Can I use "twisty ties" to secure the doors on my converted bird cage? Will my suggies try to untie them or chew through them? Just checking... How do you secure your little ones? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58686 09/18/0502:54 AM09/18/0502:54 AM
I think cable ties would be better to use. I have heard of gliders chewing through twisty ties. Also twisty ties has a metal wire in the middle. Attached is a picture if you don't know what they are.
Eddie
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Re: Twisty Ties
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#58687 09/18/0502:57 AM09/18/0502:57 AM
The dye in the colored paper probably isn't good for them either. And that wire is so tiny that they could hurt themselves. I don't have the doors on my cage secured with anything.
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58688 09/18/0509:38 AM09/18/0509:38 AM
Your suggies have never tried to open the cage doors? The doors are so easy to open. I would think that it would be easy for the gliders to escape. The only problem with cable ties is that you cannot take them off! I will be opening and closing the doors. Thanks for the suggestions. Anyone else have some ideas? I used the twisty ties last night, and no one bothered them. I looked for chew marks and found none. Can I really use nothing at all? Sugar gliders seem clever enought to get out without something to secure the doors. Thanks for your help...
I'm trying to locate the little hooks like what you'd find on a pouch to hang it from the cage so I can still open and close the doors on the bird cage. Peanut is extremely intelligent and has no problem lifting the sliding doors, she's also mastered untying twisty ties, right now I have some #12 (AWG) wire twisted together with pliers holding the doors shut, but it's a pain to undo everytime you need to clean something. We've tried fabric/craft stores and haven't found the latching hooks yet, so any ideas?
I can't remember the name ,but it is what you use on a chain link fence door to lock.I'll try to describe it it has a kinda a C hook with a slider you use your thumb to slide it opened and the center is straight,usually you can find them in the hardware section of wal-mart. And I know they come in all different sizes. The small one would work. I'll try to find something on the internet and put up a picture, unless you know what i'm talking about.
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58692 09/18/0502:57 PM09/18/0502:57 PM
Thanks for all the ideas... I will try the "key ring" idea. I bet miniature luggage locks would work well too. We'll have to see. Any other suggestions out there? How do you SAFELY secure your cage?
After I posted the key ring idea, I had to head out to the store and noticed my purse has a detacable strap with the exact size that would work so if you have any old purses laying around check them you can cut it off and their you go a minuture key ring...lol... Good Luck!!!
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58695 09/18/0509:51 PM09/18/0509:51 PM
I use strips of fleece. It's easy to tie in a bow, opens quickly, has no wires and is washable. I've never had a problem with my gliders and the fleece. I worry about locks; what happens if you had a fire and couldn't find the key? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58696 09/18/0510:02 PM09/18/0510:02 PM
I have a couple of ways I've secured doors. The first is the one I like better. I made these latches with coat hanger wire, but I wished they were made with just a little heavier wire.
This was on my old cage. I've been trying to find some wire a little heavier than coat hangers to make them for my new cage. Pic 1 (Sorry it's a little out of focus, but you get the idea)
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58697 09/18/0510:03 PM09/18/0510:03 PM
You take a straight piece of wire, bend it in a 90 degree angle, then wrap it once around something round like a PVC pipe, then make a little hook on the end that will hook under a wire.
They're very easy to open and close one-handed, but my gliders never escaped in the almost a year they were in a cage secured this way. However, I can imagine that some gliders may figure out how to open them.
Last edited by PeeperKeeper; 09/18/0510:10 PM.
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58698 09/18/0510:05 PM09/18/0510:05 PM
Here's what I'm using on my new cage until I find the right wire to make the other kind of latch.
I found these at the register at Home Depot for about 33 cents each. They are very strong and secure, but not as easy to open and close as the latches, especially since I use 3 of them on each door.
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58699 09/18/0510:05 PM09/18/0510:05 PM
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> PeeperKeeper, the door latches you made are very similar to the ones Klubertanz sells. I am very happy with the latches I got from Klubertanz. The latches are called "wire spring door locks". Also, you might want to trim the inside frame of the door with the plastic door liners. At the Klubertanz website, both the wire spring door locks and plastic door liners are on the same page. You might want to try your local hardware store like Home Depot or Lowe's for the door liners.
I have built one huge cage and two travel cages with supplies from Klubertanz.
I made the same kind tha PeeperKeeper had in the first pictures. We made our cages about 5 years ago and still have the same latches....I think they work great.
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58705 09/19/0502:51 PM09/19/0502:51 PM
I have found the easiest are the small round comb claw like hair clips. I use the plastic ones but goodie makes them in metal too. They are so easy to remove and replace. I bought the plastic ones on sale at big lots 2 for .50!
Re: Twisty Ties
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#58706 09/19/0507:59 PM09/19/0507:59 PM
Wow. I didn't know so many people secured their cages! Mine never try to get out. They actually prefer their cage. They don't really like to come out and play. I'll keep this in mind, though, for Norbert. He already enjoys his time out of the cage sooooooo much. I might end up having to secure all those doors.