Just got back from the bird show

[gregt]

No, we didn't buy a bird. :p

But we did get Bailey a nice new cage. Paid about half what we would have at the local pet store.

Got a few nice toys for him too. There were a lot of really nice birds. It was pretty enjoyable.

Question though. Do we need to sanitize the cage or anything since it was in with a whole bunch of birds? No bird has been kept in it, it's brand new and other than a little dusty perfectly clean.

Just being extra careful. ;)

[Shirley]

We've never sanitized anything we got at a bird fair. Nothing ever was "moist, wet, or dirty" that we bought.

If you are worried, a mild 10-1 water to bleach spray from a spray bottle will kill anything, but you will have more to worry about what is brought in on the soles of your shoes than anything else. And... that can be brought in from the yard, the street, etc. regarding west nile virus, and such. So.. we don't worry about it.

We do wash our hands with that disinfectant soap, and sometimes remember to wipe the soles of our shoes with a bleach solution...

but our Schnauzer probably brings in all sorts of possible things on her feet from under our bird feeders... and no one has ever gotten sick.

Also, Bailey is not a baby, so he is not likely to pick up the serious things that baby birds are susceptible to, such as PBFD (psittacine beak and feather disease).

jmo,
Shirley (who didn't vaccinate her kids, either)

[Jean]

Yes, please do sanitize the cage and toys. You are never sure of whose hands and what germs have touched it. Many human virus germs can be transmitted to birds.

I am happy you found what you wanted at a good price. Can't wait to see pics!

[Junkzoo]

I would say yup,,,if anything for the peace of mind thing,,,you know it's clean if you do it,,
Like Shirley said prob nothing to worry about, but IMO i would give it at least a lil cleaning/disinfecting,,for the human factor germ thing

[Junkzoo]

Lemme put it to you this way Greg,,,do you wipe out a tank when you get it?;) (LOL, just re-read that,,,wipe out , as in clean,not wipe out as in wipe out(kill) ):doh:

[gregt]

http://saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/050618/050618_1634_08x-800.jpg

http://saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/050618/050618_1634_09x-800.jpg

http://saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/050618/050618_1633_04x-800.jpg

http://saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/050618/050618_1634_11x-800.jpg

http://saltyzoo.com/homepage/birds/050618/050618_1634_10x-800.jpg

[gregt]

Thanks everybody. We did clean it up and let it dry before putting his stuff in and moving him.

He's a little wierded out about having so much room and so much stuff in there with him, but so far he's having fun checking it all out.

[vmtwriter]

He's found the new locations for his food and water. He's like a monkey. :emot-danc He hangs from the top of the cage by 2 toes.. or hangs on the side of the cage. There's even an extra stainless steel bowl I might get him to use as his bath tub.:funny:

I like the cage, I can reach the top of the play area without having to stand on a chair, and with seed guards in place, it can fit through our bedroom doorway and into my office.:rotflmao:

We saw a LOT of baby birds at the bird show. It was neat seeing the sun conures in all their various age stages, so we could see how Bailey would have looked growing up.:wub:

We didn't buy the first cages we saw and liked because it had a rabbit on the front lock. I think Shirley said that was bad. But looking around we found more cages, more of what we liked and were looking for, they were a little more than the ones with the rabbit locks but that was okay. They were still more than 1/2 what it would have cost us here at the pet shop.

:thanx: to everyone for their ideas on bird shows and tips about our trip.

[Shirley]

Awesome!!! That's the same cage, I believe, that Play-Doh has!! (His is an HQ, also) The door is tall and narrow like his, the playtop looks the same.

Ginny was there looking for a larger cage for her three Bourke's and only found one she liked with the rabbit logo latch, so she didn't buy it. She came home empty-handed. :( She said there were only two cage vendors there... :ohmy:

I'm SO GLAD you found this cage -- it's perfect for him!! And you'll love watching him play and act like a little clown in there!

Get him one of those wood wreaths they sell at Wal-mart in the crafts section, and he'll use it as a swing plus chew it to bits. Hang a bell from the top of it.

We take the top tray out and either leave it plain or put plexiglass in its place. That way, lots of light gets through to the cage.

Right now, Play-Doh's is plain and we lay a piece of newspaper or cardboard up there, and he hangs from the inside and chews on the newspaper or cardboard through the bars!

:emot-danc

[Shirley]

If you leave the top tray in place, or add plexiglass later, then you can put whiffle balls up there and they love to roll them around. They hit the edges and don't roll off, or the bird picks them up and drops them over the edge and watches them hit the floor, then yells for you to pick them up and put them back.. :D :rotflmao:

[vmtwriter]

those are some great ideas, Shirley, thanks. I've tucked Bailey in bed now.. The first time we could put his snuggle bed in his cage. We'll see how he likes it. ;)

I just gotta find a way for him to NOT poop in his water dishes.

I didn't find any bird baths at the show. So, will have to look online. :foot-tap:

[Junkzoo]

Thats one lucky bird Greg n Vicki!:thumbup:
Nice looking cage, glad you got a good price on it to boot!

[Shirley]

All our birds who agree to take a bath on their own prefer a big shallow non-slip bowl, like the reptile bowls, on the floor of their cages. Only the canary likes the hang-on kind.

:wub:

[Jean]

Very nice cage! It soundsl like you were fortunate to find one today. He should have plenty of room in his new cage.

Shirley, I'm sorry Ginny didn't find one she wanted. Maybe, she will find one at the next show.

[Shirley]

She's going to look online (eBay, etc) and in the local shops... she needs one before the next show. I'm really disappointed there weren't more small cages. We only have 2-3 large cage vendors, but many who sell the smaller cages and finch flights, etc. I guess that wasn't the case at the Tampa show.

I'm surprised that a cage that's been recalled is still being sold... and how are we to know if it's been "fixed"? They weren't able to tell her anything about it.. but there was the same rabbit logo and she wasn't about to take the chance.

[Sue]

Vicki & Greg, I love Bailey's cage, he's such a cutie:wub:


EVERYONE!!! AVOID THE CAGES WITH THE RABBIT LOGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had one and Toto kept pinging the bars, i read they had been withdrawn from sale in my parrot magazine. although the cage was new, I ordered another one straight away, I couldn't believe it when I checked and there was the rabbit, I hadn't noticed it before.
I was frantic as he was getting the powder coating off and that is supposed to be the toxic part.
Luckily he was fine.

[Majj]

Beaut cage , Lucky Bailey he sure flew into the right yard didn`t he...
I would lay newspaper on the tray on top of the cage also caude he will poop when up there and its so much easier to roll up a sheet of paper whenever its messy..
Does Bailey sleep in a happy hut (little house??) my guys sleep in a nesting box together they say Conures and Quakers like to sleep in nests , they do in the wild supposidly...
Love you pictures and I love Bailey too he is a beautiful looking boy....

[vmtwriter]

Mostly, Bailey sleeps on a perch, but I put his happy hut in there (it wouldn't fit in the first cage we had him in) hoping he might discover it and start sleeping in it.

I have newspaper up under his play area now.. I wouldn't let him get up there without it. He likes the ladders. :emot-danc

The rabbit logo was the first thing we looked for when we started looking at cages and the first vendor we looked at was all rabbit logos. We liked their cages but walked away. We were lucky to go to the other vendor and find the same type of cages, one lower to the ground so I didn't have to stand on a chair to get to the top, and with the perfect locking mechanisms. :agree:

Bailey is still exploring it and having fun discovering different toys and perches. Greg hid sunflower seeds all around in his cage to help encourage him to explore.:rotflmao:

I hope Ginny finds a cage she likes. There were a lot of finches there at the show, but not a lot of cages for them. Even saw finches like Nugget with the long tail. :agree:

Lots of love birds and baby macaws. a small batch of 'tiels and a 2 big batches of parakeets. saw more than one person walking around with their parakeet box.

They had a pair of babies sleeping together, it was a quaker and a sun, and it reminded me of Majj. :wub:

Lots of 'toos... too. But, only a few greys.

For my first bird show, I think we did okay. We got Bailey more toys than we can hang in his cage, but we'll change them out as he bores with them.

Greg says the only thing missing on this cage:doh: was an extra shelf on the bottom. I think that's why it's low enough for me to reach. I'm not complaining. I'll run back and forth to get stuff as needed, I don't mind.:agree:

[Shirley]

We keep as much as we can in a rubbermaid container... or you can get one with the center handle, like a tookbox only for kitchen things... and then all the seed and such stays within the container... supposedly :funny:

[Jean]

I am glad you found one you liked. Little Bailey has a lot more room to play in.

[Majj]

Well!! if you ever decide to get a friend for Bailey (not a mate) I would reccommend a baby Quaker get a DNA sexed male then you won`t have the worry of eggs...Conures are loverly fids and usually get on well with other birds ..Quakers are tough little cookies but seeing bailey is an adult he wouldn`t let a Quaker put it over him....LOL...not that I am trying to talk you into another fid BUT if you keep going to bird shows you are going to be TEMPTED for sure ..I stay well away from pet stores and Bird shows ...I have my hands full with my two monkeys ...
How is bailey`s behaviour now is he good with you guys handling him ..??? Sunny doesn`t like to be touched but loves to snuggle ,Buddy doesn`t snuggle but doesn`t mind being handled he is not one bit afraid of hands never fly off when you go to pick him up , we just pick him up with our hand around him like a telephone he just lays still and purrs like a cat ....
Off to bed here chat later all Night ..

[vmtwriter]

Yesterday, Bailey showed me how much he loves his new cage. He took a bath in his water dish. :clap:

He has two water dishes, one to bathe in and one to drink from. Don't know if he's quite figured that part out yet. :eek:

[Jean]

Awww, what a sweetheart! :heart: They do the sweetest things to show their appreciation. :heart:

[Dynaglide625]

Hi all ! As you know, I'm new to the forum, and can figure out most of the abbreviations. I was just browsing thru a few old posts, and have 2 questions. What are "fids" and what's with this "rabbit logo" thing? Thanks in advance-Anne

[Majj]

Fid ..= Feathered Kid.....
Rabbit Logo ..... I know nothing about so someone else will have to fill us in on that one , from what I can gather they are not a well made cage brand and some were recalled ....

[amazing greys]

I would need to search for a link for full info, but the lock is supposed to be toxic metal along w/the flaking paint!!!


Stay away from those cages!!!

Several fids have died from ingesting the metal from the lock!!!!

[Shirley]

Hi all ! As you know, I'm new to the forum, and can figure out most of the abbreviations. I was just browsing thru a few old posts, and have 2 questions. What are "fids" and what's with this "rabbit logo" thing? Thanks in advance-Anne

Never hesitate to ask questions around here! :D

Common Avian Abbreviations (http://www.thebirdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349)

:wavey:

[Jean]

Glad you asked! there is always someone willing to help.Here is a link that tells about the cage and it's unsafe lock. Just scroll down the cage a little ways and you will see it.

http://www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/alerts.htm

[amazing greys]

thanks Jean, I couldn't remember where I saw that info :thumbup:

[Jean]

you are welcome Barb!

[Parrots8]

Never hesitate to ask questions around here! :D

Common Avian Abbreviations (http://www.thebirdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349)

:wavey:

Wow! Thank you very much, Shirley. I had the same questions for fid and U2 abbreviations. Now I know. :dance: :thanx:

Lana

[Dynaglide625]

Thanks Jean-I checked out our cages, and they're ok. You guys are a great help, and as soon as I re-load the printer, I'm going to print out the whole bunch of articles on the site. Always helps to have reference material on hand when you need it. Our "bird" reference folder is getting a little overloaded, will probably have to transfer & organize it into a looseleaf binder with sections. OMG I feel like I'm back in High School ! Thanks again ! Anne

[amazing greys]

Anne, kwum (know what you mean) about having a refence folder for the birds :p


Mine is packed full also, hehehe It's nice to be able to go back and read just for fun or for a question.

So glad to help, that's what we're all here for :thumbup: