Grate for the cage

Billy29 · Sep 14, 2013

Do any of you not use the cage grate? Mango seems to never be on the bottom of the cage and I have to scrub the grate every time I clean the cage. I'm just wondering what purpose it serves besides getting covered in poop?

MonicaMc · Sep 14, 2013

To keep birds out of their poop and spoiled food!

I use grates in the double flight cage so that the tiels don't chew up the paper.

My single flight cage and 32x23 cage I'm not using the grates in since the conures really don't go down to the bottom of the cage. If Charlie did and learned that he could escape once again from his cage, then I'd use the grate!

Then I've got a small flight cage, easy to carry around (sold at like Petco and Petsmart?) that has a built in grate. It's not removable unless you bend wires to take it out.... I don't find it worth the effort, so haven't bothered with it.

Billy29 · Sep 14, 2013

I'm just thinking he doesn't need it because he never goes on the bottom. I don't think Amazons feed on the ground anyway, they like to be up high.

Someone correct me if I'm making a mistake taking it out.

Kalidasa · Sep 14, 2013

I don't use them myself, they're a pain to clean and my birds never go on the bottom anyway...come to think of it, they're hardly ever in their cages. I just change out the paper at the bottom daily in addition to other cleaning.

GinaF · Sep 14, 2013

I've got a bottom feeder.

The amazon will fish through the bottom of cage for snacks. I thought maybe I could get away with not using the grate but no such luck.

Cleaning the grate is A LOT easier if you put a thin coat of coconut oil on it. then take a nylon bristle brush and just knock off the poop. You'll be amazed at how much easier that makes things.

triordan · Sep 14, 2013

Nope no grates here

Featheredsamurai · Sep 14, 2013

I never use the grate for Rosie, I did for a week with her newer cage but it horrified me the first time I saw her fall and it it! I have never used it since.

For Kenji I do use the grate, he often walks around on the grate and without it he would be in his poo, eating food out of his poo, and tearing up the paper liner LOL

tab_xo · Sep 14, 2013

This is actually really interesting!

Fargo never goes on the bottom of his cage, but hes hardly ever in his cage, but it seems alot easier if the grates weren't in there! Especially now i have knee injuries and cleaning his cage is pretty difficult..

I might take them out after tonights clean and see how we go!!

Knowing Fargo, he will go down on the bottom as soon as i take them out

ShellyBorg · Sep 14, 2013

Tab, I took my macs grate out tonight. She went down to see so I started to weave newspaper through her bars and she climbed right up to get them! She has not gone back down so that seemed to distract her.

Billy29 · Sep 14, 2013

Mango hasn't went to the bottom yet tonight.

Betrisher · Sep 15, 2013

Woohoo! GinaF, you're a marvel! I have to use the grate in the Lovies' cage, because they come down a couple of times a day to bathe and rummage around. The poo is awful to try and scrub off, what with nine of the little dears doing it all over the place! I'm going to try your coconut oil idea!

I was amazed when I saw this thread, as I've just done my Hunormous Weekly Clean and thought the grates are a massive waste of time for Dommie and the Beaks. They never come down to the bottoms of their cages, even to collect a dropped toy. I'm going to take the grates out and see how they go. Thank you all for giving me permission!

Betrisher · Sep 15, 2013

Oy! Tab! So, what's the latest about your knees? Did you get the x-rays? Are they dislocated? Are you off horses for a while? Inquiring minds want to know!!! (Also, how's Kitai going?) Most of all, are you OK???

tab_xo · Sep 15, 2013

Betrisher said:
Oy! Tab! So, what's the latest about your knees? Did you get the x-rays? Are they dislocated? Are you off horses for a while? Inquiring minds want to know!!! (Also, how's Kitai going?) Most of all, are you OK???

Xrays showed knee cap out of place, but bone wasn't damaged, apparently all the swelling pushed it to the side

Then just said torn ligaments/muscles.. then spot where its numb is just deep tissue damage which has hit the nerves!

On friday i was finally walking better, still couldnt put pressure on them, but it wasnt killing to walk...

Went and rode another horse yesterday, this other girl rode him and he was trying to rear :20:
Then i hopped on, he was ok, then rammed my knee into the arena, and now i cant move my left knee otherwise it feels like its tearing

hahaha

and they dont hurt while im sitting down, but as soon as i stand up, take a few steps, and then this huge pain just gets in them, its insane!!

So now, trying to clean the cage is soooo much effort, cause have to hold my left leg straight across the floor, then lean to the corner to scrub :31:

Thats why i might try without the grate and see how we go, might make things easier for a while!!!

MonicaMc · Sep 15, 2013

Tab, that makes me cringe in pain! My knees have popped out of place several times since I was in 5th grade and thanks to one incident and me being stubborn, I have a bone growth that I'm sure will require removal via surgery sometime in my life! And it causes the bones to grind together, not that I can feel it unless I place my hand on my knee.... Usually, when my kneecap popped out of place I'd have to wear a leg brace for up to 3 months, but that one incident I didn't because the leg brace caused more pain using it than not... bad mistake on my part!

Please, for all of our sanity, take it easy on yourself!

ShellyBorg · Sep 15, 2013

Tab, pull that grate out! Trust a 40 year old who ruined her knees on horses, you need to let them heal! Take it easy on them! Replacements are not fun to be looking at...

MikeyTN · Sep 15, 2013

I use grates on all my cages except the baby cage. They like to go venture on the bottom feeding off the bottom. Also the aviary have no grates....I've got some paper shredder birds, a grate is essential!!! If you take the grate outside and spray it down with the hose and let it sit for a little bit, then spray it again. Most of them will be soften up enough to be sprayed off. Then I would use a scrub brush to clean it. The toilet bowl brush is my favorite to use....lol.....My partner thought of that idea and it actually works pretty good.

tab_xo · Sep 15, 2013

Oh wow Monica that does not sound good!

It was interesting, i have always had one of my collar bone things stick out in a lump more than the other, never knew why.. and when i got scans on my chest the other week, it found i have a crack in that little bone :20:

and i have a dodgy ankle, so im always full of injuries :09:

But my bruising is pretty! Even though you cant see it well in pics!

Screen shot 2013-09-15 at 3.58.33 PM.jpg

Thanks guys!! I will take it easy, I just hate seeing my room and fargos cage messy, so i am always scrubbing!

And Mikey thats a great idea with the toilet brush!!! I use a tooth brush but its just tiny so a big brush would be alot easier!

Betrisher · Sep 15, 2013

Euuww! Tab, you did a great job on those knees! I feel so sorry for you, poor thing! What floors me, though, is that you *rode* with those rainbow knees! Do think twice before you do that again, won't you?

I use a bristly dishmop for scrubbing my cages, but soon (oh, I *do* hope it's soon!), they'll all be outdoors and I'll be able to hose them clean.

tab_xo · Sep 15, 2013

HAHAHA honestly, while i was riding it didnt hurt, when im sitting or anything, it was fine, its just when it has any pressure of standing it would hurt.. So riding i was fine

But didnt expect another naughty horsey, wish people just would tell the truth about horses

Going to ride another this weekend

Hahaha

Well i took the grates out tonight!!! So will see how we go tomorrow, fingers crossed he wont go down !

GinaF · Sep 15, 2013

Betrisher said:
Woohoo! GinaF, you're a marvel! I have to use the grate in the Lovies' cage, because they come down a couple of times a day to bathe and rummage around. The poo is awful to try and scrub off, what with nine of the little dears doing it all over the place! I'm going to try your coconut oil idea!

I was amazed when I saw this thread, as I've just done my Hunormous Weekly Clean and thought the grates are a massive waste of time for Dommie and the Beaks. They never come down to the bottoms of their cages, even to collect a dropped toy. I'm going to take the grates out and see how they go. Thank you all for giving me permission!

Try the coconut oil and then let everyone else know how much easier it is!

When I was in rescue, I had 14 birds in my house. I had to come up with something to make cage cleaning easier and that's what I thought of. I clean my cage 3 times a week but I knock the poop off the grates every day. Without that thin coat of oil, it would take me forever! Just put a bit on a paper towel and wipe it on. A little goes a long way. I also wipe a layer on the bars about 1/3 of the way up to catch projectile poop and food. Works like a charm!

Dragging my cages outside to hose them off isn't an option. Winter in Utah lasts from Oct until May and with temps consistently dipping down below zero, that wouldn't be a fun chore. My patio would be an ice rink. Plus, my cages are HUGE. The stainless one weighs nearly 300lbs. Dragging it outside and down 5 steps would be quite the task. Even the grates weigh quite a bit.

I wouldn't use any other type of oil though. Coconut doesn't 'spoil' or sour and smells good. I tried Olive oil once when I ran out and it was rancid smelling within a day. I also put some of it in some of my bird (and human) recipes. It's healthy and tastes good.

Grate for the cage

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