BUtcher's Paper as liner

[Plyr58]

I have come across a place where I can buy Butcher's paper precut to the dimensions of my Meyers cage's catch tray for a really good price. There is a grate separating the bird from the catch tray and he cannot reach it. For the life of me, I cannot figure out any reason why I can't use it to line his cage, but I figured I would ask to double check. Is there anything wrong with using butcher's paper in this way? Thanks.

edit: The paper is FDA approved if that makes any difference.

[Eliza]

I can't see why it would be harmful, honestly. It's not coated with anything, is it?

[macawlover]

I think it would be safe! As long as it's not used... :P

[Copper]

Butcher paper usually has a 'shiney' side... that's a thin layer of plastic, and if the bird can reach through the grate to grab and rip, it would be easy to ingest, and block their digestive system.... Better if you contact a local news paper and get their roll ends. Cost is minimal, and the roll itself is heavy enough that you could recycle it into toys.

[Mom's Animal Preserve]

The shiny side of butcher paper is either wax or oil, it is not plastic. However, not all butcher paper comes this way, plain butcher paper is also known as kraft paper and doesn't have a shiny side at all. If the butcher paper you are planning to use does not have the waxed/oiled side, there should be no problem at all using it.

As for the shiny side, there are several brands of waxed paper sold as bird cage liners. Some brands are "Cage Catchers" and the Drs Best bird cage liners sold by Drs. Foster and Smith (both have websites). There isn't any reason that I could find reading through six different articles on the web (I googled "bird cage liners") with using waxed paper bird cage liners. Also, if it helps, both the local family owned bird store near me and our local Petco use waxed bird cage liners for their birds.

[kali]

yeah bcoz you can trust petco...

lol

[Plyr58]

All great info! I have a choice between both the waxed and unwaxed paper. I was leaning towards the waxed bc I could change one page per day and not have the bird dropings and water go through to pages below. What is the consensus? Is the waxed paper safe? Also, Buddy cannot reach the paper under his cage through the grate separating the living area from the catch tray and I have never seen him show any interest in going down underneath his cage when he is out.

[Mom's Animal Preserve]

If he can't reach it, and given that waxed paper is standard on commercial cage liners, I would definitely go for it. The wax coating will prevent the droppings from soaking through so you could actually leave a pile of paper in there and then you could just roll up and throw away the top sheet every day. Martha Stewart would love you.

[Plyr58]

Exactly what I was thinking!