Unless you want to spend a lot of time scrubbing the bottom of your bird’s cage you probably use some type of cage liner. While there are several different alternatives that can be used to line your cages, gravel paper is definitely your best choice. It offers the best way to monitor your bird’s droppings which is a key to maintaining their health.
Other materials do not offer the flat, unbroken surface that you get with paper. This surface is more conducive to observing bird droppings than a cage bottom filled with litter or wood chips. Gravel paper may be useful to help trim the nails of small birds if there is no grate on the bottom of the cage.
Just about any kind of paper can be used as long as 1) it does not contain petroleum-based ink and 2) it has not been treated with any other potentially toxic chemicals. Newspaper is an inexpensive material to use as a cage liner, but in the digital world, many homes do not receive a physical newspaper with any regularity.
Pre-packaged Bird Cage Paper Liners
Let’s look at some pre-packaged cage liners that make it easy to keep your bird’s cage clean and monitor their health.
Bird Cage Liner – Pick-Your-Size
Bird Cage Liners offers packs of 150 sheets of 40 and 60-pound weight paper to be used as liners for your bird’s cage. Liners are available in a wide variety of sizes to fit most standard size cages. They are delivered in a roll but lay flat with no creases. Contaminant-free paper with a poly coating is used to manufacture these liners which is the same type of paper as that used in paper bags. These liners offer a quick and easy method of keeping the floor of your bird cage clean.
Bird Cage Gravel Paper
This cage liner from Prevue Hendryx comes in a roll that measures 21and 1/2 inches wide by 100 feet long ( 54.6 cm X 30.48 m). It is also available in other sizes. The chemical-free paper features an antimicrobial coating to further protect your birds. The roll of paper is easily cut to be used in cages of many different sizes.
Why Bird Cage Liners are Useful
- Paper liners allow you to monitor your bird’s health by observing any change in their droppings.
- Liners will save you time and effort when compared to washing out the bottom tray of your bird’s cage.
- Since its easier to do, you can change the liners more often and provide a healthier environment for your bird.
Bird Cage Liners & Gravel Paper: A buying checklist
- Any paper liner that you use needs to be free from any toxic chemicals or petroleum-based ink or they can pose health risks for your bird.
- If you are buying cage liners, make sure you get the right size. They are available in sizes that might fit your cage exactly and eliminate the need to trim or fold up the edges.
I’ve always used king sized cotton pillowcases and wash them every couple of days. Is there any reason to not use this method?
Hi Syd,
The main concerns here are that the any fabric you use as a cover should be breathable, light blocking and non-toxic. You should also only wash it using eco-friendly detergents to be on the safe side as well. No need to wash it with any smelly conditioners as you’re only adding additional chemicals which could potentially be harmful to your pet birds.