Playing under cage paper 🤦🏻‍♀️

[CosiGirl]

Over the course of the last month, Cozy has taken to shredding her cage paper and going underneath it. I’ve been trying to get her more exercise, some new toys, etc to try to keep her away from it, but after she’s had her fill of the new stuff she goes right back to her cage paper project. Unfortunately, my cage doesn’t have a bottom grate. Any tips on how to get her to stop? I’ve attached a pic for fun because she does look adorable when she does it but I know it’s not good for hormonal reasons and the potential ingestion of the paper.

 

[BirdyBee]

Over the course of the last month, Cozy has taken to shredding her cage paper and going underneath it. I’ve been trying to get her more exercise, some new toys, etc to try to keep her away from it, but after she’s had her fill of the new stuff she goes right back to her cage paper project. Unfortunately, my cage doesn’t have a bottom grate. Any tips on how to get her to stop? I’ve attached a pic for fun because she does look adorable when she does it but I know it’s not good for hormonal reasons and the potential ingestion of the paper.
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Ok, sorry for the "haha" emoji, but it's so funny how these guys do the weirdest things. Jeff used to go INTO THE TRAY despite there being a grate(only if outside the cage) just to get some seeds.

 

[CosiGirl]

Ok, sorry for the "haha" emoji, but it's so funny how these guys do the weirdest things. Jeff used to go INTO THE TRAY despite there being a grate(only if outside the cage) just to get some seeds.

Hahaha, I know it’s funny. When she does it, she gets so focused, we call it, “working on her project”. I can’t, it cracks me up

But seriously, any tips on how to get her to stop or a safe way to keep the paper down so she can’t lift it up? My husband was like, “put some medium sized paper weights in there”. What do we think?

 

[BirdyBee]

Hahaha, I know it’s funny. When she does it, she gets so focused, we call it, “working on her project”. I can’t, it cracks me up

But seriously, any tips on how to get her to stop or a safe way to keep the paper down so she can’t lift it up? My husband was like, “put some medium sized paper weights in there”. What do we think?

Maybe you can add some rocks down there to weigh it down.

 

[StormyPica]

Over the course of the last month, Cozy has taken to shredding her cage paper and going underneath it. I’ve been trying to get her more exercise, some new toys, etc to try to keep her away from it, but after she’s had her fill of the new stuff she goes right back to her cage paper project. Unfortunately, my cage doesn’t have a bottom grate. Any tips on how to get her to stop? I’ve attached a pic for fun because she does look adorable when she does it but I know it’s not good for hormonal reasons and the potential ingestion of the paper.
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Picasso does this too! Female budgies tend to be slightly more chewy and cuddly (in my experience), so maybe that's why? Cossie certainly doesn't get nesty when she does it!

 

[HeatherG]

I have made a cage grate using hardware cloth. It is wire mesh that has squares of 1/4 inch. It comes on a big roll. You can go to a hardware store and have them cut you off a piece, then cut it exactly to size with a heavy scissors or tin snips. You might need your mom or dad to do it for you.

One way to make the hardware cloth grate more sturdy is to leave it a couple of squares too big and then bend the edges under to stiffen them. You can flatten the edges with a pliers or a hammer.

This has worked for me when I needed to keep my bird from chewing up her cage paper. You don’t want her to make a nest and lay eggs. That’s dangerous for the bird.

 

[CosiGirl]

Maybe you can add some rocks down there to weigh it down.

We might try that, thanks!

 

[CosiGirl]

Picasso does this too! Female budgies tend to be slightly more chewy and cuddly (in my experience), so maybe that's why? Cossie certainly doesn't get nesty when she does it!

She is my first budgie so I’ll take your word for it! She is definitely a chewer and loves to snuggle up when we sit near the cage (she’s still hand shy, but we are working on it).

 

[CosiGirl]

I have made a cage grate using hardware cloth. It is wire mesh that has squares of 1/4 inch. It comes on a big roll. You can go to a hardware store and have them cut you off a piece, then cut it exactly to size with a heavy scissors or tin snips. You might need your mom or dad to do it for you.

This has worked for me when I needed to keep my bird from chewing up her cage paper. You don’t want her to make a nest and lay eggs. That’s dangerous for the bird.

That’s a great idea too, thanks!