When owning a pet bird, one of the messiest parts of bird ownership can be the seed that gets scattered outside of the bird’s cage. Birds are naturally messy eaters and often fling seed out of their food bowls and onto the floor surrounding their cages. As a bird owner, you’ll likely find yourself frequently cleaning up this stray bird seed. While you can minimize the mess by using cages with deep spill-proof food bowls, seed catchers placed under the cage can help contain the mess and make cleanup much easier.
Use a bird cage skirt or apron
One of the most popular options for catching stray bird seed is to use a specially designed bird cage skirt or apron. These are typically made of fabric or plastic and attach to the outside of the cage, surrounding the bottom pan or cage base. The material catches any seed or debris that gets tossed out of the cage.
Cage skirts come in different styles:
- Fabric skirts that wrap around a wire cage
- Molded plastic trays that sit under the cage base
- Custom aprons designed for specific cage brands and models
Fabric cage skirts often match cage covers and give your bird’s home a nice coordinated look. Plastic trays blend in inconspicuously under the cage. Custom aprons provide a perfect fit for the cage style. Most cage skirts attach securely with Velcro, elastic, or snaps to keep them in place.
The benefit of using a bird cage skirt or apron is that it contains all the stray seed and debris in one place for quick and easy cleanup. Simply unfasten and remove the skirt, dump out any waste, and wipe it clean as needed. This helps keep your floors tidy on a daily basis.
Use a sheet, tarp or canvas
For a more inexpensive and improvised solution, you can place a sheet, tarp, or durable canvas fabric on the floor under and around the cage to catch falling seed. This is also an easy option if you have a very large cage that a typical skirt or apron won’t fit.
Old sheets or tarps can be cut and shaped as needed to provide coverage surrounding the cage base. Canvas drop cloths designed for painting or other home improvement projects also work well. The material should be waterproof and easy to clean.
Make sure any fabric has enough coverage underneath and around the cage sides to catch stray debris. Secure the edges with weights or tape them down so the bird can’t grab or move the material.
The benefit of a DIY fabric catcher is that it’s very inexpensive and can be custom fit. Just be aware that loose fabric is more prone to moving around and will wear out faster than commercial cage skirts and aprons.
Use a plastic mat or tarp
Plastic mats provide an even cheaper and more durable option than fabric. Plastic sheeting, drop cloths, shower liners, and even puppy training pads can all be used to make DIY seed catchers.
Look for plastic materials that are:
- Waterproof and non-toxic
- At least 3-5 mil thick for durability
- Easy to wipe clean
Cut or fold the plastic to fully cover the cage bottom and several inches beyond on all sides. Make sure any seams are tightly taped for a smooth surface. Weight the edges down with books, jars, or other heavy objects to keep the plastic from moving.
Plastic mats stand up well to heavy bird traffic and spilled food and water. They’re easy to pick up, shake off, and wipe or spray clean as needed. Just be cautious of slippery surfaces that could cause falls.
Get a drying mat for dishes
For small cages, a flexible drying mat can contain mess below and around a single food and water bowl. Silicone dish drying mats provide a waterproof, easy-clean surface to catch drips and spills under cage bowls.
Look for a dish mat that:
- Is made from FDA-approved, non-toxic silicone
- Has raised edges to catch spills
- Is textured to prevent dishes from sliding
- Can be trimmed to fit the cage space
Make sure the mat is large enough to span several inches underneath and around the food and water containers. Clean as needed by shaking off debris, wiping, or putting in the dishwasher.
Use a cement mixing tray
For very large bird cages, a cement mixing tray makes an ideal spill-proof base. These hard plastic trays are available at most hardware stores. They provide a seamless, shallow basin that’s durable and easy to clean.
Look for a mixing tray that is:
- At least 2 inches deep
- Long and wide enough to fit under the entire cage
- Sturdy but lightweight plastic
The smooth plastic surface is easy to wipe clean as needed. Just dump out debris and wash with soap and water. You can also line the tray with canvas or plastic sheeting for added protection.
Be cautious of very slick surfaces, as they can cause slips and falls. Add a non-slip mat or tape down a grip surface if needed.
Use a plastic boot tray
For medium cages, a plastic boot tray can provide an effective catch-all surface. Designed to contain messy boots, mud, snow, and slush, these trays are durable, waterproof, and easy to clean.
See if you can find a boot tray that:
- Measures at least 3-4 inches deep
- Is longer and wider than the cage base
- Has raised edges to contain debris
- Has drainage holes in case of large spills
The textured plastic surface helps keeps dishes and bowls from sliding around. Look for a style and size that best fits your cage setup. Keep it clean by dumping waste, rinsing, and wiping dry.
Use cage bottom liners
For cages with wire bottoms that allow debris to fall through, cage liners can minimize mess around the cage perimeter. Liners sit directly underneath the cage floor wires to catch any stray seeds, hulls, feathers or poop.
Cage liners come in a few different forms:
- Reusable fabric liners
- Disposable paper liners
- Biodegradable corn starch liners
Fabric liners are washable and provide a softer surface for birds’ feet. Paper or corn starch liners soak up waste and can simply be removed and replaced when dirty. All styles trap debris that falls through wire floors before it can scatter outside the cage.
Liner size should match the bottom surface area of the cage. Make sure liners lie flat and don’t obstruct cage doors or grates. Clean or replace fabric liners regularly to prevent odors.
Use cage collection trays
For similar waste containment under wire cage bottoms, collection trays slide neatly underneath the cage base. These shallow trays sit just below the wire floor to catch fallen debris. Models with slanted fronts are easy to access for cleaning.
Look for collection trays made of:
- Metal or durable plastic
- Non-porous surfaces for quick cleaning
- Waterproof construction
- Depth of at least 1-3 inches
Match the tray width and depth to the cage base for full coverage. Clean trays frequently by removing waste and wiping down. Disinfect periodically with bird-safe products.
Use cage waste catchers
Waste catchers that attach directly to the cage grille provide another way to catch falling mess below wire floors. These small trays, baskets or cups hook onto cage wires and sit below areas where birds tend to defecate most frequently.
Different cage catcher styles include:
- Plastic baskets with wire hooks
- Fabric pouches with snap or tie closures
- Metal mesh trays
- Disposable bag hooks
Position catchers below perches, feeders, and anywhere birds tend to poop inside the cage. Adjust locations as needed based on where you see the most waste buildup. Dump and clean catchers frequently to prevent odors.
Use double layer cage lining
For the most secure waste containment, install two layers of protection under wire cage floors:
- A collection tray to catch fallen debris
- An outer tray, mat, or skirt to hold the collection tray and contain any overflow
This double lining system ensures that any seed, hulls, or waste that gets tossed or falls through cage wires gets trapped before making a mess. Outer trays or cage skirts provide an extra barrier to keep the inner collection tray contained.
The outer tray or mat should be slightly larger than the collection tray and cage base. Clean both layers regularly for a tidy and odor-free area around the cage.
Place cage inside a playpen
For the most secure containment option, place your bird’s entire cage inside a playpen lined with protective material. This creates a full enclosure to keep both bird and bird mess restricted.
Use a durable plastic playpen or puppy pen large enough to hold the cage. Line the bottom with a tarp, shower liner, or other waterproof protective layer. Position the cage in the center and surround with litter lining if desired.
A full cage playpen keeps birds safely confined while also catching all stray debris. All waste stays neatly within the lined playpen area for quick and easy cleanup. Just lock birds in their cages, remove the lining, and wipe down the pen floor as needed.
This is ideal for bird owners who want maximum containment of mess while also providing their birds with daily playpen time outside the cage.
Use cage base spill guards
For cage bases with built-in debris drawers or pull-out trays, installing spill guards above the collection area can further minimize messy seed scatter.
Spill guards sit around the edges of the cage base to block seed, hulls, and other debris from being flung outside the cage. Materials like plexiglass, acrylic, or cardboard can be cut to size and taped or clamped around cage edges.
Guards should be at least 2-3 inches tall to effectively contain tossed food, feathers, and waste inside the cage base. Make sure the cage doors still operate freely. Clean guards when needed by simply wiping down.
Guards are most useful for birds that fling food and litter out of the cage from ground level. They help keep collection drawers cleaner while cutting down on stray seed around the cage perimeter.
Use scatterless bird feeders
Another way to reduce cage mess is to use specialized bird feeders designed to minimize scatter. These feeders dispense food in ways that make it harder for birds to fling it out of the cage.
Types of scatterless feeders include:
- Enclosed pellet feeders
- Covered cup feeders
- Feeders with deep, narrow openings
- Feeders with mesh coverings
- Automatic feeders
The more enclosed and contained the feeder, the less likely food is to fly out. Placing feeders higher up in the cage also minimizes scattering. Dispensing food through small openings or mesh further reduces mess.
Automatic feeders that regulate food delivery are also useful for reducing waste. Look for sturdy feeders that match your bird’s size and needs. Combine with catchers under the cage to minimize any feed that still escapes.
Use cages with catch trays
Some cages now come equipped with built-in catch trays that slide or hook onto the base. These provide a seamless solution for catching debris without having to shop for add-on trays.
Look for cages featuring:
- Low profile 1-2 inch trays
- Trays spanning the full cage width
- Non-porous plastic trays
- Trays that easily slide out for cleaning
The built-in design ensures an optimized fit under the cage base to catch all waste. The trays slide or lift out for quick debris removal and cleaning as needed.
For the most convenient cage cleaning, choose a style with an integrated catch tray. This eliminates the need for makeshift liner solutions.
Use litter pads in cage trays
Lining cage collection trays with removable litter pads can make cleaning even more convenient. Pads soak up waste to keep tray surfaces cleaner.
Look for cage litter pads made of:
- Absorbent paper or fabric
- Cedar chips or pine pellets to control odors
- Reusable or disposable materials
- Non-toxic dyes and bleaches
Match pad dimensions to the collection tray. Layer pads 1-2 inches deep to absorb waste efficiently. Replace disposable pads frequently to prevent smells.
Litter pads help keep collection trays tidier between full cleanings. They also give birds a more natural surface to stand on.
Use collection trays with grates
For wire bottom cages, look for collection trays designed with wire grates. These provide airflow and drainage while containing fallen debris below.
Wire grate trays feature:
- Plastic or metal trays
- Wire mesh grates resting 1-2 inches above the tray floor
- Gratings that cover most of the tray surface
- Slide-out designs for easy cleaning
The grated top allows waste, water, and dampness to fall through into the bottom of the tray. This keeps birds’ feet cleaner and drier than solid tray floors.
Look for grates designed to freely allow waste to fall through while still providing a sturdy surface for birds to stand on.
Conclusion
Bird owners have many effective options for catching stray seed and cage mess before it can make a mess around the room. Cage skirts, trays, mats, and liners can all be customized and combined to suit your cage type and bird’s habits.
Focus on containment solutions that are:
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Durable and bird-proof
- Designed to match your cage style and floor plan
With the right seed catchers in place, you can allow your bird to freely flap and scatter inside the cage while keeping the surrounding area clean. A little planning goes a long way toward a tidier and healthier home for both you and your feathered friend!