I used 100% vinegar
I used a wire brush. My hands became black because of the zinc. I never tried it on the floor but I think scrubbing it while it's on the cage is the best. I can't imagine bending down and scrubbing for a long period of time. When you scrub when the wire is already on, it's like scrubbing any ordinary cage when cleaning. It just tired my hand out fast. I'll try again in the morning.

One interesting aspect of doing it flat on the ground is that it keeps trying to curl back into a roll and will whack you on the head if you're not careful. I weighted it down with bricks and still got popped a few times.

It does do nasty things to your hands but I'm not sure how much is due to the zinc, how much is due to the vinegar, and how much is due to the combination of both. The skin on my hands always felt dry and weird afterward. Scrubbing the wire was definitely the most unpleasant part of building the aviary for me, but it's essential to do it. There's a lot of zinc dust on the wire and a feather duster won't get it off lol.

Ouch. I forgot to add that for one of the reasons it's better to do it on the cage.



Mine felt the same way. I hate that feeling. My hand felt sore and like it was 100 cuts on each finger. I use gloves now.

He isn't coming today. I am SOO stressed out. He ignored all our phone calls and my school starts tomorrow but I don't even know what school my mom is going to put me and I don't have time to worry about my aviary/ birds living in terrible conditions during school.

Maybe you should talk to one or both parents to let them know you're feeling stressed. No one can make the builder come if he doesn't want to work today, but maybe they'll at least give you answer about school and end the uncertainty, or let you do something to improve conditions for the birds.

I don't mind him saying he wants to take a break, but not answering his phone calls makes me worried. Someone suggested that he didn't want to do the job because he wants more money so I got worried that my birds will have to live in bad conditions for months. I am just scared that he will quit in the middle. I have no idea on the school part. My mom says the school she wants me to go to starts Thursday or next Monday. I have heard from people that the kids can be bullies. I just want to go to my current school.

If this guy doesn't want to finish the job you can have someone else come in and finish it. If it's almost complete, you and your grandfather could probably do it.

The time to talk to your parents (both of them) about school is NOW. It'll be a lot harder to make a change once you've already started at a school you don't like, and the school you DO like has already been in session for a while. I know it makes you nervous but putting it off won't help the situation. Maybe it would be helpful to talk to your father alone first and then maybe the two of you deal with your mother together if he agrees with you.

My mom said he could do it but she feels bad to ask. We just need to finish the floor, the door, and cover a spot on the roof with wire. I really hope he will finish the job. Maybe he wanted to take a break off. I'm not really sure since he ignored our calls. He could have said that he wanted a break or that he was busy but not answering makes me think that he doesn't want to work anymore.

Ah, I don't really care about what school I go to. If I go to the school I like, I will end at 3:10pm but my mom will make a learn with a tutor when I come back home. By the time I end, it will be 4:40pm. Then I will have to do homework. The other school ends at 4:10pm and I come home right away and finish homework. My mom will not let and the school already started so that is out of the picture.

Who knows, maybe his phone got lost or stolen or maybe the service got disconnected like the first guy lol. He knows how to find you and he probably hasn't been paid yet (at least not in full) so he'll have a good reason to get back to you.

If you don't really care which school you go to then there's not really a problem either way. If the one you prefer has just started, it wouldn't be a big problem if you missed the first few days of class. But the more days you miss the bigger the problem becomes, so it's good to get it all straightened out early on. If your mother tells you which school you're going to it will at least put an end to the uncertainty so you can get mentally prepared for the school year.

It's Monday and he still doesn't answer his phone. He isn't here either. I really need the aviary to be done. My birds are suffering

Last time he came, he asked for some money and my mom gave him. I just really want my birds to be happy and this aviary isn't getting anywhere. I sort of feel like the old aviary was better because now, they are in terrible heat, inside tiny cages.



I still am not 100% sure what school I'm going to. I'm not sure what will happen if the school my mom wants will give a high price for tuition. I might go to Allison if they give a hight price.