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As conscientious parrot companions, it is our
responsibility to maintain a clean, healthy environment for our birds so they
are not exposed to infectious agents. Birds in the wild rarely come into contact with
their feces! They remain high in the trees while their droppings fall to the
ground. Unfortunately, caged birds have to live in close proximity
to their droppings as they often land on toys, perches, food and water cups and
cage grates.
Probably most of us wish we could just tell
our birds to
"CLEAN YOUR ROOM!" Unfortunately, it is up to us to not only clean their "personal
space" but, also to scrub the food stuck on the walls, the poop off of the floor,
the seed hulls stuck in the floor boards, the feathers in the heating
vents....you get the picture. Keeping up with the mess is a seemingly
never ending chore.
Fortunately, there are many bird safe cleaning
products and accessories available that, when combined with a routine cleaning
schedule, will make this thankless job more manageable.
Recommended Cage Cleaning Routine
Daily
-
Change cage liner to remove droppings and
spoiled foods and minimize opportunity for bacterial and mold growth.
-
Wash food and water bowls with hot soapy
water.
-
Perform a quick wipe of the cage surface with
a damp cloth.
Weekly
-
Remove grate and tray and scrub them in a
washtub with hot soapy water and disinfect them with a bird safe cleaner.
-
Scrape droppings off perches and toys.
-
Sanitize the water and food bowls in the
dishwasher.
-
During the cleaning process, inspect toys and
cage for potential safety issues.
Quarterly
If left to dry, fecal matter can easily become airborne
contaminates which can be inhaled by your parrot as well as yourself.
Helpful Cleaning Hints
-
Keep moistened
wipes on hand to clean poop
before it dries
-
Pre-soak dried on poop to make it easier
to wipe off
-
Place washable floor mats under all cages
to protect your flooring.
-
Have an extra set of food and water dishes
available.
-
Buy custom pre-cut cage bottom liners and
stack several in the cage bottom so that you can quickly remove the top
soiled layer and have a fresh one automatically in place.
-
Install an electronic air filtration
system to cut down on dust and dander buildup.
-
A few minutes spent daily on cleaning
tasks will reduce the mess and time required for weekend chores.
-
Hang sheets or use washable paint to
protect the walls behind your bird's cage.
-
Use a
scraper to clean off perches and
cage bars.
-
Use
seed guards and cage skirts to
minimize fallout from the cage.
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