messy burrito and toss it into the bin. Then clean and dry the tray and line it with fresh paper.

My trays have a tiny bit of rust now but I have had them for 10 years! The birds can't get to them and if need be I could just order replacement trays.

Hi
Sorry for a strange question but I am just preparing a new cage and I am a newbie parrot owner. I have seen that some people use a grate at the bottom of the cage and some people do not. I am guessing I need to line the bottom of the cage with paper or pads so does the grate then go on top? Does this not get filthy if it isn’t covered? Also if there is an uncovered grate can a parrot get its legs caught in the bars of it?

I *hate* grates: CAG's love to forage, play etc. on the ground in the wild so I find it cruel to deny them that in captivity, even if they spend a lot of time outside the cage.
So mine are on a layer of paper (well lots of layers to be honest) and have additional playthings like shredded wood (chips) to fourage in, or sometimes I will put in a large doggybowl for them to bathe (and Japie will soak everything in and around the cage).
Since I was a little girl I've always been taught that it hurts the birds feet if they can't stretch out regularly - so living on grating is (unfortunately) for laboratory animals and foodindustry ones, not for pets!

just my opinion...

Anyway: yes the grates get pooped on (and are annoying to clean)
some people will put paper on top of the grates as well.

Getting legs caught - not likely, parrots are pretty coordinated.
That is why bar-spacing is so important!

(Saying that... my CAG Appie once completely missed her footing when she was climbing up the side of her cage ...that how I found out she learned to swear somwhere in her life, she is a cute little birdy but the "OooOOoOooOooOoOOoOooh Sh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!T" was that of a very tough sounding man!)

btw- great you are reading the older topics!

If you decide to use pads: only do so if your bird cannot ever reach them!! (So grate-users only, and even then: Be Carefull)
Birds will investigate (and chew on) everything - make sure he/she cannot ingest anything the body cannot process!
Clean paper is the best (imho) - no worries if they shred it, throw it around etc. etc.
.

I like the pee pads for the cage it’s simple and if she gets to flapping I don’t have a newspaper pile up. I put some linoleum on my java bases to save me some money , sweep and sterilized over night free , 3 puppy pads was getting to be to much , I Imagine if I had many it would be newspapers also!

Grates.... either you love em or you hate them. It's rare for birds to get their legs caught in them *unless* they are wearing a leg band.

I prefer using cages without grates, however I have two cages where the grate is necessary or else the birds can and will escape between the tray and front wall of the cage. The grate also keeps them from chewing on the dirty paper - *mostly*.

If your bird doesn't chew on the grate, you can certainly cover it with paper, or not use it at all.