Cats and dogs are the most popular animals in Spanish homes, without a doubt. But the most conventional residents of a house also include a series of very different species, such as birds. However, their care and attention could not be more disparate. When it comes to having a bird as a pet, you must be aware of its peculiarities and special needs. Above all, when it comes to cleaning and maintaining their cage, where most of them spend most of their time. Or they never come out.
The accumulation of food, the humidity that is generated by the water and the animal’s own depositions, all these elements create a dirty environment that carries high risks. It can become a source of infections that could affect both the welfare and health of the bird and the people who live with it. For this reason, it will be essential to carry out a strict cleaning routine, which will be divided into daily, weekly and monthly maintenance.
To keep the bird healthy and bacteria well away from its cage, a series of cleaning tasks will have to be undertaken every day to maintain basic hygiene conditions. The first thing is to remove the drinkers and feeders to clean them properly, with hot water and a scourer that is used only for this task. Before placing them they must be dried. And the base of the cage must also be cleaned without fail, as well as some accessories that may have been stained with feces, for example, toys or supports.
To the weekly cleaning routine is added maintenance that must be done every week. This will be similar to the previous one, only that the tasks will be carried out more thoroughly. Feeders and drinkers, toys or accessories, the bottom of the cage. All this must be removed and washed to remove any trace of dirt. Before placing it again, do not forget to dry it completely.
Once a month it’s time for a monthly cleaning, in which a deeper wash will be done and focused on everything being disinfected. Depending on the size of the cage and the number of birds, this might be necessary a couple of times a month. The main difference between this type of cleaning and daily and weekly is that the entire cage must be sanitized, emphasizing bars and corners. An appropriate way to do it would be in the bathtub or, if possible, in the garden at home with the help of a hose.