When I received my three gliders, they were living in a small cage with several accessories. They had a wooden birdhouse on the cage floor for sleeping, and a hanging house made of plastic and rope (or twine maybe?). They have been sleeping in the birdhouse with a plain white pillowcase. Here are my questions:

1) They have been digging in the birdhouse and have already broken through the bottom. The bottom was full of wood chips from the house, so I removed it. Should I keep it out of the cage? They love the birdhouse, but I don't know if it is safe.

2) They love their "blankey," a small white pillowcase, but I noticed that Dad got his nail stuck on it the other night. Are pillowcases a bad idea? The previous owners always had a pillowcase for them inside the cage and had no problems.

3) They also had a hanging contraption inside made of twine, and they sort of "stick" to it, as well. I need to have Mom and Dad's nails trimmed! Do you think this thing is safe?

4) And last, I have had my gliders for two weeks. Since yesterday, I have kept all of their original accessories in their cage: birdhouse, blankey, hanging house, and toys. Now, I have removed their birdhouse and hanging house and have replaced it with a "glider-safe" house from Petsmart. Do you think they will adjust all right? I plan to put their pillowcase blankey in the new house to retain their scent.

I know this is long. Any ideas, comments, suggestions are appreciated! Thank you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

~Jon

I would definately get rid of the bird house. It sounds like it has become less then safe. Also, instead of a pillow case, I would get some fleece (walmart or fabric store) and make them some blankets out of the fleece. Fleece doesn't unravel causing strings they can get tangled in and hurt. Most people provide pouches for their gliders to sleep in. There are some great vendor in Glider Things or you can get some fleece and make a "no sew pouch". There are step by step directions on here (do a search for +no +sew +pouches).
Their nails sound like they are in need of trimming. You can do this yourself. During the day when they are sleepy, wrap them in fleece and give them a treat to munch on. Then pull out one little foot at a time using the fleece to sheild you from their teeth. With regular nail clippers, just snip off the very tips of the nails. Have some flour handy just incase you get a little short and draw blood. Their back "grooming" nails (they are sort of fused together) don't need to be trimmed, or atleast shouldn't need to be. If they seem excessivly long, clip just the very tips.

Thanks, Dancing, for all your ideas! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" />

I just replaced the pillowcase with fleece, and I have a set of pouches on the way! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I, too, had to remove my bird house for the same reason. The splinters can be ingested and hurt the lil' guys. I don't use it anymore and stick to pouches, hammocks, and they love sleeping in their pink fleece tunnel! But I know lots of other people who use wooden nest boxes, they just don't have gliders that chew on it. Shame mine do because they loved their little box.