I bought a new super cage for Charley during the week (as our little houdini was escaping from the temporary one) and it is great, it opens wide at the front, (two doors, one smaller within a larger door), and the top opens also, but I have a query re the floor.

 

I have placed grit in the bottom tray and taken out the wire "floor". I did this because it looks more comfortable for him but I wonder if this is okay to do. The wire floor looks to ME uncomfortable to walk on, but then I'm no budgie!

 

Am I correct in thinking that since there are perches and "branches" galore in the cage for his little feet, it would be nice for him to have a little bit of a "flat" floor to walk and forage on? Do you know what the reasoning is behind the wire floors? Is it merely for ease of taking out the tray for cleaning , i.e. so he doesnt squeeze out under the gap...or does it suit another purpose?

Edited September 7, 200717 yr by thk

I personally put newspaper on top of my wire grate and Merlin always walks on it. Keeps it cleaner and the poos doesn't stick everywhere.

 

Also I don't use grit, that from what I understand is debatable subject. Since budgies hull their seeds they don't need grit like other parrots. There is an BBC FAQ on it too .

I personally put newspaper on top of my wire grate and Merlin always walks on it. Keeps it cleaner and the poos doesn't stick everywhere.

 

Also I don't use grit, that from what I understand is debatable subject. Since budgies hull their seeds they don't need grit like other parrots. There is an BBC FAQ on it too .

 

Thanks Elly, so is newspaper print not a problem then? .. and by the way.. as I speak, Charley ("Houdini") got out of his cage again, this time he fluttered into his seed dish first, then must have lifted the little door upwards and outwards. I was sitting here on my bed typing merrily away (his cage is in the bedroom with me, to keep him away from the other cage with max, which is in the lounge)... and next minute I hear flutter flutter and there he is... he has no flight feathers so was not dificult to catch. I just calmly followed him around (he can get a little way off the ground) until he settled.. in the bathroom, then just gently picked him up and put him back.. yet again!! THought I had all bases covered!!! Too clever for his own good!!!

Edited September 7, 200717 yr by thk

What bar spacing is the cage you have now and the other one he was in ? When you said the new cage opens at the top it sounded like a parrot or tiel cage and often the bar spacing on those ones is wider.....too wide for budgies. I have had escapes from some cages and later on found the thing in common was the bar spacing.

If bar spacing isn't the problem, he is probably like my favorite budgie of all time, Mickey, he could escape ANYTHING!!! He was very smart and had a thin physique. Not a fan of cage grates but they are just new here, came with my latest couple of tiel cages. Maybe I should try them but I do wash my cage bottoms almost every couple of days and change paper daily.

:ausb: If bar spacing isn't the problem, he is probably like my favorite budgie of all time, Mickey, he could escape ANYTHING!!! He was very smart and had a thin physique. Not a fan of cage grates but they are just new here, came with my latest couple of tiel cages. Maybe I should try them but I do wash my cage bottoms almost every couple of days and change paper daily. :dbb1:

 

I will attach a photo of the cage... the temporary cage had wider bars which is why i bought this one. I am watching him as we speak.. he is trying to open all the didfferent doors which i now have pegged. I think its more that he's like your "Mickey".. he will keep trying to get out for the heck of it. He's very active and plays a lot with his toys. Its kind of like what he lacks in feathers to fly with, he makes up with extra energy!! I think also that the problem is now that he's managed to escape twice, he has gained that confidence that he can do it again. I can see its going to be a battle of wits!!! Wonder who will win!!

 

the cage...

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tmkoroi/CIMG0174.jpg

 

Charley in the cage...

 

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tm...arleyincage.jpg

Edited September 8, 200717 yr by thk

The bar spacing looks fine. I can see the problem doors. The ones that lift up and swing outwards. I lost a budgie from a cage with doors like that before I realized. So pegging them is a very good idea :dbb1:

:ausb: Charley is another Mickey, you must add those metal cage clamps (had to double clamp with him!!, he was a VERY smart budgie). My former landlord used to come upstairs and affix baths to the cage openings. Mickey actually found a way to escape his cage and break into the cage of the two budgies that were mean to him!!! :dbb1:

I'm amazed at how clever they are! the way he got out was through the door (as you say, lift up and swing out!).. but to reach it he had to sit IN his bowl..Now i've moved the bowl away from the door (meaning I have to get to it via the front door).. but he still gets IN the bowl and remembers thats how he got out.. just hasnt yet discovered that the door is no longer there. Its funny watching him sitting in it trying to find the latch again, and then he gets a little annoyed (I presume!) that he cant find it now!! Only a matter of a time before he realises the door is further along! He is trying to peck and push at anything else that even looks like it may have hinges though.

 

He's still a little hesitant of my hand and doesnt want to step up however I find he will now eat from a millet spray when I hold it out to him. I think i'll make it "shorter" as he gets more confident with it so that eventually there is very little between my hand and the millet. He doesnt panic at all just shys away a little, he's easy to catch but I'm trying not to handle him as he obviously doesnt like that.

:ygbudgie: I am sure he will catch on soon as he has already caught on to a lot of other things!! :dbb1: Maybe even entice him with greens, that might just be his thing. :ausb:

here in the US the newspapers are non toxic and the ink doesn't rub off if you don't want to use newspaper you can use other paper but it works like a charm . I got this idea from another member here on the boards. It beats cleaning the poo out of the grate :hap: