It needed a major DEEP CLEAN, and some CHANGES to my cage system, food storage, and the number of cages!
#1) Get my cages onto wheels!
For the past 5 years, my cages have been stacked: a row of cages stacked on top of several other rows of cages, with a sheet of plywood between, and bungee cords to keep the stack secure. Most 'stack's were 3 high... and I had them tied to the wall to keep them from toppling!
The bottom row was off the floor at least a few inches, and I swept what I could reach nearly every day, but if I wanted to clean up behind the cages, it was a major job to get all the cages apart and moved.
I have been in this room for 7 years. At first, I put paper on the walls behind the cages, and changed the paper at least once a year. Recently, I simply had TOO MANY cages and too many birds to take time to clean properly!
*** Another reminder that YES, we can have TOO MANY BIRDS! 😄 ***
#2) Get a shop vac! This is great. It made cleaning under and between the stacks so easy and efficient!
#3) All my canary supplies should be IN the bird room. Up until now, I have stashed various canary things all over my house. I have some good ideas to solve this.
#3) All my canary supplies should be IN the bird room. Up until now, I have stashed various canary things all over my house. I have some good ideas to solve this.
#4) Paint! Lori sent me a photo of her bird room... and that kept floating around in my brain. I wanted a green bird room!
#5) Clean: the laundry appliances, light fixture, window blinds, etc.
#6) Add a few improvements: such as a clock, dry erase board on freezer, etc.
I bought paint early February.
It was early March before I moved the birds out into a spare bedroom.
The birds were returned to the bird room March 30. I don't have all the new cage stands in the room, and there is much to do as I begin pairing the canaries in April.
But the end is near! YEAH!!!
But the end is near! YEAH!!!
I took videos and photos of the process and I will put them all together into a video story, but for now, I will share a few photos. (read complete post)
This photo was taken the morning I began moving in the birds on March 30th. All painted and clean.... ready to fill with canaries! |
Here is a 'before' photo, a reminder to think of room-cleaning, not just cage-cleaning!
The result of too many birds, at least for my life! |
I originally intended to have all the 'moving around' finished quite some time before breeding. But it didn't work that way. It took me a long time to get the bird room ready, but the canaries kept slowly progressing toward breeding condition.
Just waiting for their new room.... |
After scrapping the walls, I washed them TWICE! |
Yes, that is a CAT in the bird room! |
The painting part was more fun than the cleaning! |
The blind cleaning was easier than I had expected! |
I will post early in April as I put together the pairs, and as I get my new, improved storage installed!
I have new cages to place in a second 'bird area'.... which I will be able to use if I want to try 'song tutoring'!
These are used cage units that I FINALLY assembled. They are still in my kitchen... but soon they will be put to use! |