how often do you clean the cage?

[usamma]

Just curious what others do. Right now I have 3 med/small cages with 3 budgies in each one, and the conure is in the flight cage. Everyone is very happy. :) I only change the cages twice a week. Is this okay? I also take the cages apart and scrub them outside about once a month.

[BirdMommaAK]

That sounds about right to me. I clean the papers out every other day, clean perches and other things as needed.

[chapala]

I layer newspapers, then pick up the dirty pieces daily and toss them. Once a week or every five days, I clean out everything, clean the tray, wipe out the food areas (though I usually do that more often), wipe down any dirty bars.

[RockysMom]

I am a freak I clean everything everyother day, unless I am really busy and can't get to it!

[Jak43]

Sorry, but I clean every day - paper that they soil through the grate at the bottom of the cage gets cleaned twice a day if it is soiled. I don't keep poop in the cage - anywhere. If something gets on a perch or toy (very, VERY unusual for my guys), I remove and scrub it ASAP.

Bottom grates (I have two cages for my two black capped babies) get scrubbed with good liquid soap solution, hot water and sponge in the shower each evening.

Food cups are changed twice a day and scrubbed with liquid dish soup, hot water and a good sponge. (Dishwasher leaves residue that I don't think is good for them.) About once a month I'll also spray them in vinegar or GSE liquid and let them soak a bit before scrubbing them in hot water (the plastic cups are difficult to keep really clean and really need a good soak with GSE or vinegar to ensure no bacteria or mold is growing in the crevices.) For drinking and bath water, I use bottled water. But I use water from the faucet to clean.

About twice a year, we take the cages apart and give them a thorough cleaning. I clean the cages (the metal parts) with a clorox mixture (and rinsed them very, very, very well) and toys/branches with liquid soap or swapped out for new toys and branches.

Have been able to maintain this with the help of my husband (and occasionally our bird sitter) for a little over 4 years now. I don't see it changing.

[angelicarboreals]

I am fastidious about my whole house, and the bird cages are no exception, so I am a little on the extreme side when it comes to cleaning. I normally change cage papers every other day and use poop off wipes to spot clean the cage bars (esspecially on my lory's cage). One day a week I do deep cleaning, where the cages that will come apart and fit in the bathtub are cleaned in that manner, and my larger cages are scrubbed down and hosed off. This is a few hour process so I try to do it on my day off.

[usamma]

Originally Posted by chapala

I layer newspapers, then pick up the dirty pieces daily and toss them. Once a week or every five days, I clean out everything, clean the tray, wipe out the food areas (though I usually do that more often), wipe down any dirty bars.

Layering the paper is a great idea!

I used to be a clean freak before I had kids. So much for that. ;)

I do clean out Moki's water dish at least 2x a day because he dips his food. He has only dry food in his food dish (pellets) so I only clean that when he empties it.

[Valo's Moirana]

given that i have to work (plenty actually) i simply don't have time to clean the boys' cages continously...

change the paper on the grate every day, and the bottom one every other day... wipe around the cages every other day... cage cleaning from top to bottom, only every other week or so... there's just not more time

[Peanutbutter]

Morning-- clean all bowls, sweep. Before bed-- spot clean perches/grate, clean tray, new paper, sweep.

Occasionally, I'll take a towel and wipe down the sides inside & out...

Every month to month & a half I break down the whole thing & scrub in the tub.

[Congobongo]

I keep a 'swing' cage to put one of my either Macaws, Toos or Greys in when I clean their cage. I will take all .the trays and even the cage outside to 'power wash'.