Basket.........wicker or plywood/dowel

[Peckedhen]

A guy, trying to sell me a secondhand, wicker basket today, told me that plywood baskets are the cause of all sorts of problems with the birds and that I should never use them (even if I didn't buy his).  What do you use/think?

 

BTW I didn't buy his - it was too big and expensive!

 

[Guest jason]

I use plywood baskets, I think they're easier to clean, scrape and spray with disinfectant never had any trouble 8)

[Guest coxy]

ive neva had any trouble and i only use plywood boxes

[Guest speckled]

Ive always had ply wood crates, always easy to clean, ive never had a prob with them as for the wicker ones. thay cants be left out if wet as thay take longer to dry that acrnt be burnt with the blow toruch & are hard to repair if that brake a dowel or to.& the ply ones are lighter.Well that my thougth Speckled ;D ;D

[jimmy white]

THE PLY BOXES, EASIER TO CLEAN,,,, THE WICKER[ I OFTEN THINK] IS HOLLOW AND COULD BE A HAVEN FOR ANY CREEPY CRAWLY,ONLY MY OPINION

[blue bar]

I have a plastic box which holds about 16 birds easy  and is easy to wash you could even wash it out with awater blaster Ive had no problems with it there about 5 yrs old add plastic to your poll

[Peckedhen]

Thanks everyone....looks like it was a ploy to get me to buy!  Tho' he said it wasn't and he was a top racer in Scotland and I could ring him anytime for advice.  Guess I'm gullible...I'll have to get my hubby to build one! ;D

[Peckedhen]

Iadd plastic to your poll

 

.......sorry don't know how to alter the poll??? :-/

 

 

[Guest]

Don't think there's any problem with plywood crates, my first (a gift) holds around 7 birds and was ideal for public transport journeys (circular holes cut in ply sides rather than dowels). Certainly easy to clean, a lot easier than wicker basket & hessian lining.

 

Only problem you may find is with weight. Bigger wicker & plywood crates are, the heavier they become.

 

Plastic & aluminium ones are a lot lighter and easier to clean too. Got a 8/10 bird aluminium box, headroom a bit too low (8") useless for water / food training but would have got another had there been a bigger size and more headroom (minimum, inside, 10").

 

Got a 12/14 bird wicker instead - never again; great for water / food training, but weighs a tonne and hopeless to keep clean.

 

Our fed's going for plastic crates ... full 2kg lighter than wicker equivalent, and £40 cheaper than aluminium equivalent. Wouldn't mind a 20-bird one.  

 

[Guest shadow]

I use plywood and aluminium ones more hygenic than wicker

[Peckedhen]

Thanks guys.  

 

Please can someone tell me where you buy plastic baskets from?  Are the cheap plywood baskets advertised in BHW any good?

[bewted]

pecky,you only get what you pay for? have a good look around and compare quality/price and whats suitable for your needs as wieght,size,etc  ted

[NANCYVIEWLOFTS]

have used ply crates now for over 10 years they are almost the same as the fed crates so they get use to coming out of the end

i think the good point about wicker baskets is the hessian on the floor it helps them grip better when traveling

[robert.sutherland]

I make all my own baskets or crates from ply wood and  dowels For one reason I cant weave wicker besides the cost well it is the cost   lol.                                   .      yours in sport          BOB

[westy]

i have 1 basket and a 2 plywood boxes plywood i think is better easy to clean.

[rockinrick]

i use plywwood basketts cos they are better and hold there shape , whereas wicker  starts to fall apart

[Peckedhen]

Thanks everyone who responded. I'm building a plywood one this weekend.....when I say 'I' I mean 'he'!!! ;D ;D

[jordanp31]

thats your best option...i only have basic carpentry skills and i made a good looking ply wood one.Simple, practical and very good looking.

 

jordan