Containing the mess?

Hey guys,

I have a question about containing the mess from empty seed shells and other messes our dear parrots make

I have two large cages, one with 2 budgies and the other with 3 lovebirds and as much as I clean their cage floors AND my desks underneath, they are always messy! All it takes is a few wing flaps and things start flying.

Do you have any tips on containing the mess around the cages?

Thanks!

This is a good question. Have you heard of seed guards/catchers?



This is an incredibly small cage but you get the idea. They go around the bottom portion of the cage to prevent mess.

My cage came with a screw-on metal seed-skirt, which has helped a lot.


I am a big fan of those rolled up spikey computer mats that you find under office chairs----the really cheap ones (that are very bendable) can be easily cut to fit the perimeter and they seem to catch poop and prevent food from bouncing as much.
I can just clean them and vac as needed...obviously some food still goes outside, but it helps. I would suggest letting them off-gas in the sun and then wiping them down with vinegar and water etc before using them....that cheap plastic can't be good. Mine doesn't walk on them much, but I wouldn't want her having too much contact with them--- def not safe for chewing.

Mine have no oil or odor now, but when I first got them, I think they did, which is why I left them in the heat for about 24 hours and then cleaned them as well.



A cordless hand-vac with a hepa filter is great---I have a Welikera and it is GREAT. It does lose sucking efficiency as the charge lowers but I would let it die before re-charging, or it doesn't charge properly (lesson I learned from experience). Also, if you are dealing with a lot of dust etc, you will want to wash the metal filter, as the can prevent it from working to full potential as well.


Itzjbean- I bought some of those catchers for my bird's cage, but sizing is tricky and honestly, the fabric can stick into where they are able to chew it up and I don't care for the look of them...Consequently, I wasted my money because I wasn't comfortable using them and there was a return cost.

itzjbean nope never saw these, but my lovebirds would eat the rubbers on the side, they just wait to get anything new to chew and destroy.

noodles123 no I don't know what you're talking about? Spikey what? xD Can you find a picture?

The image below is representative of what I am using (but there are other options too):

The "spikey" (lol) side goes on the floor, and the smooth side faces the ceiling. Vinyl carpet protectors are cheapest (see above) ---

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Berrnour...ner-Rug-Plastic-Carpet-Protector-Mat/55649022


The thicker (and more expensive/less "cuttable") are polycarbonate:



and then finally, there are the polyethyline pads that fit together on the floor:

I currently have a brown tarp (the kind painters use) which KINDA matches the wood floor (and therefore looks less yucky).

Do you use pellets? They're less fly-away-able and more healthy than seeds. I only feed a few seeds, as treats.
If you'd like info on my fave pellets...
Harrison's Bird Foods

I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff, like fruits and vegetables! My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day. I also like Harrison's via mail because I never have to worry about out-of-date products.

To sound horrible and a slob - but I've learned to live with the mess...
there are some days I just can't deal with everything
so no- not everyday is vacuum-day.
As long as the water is fresh, the food is good, the cages are clean... I am happy.
Tough luck for the floor ;P it can wait till tomorrow.

Lots of people I know have added strips of polymetacrylate (perspex for the brits) to the outside of the cage -> like the picture only hard material instead of fabric.
You can make them as high as needed - just dont go overboard and box them in completely
(ventilation holes at least)

I bought an automatic robot vacuum off Amazon and I dont have a single regret. I researched for awhile before buying and ended up with one of the most quiet ones on the market. Stay away from the Roomba, its extremely loud and Ive seen mostly bad reviews.

The birds dont fear this little automatic vacuum at all and it does an amazing job picking up all the bird seed. I havent picked up a vacuum since I bought it and I couldnt be happier!

Ephy said:

I bought an automatic robot vacuum off Amazon

Click to expand...

Are you allowed (forumrules etc.) to post which one you got? I was looking into those small vacuumwhosnames as well but all the room-bah's really have crappy revieuws all over, and they were the best of the bunch I could find...

I am going to be getting a mat of some kind to go under the cage. I am fortunate in that the only real mess outside the cage are seeds and the odd fruit or veggie that has been thrown. Winston's cage has a seed collector around the base so that does a pretty good job of catching a lot of the seeds.

I do like a tidy cage so I have gotten into the habit of wiping everything down each day, including changing the paper. And, vacuuming. It is time consuming, but it also helps with the bird cage odor.