Untamed scared lovebirds cage cleaning

[HeatherS]

Purchased two untamed scared lovebirds from pet store less than a week ago…. So to get them from pet store cage to take home boxes the woman used a net…. When home just opened the boxes to allow them into new cage… pet carriers will be delivered tomorrow but now I don’t know how I should get them each into a carrier in order to clean their cage also I unknowingly got a cage that I can’t just pull the bottom out from underneath to empty I instead have to detach the cage wiring to empty and clean… any advice please

 

[Corkscr.ew]

Why do you need to put them in a carrier? It's fine to just let them out as long as it's safe and you're able to bribe them back into their cage.

 

[HeatherS]

That thought never occurred to me… can you offer me a few ways to bribe them back in by chance? They haven’t touched there millets yet nor the fruit cabob I hung earlier so I’m not even positive what strikes their fancy yet other than the foraging wall in there cage

 

[Corkscr.ew]

You can just give them their normal food (seed/pellets/vegetables) around the time you want them back in their cage, and they should go inside to eat it. You can also try target training them as a longer-term solution.

 

[HeatherS]

Ty!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Purchased two untamed scared lovebirds from pet store less than a week ago…. So to get them from pet store cage to take home boxes the woman used a net…. When home just opened the boxes to allow them into new cage… pet carriers will be delivered tomorrow but now I don’t know how I should get them each into a carrier in order to clean their cage also I unknowingly got a cage that I can’t just pull the bottom out from underneath to empty I instead have to detach the cage wiring to empty and clean… any advice please

I have a Vision cage that has a bottom that detaches to clean it and it's easy. It has clips that hold the bottom on so open the clips and lift the whole cage top part off the bottom and set it on the table without the bottom. I clean out the bottom part and put fresh paper. Then I lift the top part and put it back on the bottom part and attach the clips. The birds don't care. They just sit on their perches the whole time.

 

[HeatherS]

That’s how the cage I have works… right now they only have the perches the cage came with and after learning more I ordered wood treelike perches for them so I have to rearrange the whole cage when I go to clean it… as of now they are still scared of my hand so when I go in for anything one of them starts flapping around really fast so I think I’m gonna just let them out in the room by opening up the top of the cage and front with their gym visible n hope they come out at some point so I can clean and arrange everything and then try to get them back in with food and new toys

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You should put the cage in a smaller room (a bedroom maybe) with the windows covered snd the doors closed when you let them out. A small room is easier for rhem to navigate without slamming unto walls and windows and it will make it easier for you to catch them if you need to if they don't go back in on their own. Make sure you bird proof the room as much as possible.

How big is their cage (dimensions)? If they are not going to be out for several hours a day they will need a large cage, 32x18x32 would be minimally adequate. Anything smaller would be cruel if they aren't coming out. I'm always on the lookout for flight cages made for small birds with close bar spacing. The manufacturers don't make many options larger than 32x18x32. Ideally, a flight cage should allow them to fly, not just hop. And 48 inches long is about minumum for real flight. There are a lot of cages 24x16x32 with stands but they're just too small. One of these cages costs about $80 on Amazon including shipping. A really good deal.

What I do is take two 24x16x32 Amazon cages, and using a cordless drill with a bit that drills metal, my husband, the tool guy, drills new holes in the metal frame to allow him to screw two cages together side by side to make one 48x16x32 flight cage. Four small birds can live comfortably in it, getting enough exercise flying from end to end. I've also had him put two of these cages together front to back to make a 24x32x32 cage for my six Engilsh Budgies. Four of them come out and fly around for hours but two are lazy and rarely come out but they all live comfortably in this cage.

 

[HeatherS]

It’s 20.8 by 30 something sorry I’m at work… so ideally we want them out of the cage for most of the day and they are in a bedroom… the stand I bought for the cage should be here today as well

 

[DonnaBudgie]

That's a good size as cages go. It breaks my heart to see budgies and other small birds living out their lives alone in cages as small as 15"x13"! I have a work friend who wants to adopt a couple of my "excess" budgies that live in a 32x18x36 cage and I want more space for them not less. I told her I would help pay for a 38x18x22 cage and she could have as many as four of them if she wanted but she wouldn't go larger than 30" long so I said no. If she was planning to let them out to fly I'd consider it but she has a large hunting type dog and the birds would stay caged. I'm building them a 48x32x32 flight cage.
You rescued your lovebirds and we are all thankful for that. They have a companion and that's very important. Your plan for them is so kind. Birds need to fly.