Suggestions for feeder door locks?

[nkrbkr]

Hi all. When I decided to adopt Ava, I had to find a cage, fast. Most large cages would have to be shipped to my area, & wouldn’t arrive soon enough. Luckily, I was able to find a very gently used one locally, scrubbed the heck out of it, & sanitized it properly, as per my Avian vet tech’s instructions. It’s a great cage. However, it doesn’t have feeder door locks. It only has the tabs that rotate to keep the feeder doors closed. I’m worried that Ava will figure out how to open them in time, & she’s already an escape artist out the doors when I’m putting her food bowls in. Looking around online, it looks to be an older model of A&E cage. I called them to ask if newer replacement locks can be used on the doors, & the gentleman who answered the phone told me their cages have always had feeder door locks, he’s been with the company for 15 years, & it’s not an A&E cage. Okaaay. I’ve looked up the exact cage online, it shows no locks in the picture, but I guess it is what it is. Short story long, do any of you have any suggestions or recommendations for securing these doors? I’ll attach a picture of the exact cage from Amazon, & a picture of the feeder door on my cage. Thanks a bunch!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I see what you are concerned with- ava putting her beak between the bars above the tab and turning it to the side opening the door.
I think you should put a short perch like the one she's sitting on directly above this tab so she can't reach the tab. Maybe saw the perch short so she can't sit on it and poop in her bowls.
Or put some other thing like a wide flat fender washer and nut and bolt with the nut on the outside so she can't reach it to unscrew it. Use a lock nut to make it semi permanent so she can't remove it from outside either.

 

[nkrbkr]

I see what you are concerned with- ava putting her beak between the bars above the tab and turning it to the side opening the door.
I think you should put a short perch like the one she's sitting on directly above this tab so she can't reach the tab. Maybe saw the perch short so she can't sit on it and poop in her bowls.
Or put some other thing like a wide flat fender washer and nut and bolt with the nut on the outside so she can't reach it to unscrew it. Use a lock nut to make it semi permanent so she can't remove it from outside either.

Thank you! Yes, exactly! Those are great ideas; however, I’m still hoping to put the dishes in via the doors, so I’ll still need to be able to turn the tabs as well. They have to be turned all the way up (180 degrees) for the door to open .

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You will still be able to turn the tabs because they will still turn the same way but Ava won't be able to reach the tab herself.

 

[nkrbkr]

Thank you! Yes, exactly! Those are great ideas; however, I’m still hoping to put the dishes in via the doors, so I’ll still need to be able to turn the tabs as well. They have to be turned all the way up (180 degrees) for the door to open .

Actually, I just looked at it closer. They don’t have to be turned quite as much as I thought anyway. Maybe some kind of washer would work after all.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I see now. Then I suggest the nut bolt washer idea but use a wing nut and loosen it yourself and slide the nut bolt washer combo to the right. Then use the door. Then put the combo back and tighten the wingnut.

 

[nkrbkr]

I see now. Then I suggest the nut bolt washer idea but use a wing nut and loosen it yourself and slide the nut bolt washer combo to the right. Then use the door. Then put the combo back and tighten the wingnut.

Great idea