That sneaky little...

[janelpopp]

Those of you who read the thread "I had to separate them." know that I have had to separate the two "lovebirds" due to a fight they got into. I had Esmerelda locked up in her nice big cage, and Frootloop locked up in the other. When Jaide, the destructive little parakeet, was alive, she would gnaw on the cage bars, breaking them off. My solution was duct tape on the broken off bars to lock off their escape, and never once had I had an issue with any birds biting on that.

Well, I like to alternate which bird gets locked up for the day, so that they still get their free flight for the day. I got home today, and well, Frootloop, being nice and clever, had ripped the duct tape off the bars, and managed to get himself out of the cage and into Esmerelda's. Luckily, there was no damage done to either of them...but now what do I do???

I can't keep them together. And I can't keep Esmerelda locked up 24/7 while Frootloop gets to roam free 24/7. And now that Frootloop gnaws at duct tape, I can't put that back on there, for fear that he may get seriously ill from it, for I'm quite sure it's harmful to birds. While I DO have another cage, it is EXTREMELY small, even for just 1 parakeet, to be locked up in. There is no room to hop around in it, unless I had like one of those extremely small finches. I never bought the cage. It was given to me with my 1st bird when I was 5, and I've kept it ever since.

I'm considering buying a new cage, but I can't do such a thing until the weekend comes up. A nice cage would cost me at least $50, but I can't go TOO large, for then there would be no room to put it in my room.

While that is what I'm probably going to do, I'm at a loss until this weekend at the least, for that will be the soonest possible for me to even get a chance to go out and buy one.

Any suggestions until then?

[Jinx n Noodle]

I'm a bit confused. I thought that Esmeralda and Frootloop were not initially supposed to be caged together, but then they were because they wanted to be together. What were you going to do before they got along?

Also, to clarify things... are the birds (or now, at least one bird) allowed to roam free when you're not around?

[janelpopp]

I'm a bit confused. I thought that Esmeralda and Frootloop were not initially supposed to be caged together, but then they were because they wanted to be together. What were you going to do before they got along?

Also, to clarify things... are the birds (or now, at least one bird) allowed to roam free when you're not around?

Ah. Yes. They were not initially meant to be caged together, but they quickly grew best of pals and refused to be separated when I had them out together, so they started living together. I would have to lock them up for a while, for Esmerelda's wings hadn't grown in at the time. They were fine for the longest time, completely adoring each other. Her wings grew back, and I started leaving the cage open, and after about mmm...maybe about 2 weeks they got into a fight. While they were happily next to each other when I had gotten home, there was some feathers missing from Esmerelda's head, and Frootloop had a scab on his beak that was never there. Therefore I had to separate them, so as not to risk more damage done. They have not liked being separated.

I always had my birds roam 24/7, even when I'm not around, for it was never an issue, for there is no danger in my room of something happening to them. Now, Esmerelda was a problem, for her wings were clipped, so I had to have her locked up for a while, else she would be stuck on the ground with no way back up. When her wings grew back, it was back to 24/7 openings of free flight.

Before they got along, I had initially planned on them being separated, and have the cage openings be alternated, so that every other day (except weekends) they could have their free time. On weekends, they could be out together, for I would be around to watch them. Well they got along too well on weekends, and I couldn't separate them after that, for they would flip out and not shut up. :rolleyes:

Hope that rid you of your confusion, Jinx n Noodle. XD

[Bobioden]

Why don't you switch the birds and cages, and put Frootloop in the cage that does not have the duct tape. Assume Esmeralda with not play with the duct tape. Temporary fix until you get another cage.

[enborgle]

Good thinking Bobioden. That is also what I would recommend, but definitely get another cage over the weekend. Duct tape is not really an acceptable fix for either bird.

I urge you to reconsider leaving them loose when you're not around. Even in a totally bird proof room, there are places for them to get lost, squeeze into or fall behind that could result in serious injury and death, or even starvation if they went missing and you didn't find them in time. I do have a couple of birds who live cage free and I can appreciate the appeal of that lifestyle for our little ones, but I would never chance it with a small bird.

[Jinx n Noodle]

I would agree about the roaming. I knew somebody who let her birds wander (while she was home) and she said they got onto the bookcase (which was normal) but they were chewing her books and she didn't realize it and one of them got stuck and suffocated because he chewed a hole in the book and then couldn't get out.

Also, if I remember correctly, you have them in the bedroom... what happened if they're out and about and they land on your bed and you accidentally rolled on them?

I guess my confusion was that you were suppose to house them separately initially, why don't you have two cages already that are appropriate for them? Or you were already thinking of housing one of them in the duct taped cage? Either way, sounds like space is at a premium where you're keeping the birds, maybe you should look into a double stacker cage... good space saver:)

[ParrotletsRock]

I believe the glue on duct tape has zinc in it.... I would put one in the small cage for now and alternate which bird gets which cage each day as a short term fix till payday nd then get a new cage.

[janelpopp]

Ah good advice everyone. With the bird roaming thing, I never had a problem with birds flying around, for they go on the same spots everyday, and never roam around, for they are always too scared too, for whatever reason... Maybe it's just that everything is so much larger than them.
And initially I had it where Frootloop would be in the duct tape cage, for he never gnawed at it before, but now he's "smart" enough to figure out that if he gnaws on the duct tape, he can break free and go in Esmerelda's cage. And Esmerelda being switched to the duct tape cage won't work, for that's something she loves to go after and gnaw on. X(
Would apple biters + duct tape be an okay combination? Or is that mixture something that would cause even more problems???

[enborgle]

Duct tape is really not an acceptable solution at all for any length of time, especially if someone is chewing it. I am actually surprised that you haven't been flamed yet about that. You need to figure something out to get your hands on a new cage pronto. If money is the issue, do you have a classifieds website you can look for a used one on? If transportation or time are the problem preventing you from getting one before the weekend - I'd be calling a friend for a ride or taking the bus. Not enough safe, suitable cages is an emergency IMO.

I know the roaming thing seems safe and your heart is in the right place, but it only takes one time for something to happen and someone to die - we even had a member here on the forum who did exactly the same thing as you and her bird had always been predictable, until one day she came home and... nothing. It took her a couple of days to find him, and in that time he'd starved to death. This bird had never done this before - like I said, it takes just one time. Imagine how you would feel if you ignored our advice and then the same thing happened to you.

[janelpopp]

Duct tape is really not an acceptable solution at all for any length of time, especially if someone is chewing it. I am actually surprised that you haven't been flamed yet about that. You need to figure something out to get your hands on a new cage pronto. If money is the issue, do you have a classifieds website you can look for a used one on? If transportation or time are the problem preventing you from getting one before the weekend - I'd be calling a friend for a ride or taking the bus. Not enough safe, suitable cages is an emergency IMO.

I know the roaming thing seems safe and your heart is in the right place, but it only takes one time for something to happen and someone to die - we even had a member here on the forum who did exactly the same thing as you and her bird had always been predictable, until one day she came home and... nothing. It took her a couple of days to find him, and in that time he'd starved to death. This bird had never done this before - like I said, it takes just one time. Imagine how you would feel if you ignored our advice and then the same thing happened to you.

I have already removed the duct tape and haven't put it back up since Frootloop was chewing on it. I was just asking if apple biters on the duct tape would prevent either one of them from chewing on duct tape until I get a new cage.
What is preventing me buying a cage until the weekend is that I'm always busy during the weekdays...which I don't really like. I don't get home until well after 8:30 p.m., and by then my local pet shop is closed. They are open Saturdays and Sundays as well, so it's the only time I can really go there.
And while I see where you come from with the whole birds roaming free thing....I ..just don't feel right locking them up all day. It's not that I'm ignoring the advice. I understand it completely well, but in my heart it doesn't feel right locking them up.
I've had birds since I was 5, and have always let them roam free 24/7, and it was never an issue. I'm not saying that it never will be an issue, for like you said, the unexpected CAN happen. I understand. But still...I don't feel right when I lock them up. It's the only excuse that I have. :o

[enborgle]

You frequently mention that you have had birds since you were 5, but you don't state how old you are now, so that's not really a good frame of reference for those of us reading your posts.

I know I must sound like the pot calling the kettle black because of what happened to my Casino, but maybe that's why I'm so sensitive about the subject now. He wasn't even the one who was loose, but someone was and he paid the price. However, I am not so foolish that I think my words on a screen are enough to change someone's birdkeeping practices. People will do what they want with their birds regardless of what I or anyone else thinks and they have that right, but it's also a responsibility. As long as you understand the risks you're taking and you're prepared to accept the consequences of your choice (whatever they might be), then of course you're free to keep them however you choose.

[Kayla]

What if you covered the bars that were chewed off with something else? The same way someone might patch a hole with a piece of wood?

[catfish]

bitter apple spray? no.
duct tape? no.

there is little that can be done to repair a broken cage. you can try blocking the hole w/ toys that bolt the side, but that might now be enough... or put a food dish over the hole.

i'm very against letting birds roam free. too many times i've seen brids brought in b/c someone stepped on one. i'm also against out door cats and walking dogs w/o leashes. i spent 9 years trying to fix other people's mistakes, just burned out on trying to correct behaviors of others to only hear pew pew pew, it won't happen to me. russian roulette anyone? no thanks.

you think it's an acceptable risk. your choice, not going to waste a whole lot of breath trying to convince you about the risk. Just remember, it's not you who pays the price for any mistake, it's the bird, the dog, the cat.