How often are you cleaning out your bird’s cage paper/liner?
How often do you remove, deep clean, and rearrange every perch, toy, water dish, food dish, foraging tray, etc.?
Probably not as often as you may like or should.
Birds have sensitive pulmonary systems and should have their cages cleaned frequently to avoid inhaling toxins, exposure to nitrates (from their poop), and to promote healthy air for the humans to breathe, too.
Moving perches and toys around promotes increased activity and decreases hormones.
Cleaning the Cage
I currently use packing paper sheets in the bottom of my bird’s cages, which is plain, without inks or dyes, and is fairly low cost to buy. I remove and replace the paper sheet from under each cage grate every 2 days, especially since I have a cockatiel that produces excessive keratin dust from preening. (see my Blog post on HEPA filters for more on keratin dust and home irritants)
Obviously, food and water dishes are cleaned daily. I fully remove all uneaten pellets in the early mornings before work, wash and dry, and replace with new pellets. The water dishes usually get washed and refilled a couple times a day just so it’s always fresh. Since I offer veggie chop in a third bowl, the uneaten veggies get thrown out midday (since they get their veggies for breakfast), bowl rinsed, and dried for the next day.
As for the perches, I use natural wood perches (*never* dowels), that can removed, cleaned, and moved to a different spot every couple weeks (or as needed). I try to place the perches around the cage where they won’t get excessive pooped on, but that’s often trial and error to figure out over time. I air dry the perches in the sun out on my patio while sitting on the chair or table.
For cleaning the toys, same as above for the most part. If a toy needs to come out because it’s shredded to nothingness, then I will do so as needed. The toys can also be washed down and air dried in the sun.
I also use my cleaning spray on a paper towel to wipe down all cage bars to remove dust, keratin dander, and other muck.
Every perch, bowl, and toy, should be moved around in a new arrangement every few weeks to ensure a constant challenge and discourage hormonal/territorial behaviors.
So What Do I Clean the Items With?
I have done lots of research and had many conversations with my Avian Vet about products to use in the home that are not toxic.
I am currently using Poop Off spray, which I buy on Amazon or at PetSmart. Poop Off spray is non-toxic and can be used in and around the cage, on perches and toys, and even be sprayed with the bird in the cage. It is one of the only sprays that you don’t have to wash afterwards with water to dilute. It has a human-pleasant scent of orange/citrus, and is a bit strong. So I always ventilate the house when cleaning, which helps to dissipate any smells.
“Poop Off Bird Poop Remover is a biodegradable bird cage and fabric cleaner that quickly and safely breaks down and dissolves bird droppings. Poop Off uses naturally occurring, active enzymes and biodegradable cleaners. It does not use solvents, orange extracts, detergents, alcohol or bleach.
Used by Breeders, Zoos, Veterinarians, Pet Stores and Bird lovers on a daily basis to clean up messes.”
Description taken from: Nixalite
To use (beyond reading the label for the “official” information), basically spray, let it sit a minute or two to soak in the poop mess, then soak off with hot water and a scrub brush. I just clean my cage items in my kitchen sink and have a dedicated “birdie brush” that is only used for the cages (that way I don’t mix up other brushes I use in the kitchen that have been exposed to food waste and chemicals).
If you have a pressure washer or an outdoor hose, that would be another viable option to clean everything quickly.
Air dry anything you wash down, like perches, wood ladders, and toys, so they don’t go back in the cage wet, and grow mold.
The other area I clean daily is under the cage area, which requires a broom and vacuum. It has to get picked up once or twice a day to ensure the crumbs from pellets, veggies, toy shreds, etc. from getting out of control on my tile floor. I run my HEPA filter during and after I clean to ensure maximum protection for me and the boys (see my other Blog post about using a HEPA filter).
Happy cleaning!