Do you like to take care of avian pets in your house? Having a pet bird can be a lot of fun; however, as a bird owner, you have some responsibilities. One of the the most important tasks you do as a bird owner is cleaning and maintaining your bird’s cage. So, how do you clean bird cages?
It is essential to maintain the cage and its accessories. Sanitation also ensures that your bird will have good health. Make sure that the cage is free from bacteria, debris, and bird poop smell.
How To Clean Bird Cage
Arrange the necessary tools for cleaning purposes
You must have some essentials to keep your bird cage clean.
A scratch paper for your bird’s cage lining
Table vinegar
Baking soda
Mild dish soap
Cleaning cloths
A scrubber-backed sponge
A scrub brush
Maintain cleanliness of your bird’s dishes
You may have bought a set of dishes for your birds from pet stores. Water holders and food dishes should be free from contaminants, which can negatively affect your parrot’s health. You can simply use dish soap and hot water to kill germs. Before using the soap lather, you need to cleanse your dishes. Your bird’s bowl has to be clean, and you dry it thoroughly using a clean towel.
High-quality dishes are dishwasher-friendly. It is better to read manufacturers’ instructions before cleaning your bird’s dishes. Another thing to be noted is that you must buy animal-safe detergents from local stores. Grocery stores also sell eco-friendly cleaning products for your bird cage.
It is a safe idea to purchase multiple dishes for your pet birds. Since you have a busy schedule and limited time to clean your bird’s dishes properly, you can use a different set for your birds.
In some cases, birds can remain inside the cage during daily cleanings. You might feel that your bird has a risk of flying away. If that is the case, you can use an alternate cage for your bird while you clean.
More about the choice of disinfectants
As you need to clean your bird cages and cage accessories, you have to be careful about choosing disinfectants. Strong disinfectants kill disease-causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Still, they must not harm your bird. Avian pets are highly sensitive to poisonous fumes. Thus, it is safest to move your bird to a different room while applying disinfectants.
The market is saturated with disinfectants. Even so, you can rely on your household bleach for cleaning purposes. To dilute the bleach, you can blend it with a gallon of water.
Make sure you have removed droppings and seeds from your bird cage before using the disinfectant. Any organic material present in the cage will prevent your disinfectants from working properly. Hot dishwashing liquid is also effective in treating the dirty part of the cage. The disinfectant must be in contact with the cage’s material for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Wooden items inside the cage should also be cleaned thoroughly.
You must ensure your safety by wearing safety goggles and rubber gloves. These steps are especially important when you are dealing with bleach.
How often should you clean your cage?
As a bird owner, you have to decide how often to clean your bird cage, dishes, accessories, and feeders. You can clean the birdbath and feeders daily. You have to rinse off the cage and other kits using clean and hot water.
Veterinarians claim that a simple mixture of water and soap can work effectively. This means that you can avoid buying a costly cleaner for your bird cage.
It is not good to use a cage that is in a hazardous condition. If the cage is in bad shape, it’s probably time to purchase a new cage for your bird.
Other important factors for your daily and weekly cage cleanings
1. The number of birds and the size of cages
Several factors can affect your decision on how you will clean. A smaller cage with a single bird needs to be cleaned once a month. Bigger cages with multiple larger birds must be disinfected every week.
You must check for signs of food buildup and droppings inside the cage. Additionally, remnants of food left in the cage for a long period can make your bird sick.
2. Nozzle size of your bird’s water bottle
While choosing water bottles for your birds, you have to focus on the cage and nozzle size. Make sure that the bottle you choose can hold a good amount of water. Fill the bottle with water to prevent your birds from feeling thirsty.
A bottle with a vacuum valve might be the right choice for your bird. Due to the vacuum created inside the container, there will be no wasting water. The vacuum also helps with the flow of water to keep your bird healthy and hydrated.
3. Use bird cage liners
Newspapers, paper towels, and any rolled papers can serve to collect your bird cage debris. Just remember that you need to replace them very often. Without a liner, the cage will become dirty, and your bird will be affected by bacteria. Cage liners treated with silver ions prevent mildew and odor.
Conclusion
You now know how to maintain the hygiene of your bird cage. Cleanliness is highly important for your bird’s health. Dirty cage surfaces also emit powerful odors. That is why you can buy an odor remover for your birdcage. Clean the cage components separately for better results. You must not overlook birdcage corners since they can easily accumulate dirt. The bird dropping tray needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on how to clean bird cages.
Harlan Derricks, nice to meet you. I created this online resource in the hopes of educating more people about the wonders of parrots, including their species, sizes, and more.
But I don’t just want to stop with parrots. I want to give every bird an opportunity to be marveled at and rescued by my education. If just one of my readers learned something valuable about budgies, cockatiels, or parakeets, then I’d be happy with my success.
