Cage cleaning

[Kitathena]

I have a book that say that bird cages should be thoroughly cleaned every week by putting it in the shower and then using a special disinfectant. My question is , does everyone do that and is it absolutely necessary?

I have had my bird for a little over a week. I change her water and food everyday and also her litter paper. Every few days I have been scrubbing the bottom of her cage to remove poop stuck on the bottom bars....do I need to be doing more than this?

[Kitathena]

Ok, once a month, I can do. Any suggestions on special disinfectant I should use? I see a few for bird cages at petsmart.

[Monica]

I can use GSE, Grapefruit seed extract, as this helps to kill bacteria and is an overrall around the house use (even with fresh foods). When cleaning the cage(s), you can try using hot water, and boiling toys, plastic perches, and food dishes in a large pan, or even putting them in the dishwasher for cleaning (be carefull though where you put some of the items as they might melt at the bottom of the dishwasher).

You can use dish soap, or even 1 part bleach to 5 parts water (or someone else, please correct me if I'm wrong on this) and if you use bleach, make sure to do two good rinses or rinse of first with soap and water, then water.


Atleast once a month is advisable though it would be better if you can do this once a week (i.e. weekends) or every other weekend...

[Dayna]

I run everything that will fit through my dishwasher.

Perches a couple times a week, dishes everyday, grates of the cages a couple times per week. Bottom of cages one time per week.

If you have a smaller cage, sometimes they will fit into the dishwasher if you take out the top rack. I run all my smaller cages through the diswasher once a week.

If you have to disinfect in the shower, I would use this once a month: "click here for trifectant".

You can put it into a spray bottle and after you wash your cage with soap and water spray down your cage. Let it sit for 10 minutes then rinse it off. It even helps with wood products. Here is what it kills:

* Effectively kills the following Viruses, Bacteria, and fugis

Avian
Hemorrhagic enteritis, BFD, French Molt, Ghana Grey syndrome, Infectious Bursal Disease, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, Marek's Disease, Pacheco's Disease, Amazon Tracheitis, Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease (WND), Diptheric Pox, Cutaneous Pox, Dermatitis (Bacillus ssp), Dysentery Food Poisoning, Chlamydiosis, Psittacosis, Ornithosis, Necrotic Enteritis, Enterbacteria infections, Septicemia, Colibacillosis, CRD, Infectious Arthritis, Fowl Cholera, Enteritis, Salmonellosis, Staphyloccal infections, Streptococcal infections, Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Fusariotoxicosis.

and for other pets:

Domestic Pets
CAV-1, CAV-2, Feline Panleukopenia, Canine Parvovirus (CPV), Feline Calici Virus, Canine Rota Viral Diarrhea, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Enteric Corona Virus (FECV), Canine Corona Enteritis (CCV), Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1), Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Canine Herpes Virus Infection (CHV), Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, (CPIV), Distemper, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Dermatitis (Bacillus ssp), Kennel Cough ((KCC) Bordetella, Mycroplasma), Canine Brucellosis, Upper Respiratory infections (Chlamydia), Ocular conditions (Chlamydia), Septicemia (E. coli, Enterobacter), Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, Ringworm (Microsporum, Tricophyton)


Good stuff. Though I would never have my bird and this stuff in the same room at the same time. :)

[Franciscus]

If my birds' cages would fit into the shower I would do it every week. For the most part I spot clean and I use vinegar in water as a safe, mild disinfectant as it is difficult to rinse the cages without sticking them in the shower or hosing them off during the winter months. During the warmer months I take the cages I can outside to give them a good thorough cleaning and let them dry in the sun. Razz's cage is huge and does not fit through the door without dismantling it. Wood perches and things are difficult to properl;y disinfect but again, I use vinegar, rinsing in very hot water and drying in the oven, unless I wash them in the diswasher. Cleanliness is important as an unclean environment is a leading cause of bird illness.

[danforth3]

All grates are cleaned weekly with the steam cleaner. I scrape and remove with poop remover and other disinfectants all poop on perches cage bars daily and every two weeks we steam all cages. All food, water bowls and water bottles are washed daily with an antibacterial soap or run through the dishwasher, if an extra is available.

[Skyebirdsmom]

I'm sorry, I just had to comment here...I can't imagine ANYONE having a cage so small as it can fit in a dishwasher! Even a finch or canary deserves a cage bigger than that!!! The tiny birds are supposed to have enough room to be able to fly in their cage. Who the hel* produces these tiny hell holes anyway. Sorry, had to vent.
Linda & HRC~
:eusa_naug

[Beaks]

Hey dayna can you send me that link it didnt come up in your post.

I use another cleaner that does the same thing but the cost is unreal when cleaning 40 or more cages.($30 to $50 every time i clean cages LOL)

John

Originally Posted by Dayna

I run everything that will fit through my dishwasher.

Perches a couple times a week, dishes everyday, grates of the cages a couple times per week. Bottom of cages one time per week.

If you have a smaller cage, sometimes they will fit into the dishwasher if you take out the top rack. I run all my smaller cages through the diswasher once a week.

If you have to disinfect in the shower, I would use this once a month: "click here for trifectant".

You can put it into a spray bottle and after you wash your cage with soap and water spray down your cage. Let it sit for 10 minutes then rinse it off. It even helps with wood products. Here is what it kills:

* Effectively kills the following Viruses, Bacteria, and fugis

Avian
Hemorrhagic enteritis, BFD, French Molt, Ghana Grey syndrome, Infectious Bursal Disease, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, Marek's Disease, Pacheco's Disease, Amazon Tracheitis, Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease (WND), Diptheric Pox, Cutaneous Pox, Dermatitis (Bacillus ssp), Dysentery Food Poisoning, Chlamydiosis, Psittacosis, Ornithosis, Necrotic Enteritis, Enterbacteria infections, Septicemia, Colibacillosis, CRD, Infectious Arthritis, Fowl Cholera, Enteritis, Salmonellosis, Staphyloccal infections, Streptococcal infections, Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Fusariotoxicosis.

and for other pets:

Domestic Pets
CAV-1, CAV-2, Feline Panleukopenia, Canine Parvovirus (CPV), Feline Calici Virus, Canine Rota Viral Diarrhea, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Enteric Corona Virus (FECV), Canine Corona Enteritis (CCV), Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1), Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Canine Herpes Virus Infection (CHV), Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, (CPIV), Distemper, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Dermatitis (Bacillus ssp), Kennel Cough ((KCC) Bordetella, Mycroplasma), Canine Brucellosis, Upper Respiratory infections (Chlamydia), Ocular conditions (Chlamydia), Septicemia (E. coli, Enterobacter), Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, Ringworm (Microsporum, Tricophyton)


Good stuff. Though I would never have my bird and this stuff in the same room at the same time. :)

[Monica]

Dr Foster Smith http://www.drfostersmith.com/
Trifectant http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=8794

Just a note, some cages will fit into the dishwasher if they are taken apart... agreeable though that birds should have the largest environment possible.

[mamalovesrico]

Kitathena, kinda gets to ya doesn't it. Don't worry, you'll get used to it, believe me. Rico has a large cage and is a bit*# to clean. I've heard clean it once a week and I've also heard clean it once a month. I don't feel to safe cleaning it once a month. Obviously was the bowls daily if not twice a day and change the paper daily.
Lot's of Rico's stuff I can just throw in the dishwasher. As for cleaning his cage here's what I do. Find a good movie and plan on cleaning the cage at that time. I take a rag and spray a mixture of bleach and water on it. 1 part bleach to 20 parts water. Scrub the cage down thoroughly while enjoying the movie. Time goes quick. The more you get used to it the quicker you do it and it's done before you know it.
I can't remember where I read this or heard it from someone on here, but I wouldn't do it if I didn't trust the source. Take one of those gallon bleach bottles and pour in one cup bleach. Fill the rest with water and make sure you mark on the bottle what it is. I pour the mixture into a small spray bottle and keep in near Rico's cage. Every morning I use this mixture applied to a paper towel and wipe/scrape off poop on bottom grate. Comes off very easy. Change paper. Viola!