Advice on this Canary Bird Cage?

[theresa92841]

I found this bird cage at Petsmart and I really like it.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3039701

I am wondering about the acrylic front. I imagine I will have to clean that frequently, which I am ok with. But will that freak the canary out or will it just stay in the back of the cage while I open the big door and do that?

[katiem]

My guy tries to get out every time I open his door, and its a small latch!

The only thing I can think of happening is the bird flying into the door because he can't see it, but I doubt that will happen. Looks like a pretty good cage. So you've decided on the Canary?

[theresa92841]

Yes I have decided on a canary and have even found one that I am going to buy if I can get the cage thing figured out.

Hmm, how will I clean the big front door if it is always trying to get out when I open the door?

Hmm. They chose acrylic and it is suppose to be better than glass or mirror so I assumed that meant that it wouldn't try to fly into it because it isn't reflective. Or shows up somehow to the bird.

There is another cage I liked that didn't have the acrylic door but it didn't have the seed guard or all of the perches or the ceramic cups. I was trying to decide if I should get that instead of this one. I just like this one better as long as the acrylic door doesn't cause problems.

[katiem]

Your bird might not try to get out. My guy came from a bad place where two little boys would torment him endlessly, so he learned to run (well, fly) when the door opened. He is getting better but its taking a long time. I like the cage you are looking at, and it does come with a lot of neat things so it might be a good one for him. Can't wait to see pictures of the new birdie! Thought of a name yet?

[theresa92841]

It is red. The lady at another place Magnolia Bird Farm said that there are no naturally red canaries and that any canary becomes red if you feed it Beta Carotene. But even so I like that he is red.

I was thinking of calling him something along "Rouge". I wanted to find a French word that relates to red.

My dog is called Gigi so I thought that would be in keeping.

Oh, and so not all canaries will try to fly out? I thought you meant they would. I am so excited. I want to run out and get the cage and supplies tonight. What do you use to line the bottom of the cage? They had some litter type stuff. Which seemed odd but maybe that is what people use. :D

[theresa92841]

P.S. What do you do if the canary tries to get out of its cage? Especially since I will have such a large door up front to clean. I am less worried about the smaller side doors.

And if it does get out, what do you do? Wait for it to go back in for its food and water?

[katiem]

I use plain old paper towels to line the cage.

I have 3 cats who'd love a Canary for dinner, so when he gets out I have to chase him down and get him back in the cage. I find its easiest to wait until he lands and then throw a tea towel over him and pick him up. Usually though I just use my arm to block his path so he can't get out of the cage.

[theresa92841]

Well I got the cage. :D I am so excited. I got some different perches for it too. I thought I was suppose to get a perch that was sandy to keep its nails trimmed but the person told me to just take it to keep its nails trimmed. That Magnolia Bird Farm will do it for free.

Do you trim the bird's nails yourself? Use some sort of perch? Take it somewhere?

I was also told it needed grit. I asked if I could just mix grit in with its food. I thought that was a marvelous idea. But they said not to do that. That I could put it in another cup or use grit paper on the floor.

So how many cups do you really use? one for seed/pellets and one for water. and one for fresh veggies. and now one for grit? oh my. How can you possibly manage to place them so that the bird doesn't end up getting its waste in one?

I also got a swing for it. And a toy to hang. and cuttle bone.

I will wait to get millet and the bird seed/pellets until I get the bird.

I hope to get the bird Friday or Saturday.

Also, at the store the lady was concerned about the type of cup holders this cage had. She thought that since the wire went up over the cup that it would possibly get its head stuck in it. But it said the cage was for small birds and even mentioned love birds. I saw one like it elsewhere and they even said it was for canaries. So I am not sure who is right and how I can tell.

[xpalaboyx]

Looks like a pretty good cage.

[katiem]

I had bought him a sandy perch, but he hated it, and then I heard that they were bad for the birds feet, so now I just trim his nails. I use a cat nail clipper, but its a pain and he wont hold still.

I have a cup for water, a cup for grit and a cup with fruit occasionally. I also have another larger cup that is attached to a perch which I put his seed in. I also have a bath tub for him. They love to have their baths! I also have some millet which I put on the bottom of his cage floor.

I have a few different sized perches, a swing and several toys that I rotate. He really only likes the little mirror toy. I also have a cuttle bone clip, but he doesn't ever touch the cuttle bone. I had a canary nest when I had the female with him, but when she died I took it out because he didn't have any interest in it.

I have not had a problem with bird poop in the food dishes, but the water and bath dishes I have to clean daily because he does poop in those. Its just part of bird life, you'll get used to it.

[theresa92841]

Tonight we got everything set up for the birdcage. So i am ready to get the bird. Maybe Friday. :D

[theresa92841]

And I have named the bird . . . it is French and I so do not know how to spell it but it sounds like: Le Beau Wozoh Rouge. It means pretty red bird. :D

[krazy4birds]

That is a lovely name!!!! Sounds like royality !!!!