The Basics
Keeping a bird’s cage clean is extremely important for the health and wellbeing of your feathered friend. A dirty cage allows harmful bacteria, mold, and feces to accumulate, which can cause your bird to become ill. Most avian veterinarians recommend cleaning the cage thoroughly at least once per week. However, depending on the size of the cage, number of birds, and other factors, some cages may need to be cleaned more or less frequently than this. Here is an overview of how often most bird cages need to be cleaned:
- Once per week – This is the standard recommendation for most bird cages.
- Twice per week – Very large cages or cages housing multiple birds may need to be cleaned this often.
- Every 2-3 days – Necessary for breeding cages with nesting boxes where parents are feeding babies.
- Every 4-5 days – May be okay for some smaller cages housing a single bird.
- Daily spot cleaning – This involves wiping down perches, food/water dishes, and trays for droppings every day.
When determining how often to clean your particular bird’s enclosure, consider factors like:
- Number of birds
- Size of cage
- Amount of time birds spend in cage
- Placement of cage (kitchens tend to get dirtier faster)
- Health issues (compromised immune systems may need more frequent cleaning)
- Type of bird (larger parrots tend to make bigger messes)
Pay close attention to how rapidly the cage accumulates droppings, leftover food, feathers, and other debris. A visibly dirty cage needs cleaning right away. You want to avoid large messes building up that are difficult to remove.
Cleaning the Cage Thoroughly
A thorough cleaning of the entire cage should be performed about once weekly for most pet birds. Here are the steps involved:
- Remove your bird from the cage and place in a safe temporary enclosure.
- Remove all perches, food dishes, toys, and other accessories.
- Use a bird-safe cage cleaner to wash the bars, doors, surfaces, feeders, water bottles, etc.
- Rinse everything thoroughly with water to remove all soap residue.
- Disinfect non-porous surfaces with diluted bleach or other avian disinfectant and rinse.
- Allow all surfaces to dry completely before reassembling cage.
- Replace cage liner and accessories.
- Return your bird to the nice clean cage!
It’s important not to use any harsh chemicals or soap that could be toxic to birds. There are specialized bird cage cleaning products available. A bleach dilution of 1 part bleach to 32 parts water is safe for disinfecting. Be sure to rinse surfaces multiple times after using any cleaning solutions.
You’ll also want to wash all food/water containers, perches, and toys in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and let them dry entirely too. Any mite or lice infestations can be eliminated this way.
Spot Cleaning Between Thorough Cleanings
In addition to weekly deep cleanings, you should also perform spot cleanings of your bird’s living space every day. This involves:
- Removing droppings from cage surfaces and lining
- Changing out food and water dishes
- Wiping down perches, dishes, and toys
- Replacing soiled cage lining sections
- Removing uneaten fresh foods
Aim to do these quick spot cleanings at least once per day. This will keep contamination and mess to a minimum between the thorough weekly cage scrub downs. Some bird owners even do spot cleaning two or three times a day for larger enclosures housing multiple birds.
Cleaning Schedule Based on Number of Birds
The more birds sharing an enclosure, the more frequently cleaning needs to be done. Here are some general guidelines based on the number of birds:
| Number of Birds | Thorough Cleaning | Spot Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bird | 1-2 times per week | Daily |
| 2 Birds | 2-3 times per week | Daily, sometimes twice daily |
| 3+ Birds | 2-3 times per week | 2+ times daily |
As you can see, the more birds sharing the space, the higher the frequency of cleaning required. With 3 or more birds, at least 2 spot cleanings per day are recommended to keep the mess under control.
Cleaning Schedule Based on Cage Size
Larger cages will also need more frequent scrub downs. Here is a cleaning schedule based on cage size:
| Cage Size | Thorough Cleaning | Spot Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Small cage (less than 20 inches wide) | Every 4-7 days | Daily |
| Medium cage (20-36 inches wide) | Every 3-5 days | Daily |
| Large cage (36+ inches wide) | Every 2-3 days | Daily, sometimes twice daily |
Bigger living spaces equal more mess created by the birds. Aim to thoroughly clean large enclosures at least every 2-3 days since mess and hazardous bacteria accumulates quickly with lots of space.
Cleaning Schedule for Breeding Birds
Breeding birds with active nests require the most frequent cage cleaning sessions. Here are the optimal cleaning schedules based on breeding status:
| Breeding Status | Thorough Cleaning | Spot Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Not currently breeding | 1-2 times per week | Daily |
| Breeding, but no babies yet | 2-3 times per week | Daily, sometimes twice daily |
| Babies present | Every 2 days | 2+ times daily |
Parent birds can create a huge mess quickly when feeding rapidly growing chicks in the nest. Frequent cleansing is crucial to prevent diseases that could spread through the nest. Disinfect the cage thoroughly whenever you remove soiled nesting material.
Cleaning Schedule Based on Cage Location
The spot where your bird’s cage is placed can also impact cleaning needs. High-traffic locations tend to get dirtier faster. Here are some cleaning guidelines per cage location:
| Cage Location | Thorough Cleaning | Spot Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Low-traffic room (office, spare room) | Every 4-7 days | Daily |
| Moderate traffic room (living room, family room) | Every 3-5 days | Daily |
| High traffic room (kitchen, main entryway) | Every 1-3 days | Daily, sometimes twice daily |
Cages located in busy kitchens or main entryways tend to accumulate dust, dander, and debris faster. More frequent scrub downs may be needed. Place cages in lower traffic areas when possible.
Cleaning Schedule Based on Health Issues
Birds with weakened immune systems or existing illnesses often require more intensive cage cleaning to prevent worsening of health problems. Here are some typical cleaning schedules based on health status:
| Bird Health Status | Thorough Cleaning | Spot Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy bird | Every 3-7 days | Daily |
| Stressed or depressed bird | Every 3-5 days | Daily |
| Elderly or disabled bird | Every 2-3 days | Daily, sometimes twice daily |
| Ill bird or compromised immune system | Every 1-3 days | 2+ times daily |
More frequent disinfection is extremely important whenever a bird is sick or has a weakened immune system. This helps prevent worsening of health issues.
Disinfecting the Cage Between Birds
When transitioning a cage to a new bird, it’s highly recommended to thoroughly scrub and disinfect it first. Here is a cleaning checklist for disinfecting a used cage before allowing a new bird to inhabit it:
- Remove all accessories, dishes, perches and toys
- Clean cage bars, surfaces, doors with soap and water
- Rinse soap off all areas
- Spray down all surfaces with vet-approved disinfectant and let soak 10+ minutes
- Rinse disinfectant off with water
- Allow cage to dry fully
- Replace cage lining and accessories
- Clean and disinfect all food bowls, perches, toys, etc before reusing
Proper disinfection helps prevent transfer of bacteria, mites, fungus, or disease between birds using the same cage at different times. It’s better to be safe than have your new feathered friend get sick!
Conclusion
Keeping your bird’s living space clean should be a top priority for any pet owner. Exactly how often cages require cleaning varies based on number of birds, cage size, high-traffic locations, breeding status, existing health issues, and other factors unique to each situation. But as a general rule, aim to do a thorough cleaning of the entire cage at least once per week. Daily spot cleaning is also recommended to remove droppings and debris before they have a chance to accumulate. With a little routine maintenance, you can keep your bird healthy and happy in a sanitary home!
