Rub a Dub-Dub, a Parrot in the Tub
Ask any bird owner and he will tell you, "Yep, birds are messy.
" So just how do you keep your new pet parrot clean? And what about his cage, toys, food...
are there any special instruction here? The Bird - To keep feather dust to a minimum, and promote vibrant colors, shower your parrot weekly.
Most species love water and will sing, flap their wings and even "dance" when showered.
You can purchase a shower perch for let your parrot walk around on the bottom of the shower floor or tub.
You don't have to buy special soap for your bird.
Use plain tap water.
Be sure the temperature is warm.
It's a good idea to test the water's temp by letting the water run on the underside of your forearm, much like you would for a baby's formula.
Some bird owners mist their parrots with water from a spray bottle (similar to the ones used for misting house plants).
A few varieties of birds dislike misting, so proceed with caution.
If your pet shows signs of apprehension, it's a good idea to avoid the misting process altogether.
The Food Dishes - Wash in hot soapy water, or run through the dishwasher everyday.
Consider buying two sets of food and water dishes; while one set is placed in your birds' cage (with fresh contents) the other set is in the dishwasher.
The Cage - A rule of thumb here is; the larger the bird, plus, the more time the bird spends in the gage equals the more frequently you should perform a thorough cleaning on the cage.
i.
e.
more than a "wipe down".
Cage liners are wonderful! It's easy to roll up your bird's mess in one thin liner than it is to empty the pan, or pull up newspaper.
Change liners daily, or every few days, depending on how messy your bird is.
A quick wipe over with a warm wet cloth helps alleviate the difficulty of the thorough cleaning.
Before you thorough clean, remove the bird from his cage and place on a perch away from his cage area.
Use a bird safe disinfectant.
Sometimes a scrub brush and/or sandpaper can help remove tough dried particles.
The Toys - Soak toys in mild soapy warm - hot water.
rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before returning to cage.
Cleanse toys every few weeks to remove germs and feather dust.
The Yard aka area around the cage - This area is often plagued with feathers, feather particles and feather dust as well as seeds and other food items your bird drops.
Vacuum daily.
A cage with a seed catcher helps somewhat and is worth purchasing.
Also, consider purchasing an air purifier one with a HEPA filter.
Whenever possible, use cleaning time as play time, too.
Talk and socialize with your pet while you change his bird liners, or shower him.
the more contact you have with your parrot, the better caregiver you'll be.
You'll also be able to recognize signs of stress and illness quicker.
Keeping your bird clean, healthy and happy requires daily maintenance, but is well worth it.
" So just how do you keep your new pet parrot clean? And what about his cage, toys, food...
are there any special instruction here? The Bird - To keep feather dust to a minimum, and promote vibrant colors, shower your parrot weekly.
Most species love water and will sing, flap their wings and even "dance" when showered.
You can purchase a shower perch for let your parrot walk around on the bottom of the shower floor or tub.
You don't have to buy special soap for your bird.
Use plain tap water.
Be sure the temperature is warm.
It's a good idea to test the water's temp by letting the water run on the underside of your forearm, much like you would for a baby's formula.
Some bird owners mist their parrots with water from a spray bottle (similar to the ones used for misting house plants).
A few varieties of birds dislike misting, so proceed with caution.
If your pet shows signs of apprehension, it's a good idea to avoid the misting process altogether.
The Food Dishes - Wash in hot soapy water, or run through the dishwasher everyday.
Consider buying two sets of food and water dishes; while one set is placed in your birds' cage (with fresh contents) the other set is in the dishwasher.
The Cage - A rule of thumb here is; the larger the bird, plus, the more time the bird spends in the gage equals the more frequently you should perform a thorough cleaning on the cage.
i.
e.
more than a "wipe down".
Cage liners are wonderful! It's easy to roll up your bird's mess in one thin liner than it is to empty the pan, or pull up newspaper.
Change liners daily, or every few days, depending on how messy your bird is.
A quick wipe over with a warm wet cloth helps alleviate the difficulty of the thorough cleaning.
Before you thorough clean, remove the bird from his cage and place on a perch away from his cage area.
Use a bird safe disinfectant.
Sometimes a scrub brush and/or sandpaper can help remove tough dried particles.
The Toys - Soak toys in mild soapy warm - hot water.
rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before returning to cage.
Cleanse toys every few weeks to remove germs and feather dust.
The Yard aka area around the cage - This area is often plagued with feathers, feather particles and feather dust as well as seeds and other food items your bird drops.
Vacuum daily.
A cage with a seed catcher helps somewhat and is worth purchasing.
Also, consider purchasing an air purifier one with a HEPA filter.
Whenever possible, use cleaning time as play time, too.
Talk and socialize with your pet while you change his bird liners, or shower him.
the more contact you have with your parrot, the better caregiver you'll be.
You'll also be able to recognize signs of stress and illness quicker.
Keeping your bird clean, healthy and happy requires daily maintenance, but is well worth it.
