How to Clean a Bird Cage

Birds are great pets. They are fun to watch and they can even show affection. Many bird owners spend hours being amused and calmed by their pet birds. Unfortunately, birds can also be quite messy, and their cages must be cleaned out regularly – at least once a week. This is the part of bird ownership that most people hate. But, cleaning out your bird’s cage can be quick and simple.

You will need to remove the bird from the cage while you clean it, so you will need a safe place for it. An old cage works well, or you can use this time to allow your bird some freedom – away from open doors and windows. If your bird will be free, you may need to put it in a separate room. Sometimes they are curious about what you are doing to their homes!

Remove all the toys, perches, and food and water containers from the cage. Most cages have a detachable bottom, and this should be removed as well. All toys, food containers, the bottom of the cage, and the cage itself should be cleaned with a non-toxic cleanser. Make sure you rinse everything well with hot water.

For stubborn bird droppings on the cage, try placing the cage in the bottom of your tub and running a hot shower over it. Toys and perches can also be washed in the shower, or soaked in hot water. Just don’t use any toxic cleaners of any kind. There are products on the market that are designed to clean bird cages, and these products can even make removal of bird droppings easier.

Wooden perches and toys are often hard to clean. You can use sandpaper to clean wooden items. Just lightly buff the area with the sandpaper until it is clean. Avoid using sandpaper on surfaces that easily scratch.

Birds may be contained in their cages, but they don’t generally contain their messes to their cages. When you clean the bird cage, you will also need to clean the cage hanger or bird cage stand, as well as the floor surrounding the cage. Don’t use any chemicals in this area that it would be dangerous for your bird to inhale!

Allow the cage, perches, toys, and food and water containers to dry completely. You can help them dry by wiping them down with a cloth, but make sure that everything is dry before putting it all back together. Put everything back together, and line the bottom of the cage with old newspapers to make future cleaning easier.

You can also buy thick paper tray liners for the bottom of the cage. Put a stack of several liners in the bird cage, and just remove the top layer between cleanings to keep the cage tidy. These can usually be found at pet stores, or wherever bird supplies are sold.

When you clean your bird’s cage, take the time to inspect it for problems. Sometimes metal cages are painted, and the paint chips or cracks. This could be dangerous for your bird, and paint should be removed. Look for and repair other problems as well.

Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

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