Lisa Shea Forums Parakeets General Parakeet Chat I want to introduce you to my parakeet, Frito

I have left the bottom "grill" in place on Buddy & Chance's cage, because I find that their feces drop through it to the cage liner at least as often as they stick to the grill. In my way of thinking, that's preventing half of the waste from being somewhere they might walk.

As far as cleaning it, what I have been doing is using a damp sponge and loosening the fecal matter, then removing same with a paper towel.

Wow those are all great ideas!

Careful with the string though. There have been keets that got caught in them and could hang themselves! Really.

My Stella loves to destroy paper towels, but I had to stop that, because the little bugger started using it to make a nest, and we all know where that leads!

The poop comes off easily though. i use a dry paper towel mostly, and a wet p towel if some does not come off.

Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with hot water is great for cleaning cages. It cleans AND disinfects at the same time.

YES!!! Good reminder tweetymom! I should have been more specific. If you use string to hang/make toys be sure that the string is covered with beads or even plastic drinking straw. They HAVE been known to get caught up in string and could hang themselves or even get a foot/leg wound up in it.

As for paper balls, just take a 1/2 or 1/4 sheets of white paper and wad them in to balls. The more the merrier! lol And yes, a single keet will play with them just as much as 2 or more keeters. Once Frito is tame he might even play fetch with you. Of course YOU will be the one fetching most of the time! haha

I cover the bottom grate with cheap white paper towels. Makes for super easy cleanup..just fold em up with poo, veg mess, seed mess and all and replace. I change them 2/day. Sooo much easier than cleaning poo or stuck on veggies off the grate. If grate is removable you can line bottom tray with paper towels. Plain paper will work too.

I think one of those plastic scrungie things works well for getting stuck on poo of grate..and like tweetymom I use apple cider vinegar and water for cage/toy/dish cleaning too.

liveforchrist, I don't understand..why can't you let Frito out just because it is a rented home? I mean, once he is ready to be coming out of course.

I guess I wasn't clear RE: MY Comment RE:the Hemp string-SORRY
I got excited & I meant NOT only ( for birds) but other things
I use 'IT for (in my kitchen & home) It is so important
to keep our birds safe #1 I have experienced one of my
other birds getting 'Caught Up in something string-like?
It was very scary and I quickly grabbed <--sorry:( picked
up my bird in my hand & the thing they were stuck to) to keep
my bird from 'pulling it's leg/or breaking? I had to remove
them from what had their Feet caught "in" It's hard to write
But not to let them struggle? That was probably one of the
worst scariest times for me personally. Of course the nail
trimming occasionally to prevent the nails from 'catching'
on toys or even perches. I had made a mistake one time
using a little cloth toy and not realizing that my bird
had pulled/chewed some tiny string out 'from' so I say
Parakeet- proofing and throw away old toy(s) when they
become frayed and there's so much like loose link chains
and even their beaks can get caught and I have to watch
out for Bells( my bird loves bells?) but toys that are too
small can trap the toes too, even their little tongues?
And I know we have to use good wood toys and un-dyed or
painted with bird-safe vegetable dye and again we have to
watch out for the rope toys. Maybe I'm more lucky
with the bird I have Now? He likes his few toys Over & over
and they seem safe enough but I always check ( I try)
PS RE: bird getting caught up in something? I was very
lucky that the cloth toy was ON top of the cage? I was able
to 'untie' it and then work with untangling my bird's
feet/leg Like I said I WAS very Lucky my bird didn't
yank/break it's leg. I hope I posted this right?
I would hate to give Bad advice and seems I'm not very
good with posting/advice? don't want to say the wrong
things and when new pet owners don't know? I will watch
that:) So I don't use cloth toys that fray/string ect.
I say you have to watch everything "they do' that's me
Not in a over-reacting way of course (just be safe)

I have to have my bird out of the cage to WASH it real
good and dry it real good? sometimes I have my husband
hold & keep my bird company? or sit on shoulder & TV?
or If I'm alone I'll put my bird on his play -basket
that I made for him and he likes to sit on it & play
& chew. But what ever I do I have to wash & clean the cage
(with-out him in it) we must keep a clean cage. I also
through learning (not to RUSH the cleaning of cage?)
and DRY it Really well. It's usually not a chore ( anymore)
because I know how important it is ( even if it looks clean?)
I'm a little 'different' It's almost 'relaxing' to me to
do it for my bird?! I tidy the cage every day & fresh water ect.
I wash & clean the cage every week. I think this is very
important & health.

Unfortuantly, I can't do what you do. I am NOT ( and i mean NOT) alloud to take him out of the cage. What am I to do?

I took the grill out of his cage (while scaring him so...I am frusterated now) and it looks much tidier and clean. I'm glad

Also, my dad won't allow it either. maybe I can consider asking him if I can take him out whenver I clean his cage. I have a fear of asking my dad things, so I am not sure if I can. It's like a -phobia kind of thing...

aaadraine&chicki (may I call you aaad?): May I ask why you use question marks for sentences that aren't questions? It kinda has got me wondering and I like finding out mysteries and also why people do the things they do....

I write differently and not good english so try not to
question it too much mostly was trying to give some
thoughts and was not thinking RE: my How I write it
forgetting you're bright & in school & good english
so It's nice that you write correct. maybe alot of time I ?
because it's something to think about? Try to read it
the best you can when & if you're reading one of my posts.
I don't spell good either but I still like to write
& share with people & most I think can read between the
lines and understand what I'm usually trying to say.
Sometimes it is hard for me to write & post (tone)
what i am saying/ I guess I'm more interested in the
'birdies' then my proper english writing style. I write
& post different than I would if I was writing a business
letter at home of course. When I'm posting I guess it's
like I am talking