Health & Safety: Keeping birds

Question
I advise old peopels homes on health & safety matters, and have been asked about the risks associated with keeping a cockatiel, which is in acgae in the common room of a day centre. Staff are concerned about hygeine & disease, and I am seeking guidance on keeping the cage clean, and basic hygeicne precautions to be adoipted when cleaning out etc.  Any idea where I can find advice about such things ?

Answer
Steve,

The cage itself can be cleaned on a weekly basis with a one part water to five part bleach solution. My concern would be with feather dander. Cockatiel feathers put a lot of white powder like substance in the area when their new feathers grow in. If i were you i would consider a Plexiglass type cage or small flight cage where debris and feather dander would stay within this Plexiglass cage.

Other than that birds are very clean birds, change the paper under cage every other day, wipe down one time a week with bleach solution described above, provide clean food and water daily.

Safety, Cockatiel do bite so I would consider a hand tame bird for the home.

And if I may suggest maybe they would enjoy finches, or canaries. a lot less feather dander and some finches have beautiful songs.  

Wayne