Deep Thoughts

[noblemacaw]

Back in 2002 I bought a 406 stainless steel cage that ended up weighing in at 210 pounds. I bought this monster for my Illiger's macaw Diego. At the time I didn't regret getting this cage because Diego used every inch of it.

When the weather is nice I like to roll the cage out into the patio and power wash it. This is the cleanest I can get the cage so once a week until late fall I will power wash it. To get it into my patio I must lift this cage up over the lip of where the patio door is. There is a 6 inch drop from house to patio. Normally I can stand on the patio using the strength in my legs to lift it up over the doorway into the patio then go back inside to lift the other side up over the doorway.

I normally never had a problem lifting the cage. It is very heavy but I always had the strength to do this myself.

Today I could not lift it one inch off the floor. Lupe had to assist me with the lifting and I could not even help her. Baffled I could not understand why after all these years I could no longer lift up the cage. I now understand I can no longer handle getting Valentino's cage outside by myself for the power cleaning.

At first I didn't understand why I no longer had the strength to lift the cage and was rather upset with knowing this. Lupe said it is because I lost a lot of weight and with loosing weight you loose strength. That made sense because with loosing weight I didn't work out lifting weights to build strength or even to maintain the strength I use to have. To date I have lost 48 pounds. However my asthma is now under control, my blood pressure is no longer high and my A1C is now 5.9 so I know the weight loss was good for my health.

Eventually I will be living alone and will no longer be able to handle moving Valentino's cage onto the patio by myself. I have to reevaluate how I am going to be able to maintain such a heavy cage by myself.

I think I should look into replacing the cage with a lighter cage and sell Valentino's current cage. Of course this would be after I returned to work and would have to save for another stainless steel cage.

I would never move Valentino into my smaller Deltona Freedom cage that use to be my Noble macaw Mihijo and Julio's cage. It is too small for a RFM.

If I keep Valentino's current cage I will need to figure out a different way to get it as clean as I can with power washing.

 

[Kiwibird]

Since you can't replace the cage right now, can you try removing the tray, grate, seed guard and all perches before taking it outside? It might reduce the weight enough to be somewhat manageable. Or it may just be a matter of elbow grease and being meticulous. In the winter when it's too cold, I have to hand clean Kiwi's cage. Not fun, but I meticulously vacuum nooks and crannies dust/seed husks accumulate in easily, make sure each and every bar has been wiped clean, and wash the perches separately in the shower or sink (depending on size). I find misting it down with vinegar-water and letting it sit for about 10 minutes helps loosen it all up. A paint scraper works great on dried poop/fruit to get the big chunks off. It takes a good 2 hours start-to-finish, but it does get the cage nice and clean

 

[noblemacaw]

Thanks for your reply I really appreciate you sharing how you manage your parrot's cage. I don't use a seed guard (cages are in my dining room against the wall) and do have to take out the grate and tray before I can fit it though the patio door. The grate is pretty heavy itself. I don't even have to anchor it at all with the metal tabs that come with the cage because there is no way any parrot could move that grate by itself.

The real issue I have with keeping cage clean is the fresh food I feed Valentino. The peppers act like superglue on the grate, and in the crevices where the food lands. Cleaning it by hand is a pain in the butt but I MUST get it as clean as I can especially with the fresh food residue.

I am going to try the vinegar spray. Where I need to apply it Valentino does not have access too. In the right hand back side corner the lip that holds the tray always scratches me every time I scrub the cage. I have scars on my forearm from getting scratched. They fade in time. You would think I would be more careful with knowing that special spot but every time I clean I get scratched. LOL.

I love the power washing and will continue to do it. I like to let the cage sit in the sun all shiny and clean while drying as Valentino (in his carrier) and I enjoy the weather.

 

[MikeyTN]

The ramp could easily be built to help you with the needs like Delfin suggested!!!! I bought a power washer for the same purpose but haven't had it fired up yet, bought it since March and haven't even used it yet....lol.....

 

[GW.Joe]

To date I have lost 48 pounds

Hello,

I have gone through a "lifestyle change" myself (not right to really call it a diet) I was taught about juicing and getting "micronutrients"

After three days I started to feel different, I lost 10 pounds in a week and I'm not really hungry

Most of us eat completely wrong (me all my life)
So I am hoping to be successful and lose a bunch of weight

Anyone wanting to know about it please PM me I have to pay this knowledge forward to others, it can change lives and like I said you're not hungry

Anyway I have been using lite weights with my arms and feel much stronger, could that help you?

BTW I like Delfin's Idea of the ramp also !!

Joe

 

[Kiwibird]

I love the power washing and will continue to do it. I like to let the cage sit in the sun all shiny and clean while drying as Valentino (in his carrier) and I enjoy the weather.

I only hand clean his cage if I have to (in the winter). I will take hosing it down outside to spending 2 hours meticulously scrubbing any day! However, if it were very difficult to get his cage outside, that would be the route I'd probably have to go. I try to imagine myself getting a 200+ pound parrot cage outdoors once a month to wash, and I start thinking of alternative options Thats a heavy cage!

In the right hand back side corner the lip that holds the tray always scratches me every time I scrub the cage. I have scars on my forearm from getting scratched. They fade in time. You would think I would be more careful with knowing that special spot but every time I clean I get scratched. LOL.

A metal file, sandpaper for metal or even a small piece of duct tape over the shape edge should take care of that! My moms amazons have stainless cages, and Kiwi's fist cage was stainless, so I *know* what sharp edges you refer to. They are like nasty razors. No need to leave that like it is where it injures you!

The real issue I have with keeping cage clean is the fresh food I feed Valentino. The peppers act like superglue on the grate, and in the crevices where the food lands. Cleaning it by hand is a pain in the butt but I MUST get it as clean as I can especially with the fresh food residue.

The best tools I've found for getting the fruit, poop, and feathers/bits of chewed toys that sticks to the mess off grates and any other nook or cranny

 

[noblemacaw]

Ooooo a ramp is such a good idea. If I make it sturdy enough using it would not damage the patio door railing for the sliding glass.

Mikey get out there and use your power washer. I LOVE IT. Mine is a attachment into my hose which I got for 20 bucks at Menards so I bet yours is way more bad ass than mine. Trust me...once you use it you won't be able to live without it. Using mine cuts my cleaning time in half and I KNOW my cage is at its cleanest.

Joe, my weight loss was started though the MOVE program at the VA. The program starts with 10 week course where a lot of the information is common sense but I did learn a lot though the classes. Depending on your BMI the VA also has the hospital stay for two weeks in which you eat a 800 calorie diet and exercise under their care. They also have more classes during the hospital stay. I did mine in January.

To be honest it was the break up of my relationship that jump started my weight loss. I experienced a lot of issues due to the grief which made it nearly impossible to eat normally. Also going from having no established budget for groceries down to $189 a month in which $25 of that is spent for Valentino's fresh veggies my consumption of calories was cut in half. I am lucky if I get in 1200 a day.

Now that life is somewhat returning to normal and I am working though my grief, and getting my life back together I use the knowledge from the MOVE program and have figured out how to eat as healthy as I can on $189 dollars a month. Now that it is growing season the prices of fresh veggies and fruit should be more reasonable and I can start drinking the nutri blasts I make with my nutribullet.

I would like to know how you handled your weight loss Joe. I really appreciate it.

Kiwibird I love the pictures of your cleaning implements. LOVE THEM. I am going to look into investing in more "equipment" than just these freak scrub sponges I use. I love the vinegar idea you wrote about.

 

[GW.Joe]

Now that life is somewhat returning to normal and I am working though my grief I can start drinking the nutri blasts I make with my nutribullet.
I would like to know how you handled your weight loss Joe. I really appreciate it.

I hope the pain has lessened for you, Stay Stong "time heals all wounds"

I went though a painful breakup myself about 10 years ago
(I kept the kids though )

It sounds like at least you have a good support system!!

I'll PM you ASAP

Joe