What to use in bottom of cage?

News Paper. We used ceder chips and got scolded by our Vet; it seems to give off some sort of fumes that are not good for a bird. Our neighbors save them for us.

Cedar shavings contain volatile oils which are toxic. Corn cob, walnut shells, bark chips etc. are all a risk for aspergillus and they can also make it hard to see the droppings, making it difficult to monitor them for health purposes.

Jane

I use "potty pads" at the bottom of Pearl's cage. Now that I come to think of it, I hope this is acceptable. I know they are non-hazardous to dogs because they are especially made for house training puppies. The potty pads are great because they are white (easy to monitor droppings) and very absorbant. Pearl doesn't ever get too close to them, though, because I have a grate that seperates her from the bottom of her cage. This should be okay (right, guys?) and if it is, I highly recommend them. Makes clean-up a breeze!

Sand is good, also, if it's clean. Sand paper too, so long as it's sand paper and not glass paper. It's easier to get it from hardware stores, also, than from petshops, as it is far less expensive that way.

Mind you, every time I pup sandpaper in, Joshua spends a couple of hours chewing the whole thing up until it looks like a spitball.

Mmmmmm, attractive.

Lidia

He will usually want whatever you are eating and in fact this is a good way of getting him to eat a variety of food so I think you should use this to your advantage rather than trying to stop him. He can either have a little of what you are having, provided it is suitable, or you can give him his fresh foods at that time, and include him in the "flock activities".

He doesn't actually need grit, despite popular belief, parrots don't need grit.

It looks as if he has thought of a good game to play with his seeds, especially if you hoover up as soon as he does it. Try ignoring it for a while and he might lose interest.

Jane