Substrates

[zazanomore]

What kind of substrates do you use in your bird's cage?

I've always used newspaper. It's readily available, and doesn't cost me a cent.

Einstein's old cage came with liners. They were really convenient, but they are expensive.

[lzver]

I use newspaper as well for the same reasons.

I have actually started putting newspaper below and above the grate. I change the paper above the grate every 1-2 days and the paper below the grate every 3-4 days. It means less scrubbing the grate when giving the cages a full cleaning. It may take a few extra minutes when changing the paper, but it saves a lot of time and effort when it comes time to scrub down the cages.

[TheNzJessie]

iv stopped using anything and hose it out. much more hygienic and its getting cleaning more often, smells setter because his liquid diet the soaks into the newspaper and stinks so i just take the tray outside and hose it down. my budgie i still use new paper the using nothing method would only work for nectar eaters

[Natacha]

I use newspapers.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I don't get a newspaper anymore, I get my news online, so there is no "free" newspaper. The cage catcher liners are very convenient since they are precut to the right size, and you can stack them up in the tray and pull them off one at a time. So , that's what I'm currently using. I did use litter for a while, and we still have it in the base of the playstand where the birds don't go, but the cats have started playing with it. I think the litter looks nicer, but it is actually harder to maintain. It can also become contaminated or cause problems if consumed, which is especially concerning if you have no grate, or the grate is not very far above the tray -- or if your bird flies or flaps a lot in the cage and stirs up dust.

[lotus15]

I don't like any sort of litter or bedding -- I don't think it's healthy nor convenient as it can lead to bacterial growth and like Entranced said, can easily be flapped around or cause dust.

I use newspaper on the grate and on the tray, and change it 2-4 times a day.

[captwest]

I go to theprinters and buy the left over rolls of newsprint. i can then tear them to the right size or double them up if needed. i'm sure the ink is safe but rolls of unused newsprint sure is handy.

[Margaret]

Before it was shredded paper, but maybe a year or so newspaper. Easy to clean.

[kaylayuh]

I use newspaper. I don't get my local paper delivered, but there are two different Spanish language newspaper boxes right outside my apartment. So I grab a few and whenever I need more, I just go outside.

My birds, especially Pigpen, really like to shred it. It's much cheaper than anything else.

[Scarpath]

I used to use newspaper but my conures would hop to the bottom and chew it up to nothing. And the one time the bird got poop on her beak and it dried and then I had to whip it off. Now we use cob bedding because it works well and we don't have to change it for a long while. Also where we get it it is really cheap.