Cleaning Your Birdcage

Your bird, like any other pet, needs a clean and safe
environment to live in to remain healthy, happy and fit. Your
bird cage should be cleaned daily and you should observe if any
changes occur inside the cage, such as excess feathers on the
bottom of the cage. The daily clean should include a simple
change of the liner and cleaning out of food trays etc. As well
as the daily clean, a bird cage should have a thorough cleanout
every 4 – 6 weeks.

Firstly you need to take out your bird. This seems pretty
obvious but it must be done. You then need to take out all the
loose items inside such as feeding trays, baths, perches and
toys. These items need to be cleaned very well! Firstly, all
excess dirt such as droppings should be removed, you can then
begin cleaning with a NON toxic cleaner. Common dishwashing
liquid should be acceptable for this process, but make sure
everything is thoroughly rinsed off afterwards. Another product
that can be used is common household bleach; use around half a
cup of bleach to a gallon of water to clean down the cage.

Some cages may have a removable bottom, so take this out and
remove all the filth from it, if not you should remove any liner
from the bottom of the cage. The cage can now be totally washed,
this can be done in any tub or simply outside with a hose. Again
use a NON toxic cleaner and scrub down every part, including the
wire cage, as food stuffs and bird droppings can get caught up
in it. All parts of the cage should be rinsed afterwards, and it
is better if it is left in the sun to dry off completely.

Any item inside the cage such as feeders that do not come clean
should be discarded and replaced with new or clean items. This
can stop any potential diseases or foodstuffs from remaining
inside the cage. Dirty feeders can be very unhealthy for your
bird. After all of the items are clean, place them back in the
cage and replace the liner at the bottom. Newspaper is the best
option for liner, but remember to only use black and white
paper, as some colored text can be toxic to birds. You are now
done and can replace your birdie, just remember if there are any
problems or inconsistencies consult a vet or your local pet
store. PetHandbook.com

And for a random fact:

What start with S, ends in T and is at the bottom of every bird
cage………

Answer: Shell Grit