How to wash a bird cage. Cleaning a birdcage (tips) How to clean a parrot cage

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and the care of companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He has been working at the same animal clinic in his hometown for over 20 years.

Number of sources used in this article: . You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Caring for any pet involves considerable responsibility, and hamsters are no exception. One of the important responsibilities of a hamster owner is to regularly clean the pet's cage and keep it clean. Of course, cleaning the cage is not the most pleasant task, but it will be much easier for you if you prepare for it correctly and do everything efficiently.

Steps

Part 1

Inspect the hamster's cage. Before you start cleaning the cage, you need to inspect it to assess what condition it is in. Identify those areas that need daily spot cleaning outside of the established full cage cleaning schedule. Be aware that cleaning the cage too often or not enough can put your hamster under additional stress, so you should clean the cage as much as needed, when needed.

Prepare everything you need for cleaning. Before you start cleaning the cage, you will need to prepare the necessary cleaning equipment. This will make the cleaning itself go more smoothly and be less stressful for both you and the hamster. To start cleaning, you will need the following items.

• A rag. It will be used to wash and wipe the cage and its accessories.
• Disinfectant. You can use gentle liquid antibacterial soap for your hands or for dishes. Avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach as they may harm your pet's health. You can usually find special safe cleaning products in pet stores.
• Fresh bedding to fill the washed cage.

1. Remove all accessories from the cage. After you have removed your hamster from the cage to another safe place, you need to remove all accessories from it. If you leave them inside, you will complicate your cleaning procedure and it will not be as effective.

   • Remove all food and water bowls or feeders and drinkers from the cage.
   • Remove all toys and accessories to provide your pet with exercise.

2. Clean the cage of old bedding. The very last thing that will need to be removed from the cage is the old bedding. Bedding contaminated with hamster urine emits a strong ammonia odor, which can cause respiratory problems in your pet. To fully clean the cage, you need to remove all the old bedding from it.

   • To prevent discarded old litter from smelling in the trash can, you can first pour it into a plastic bag and tie it.

   Part 2

   Cleaning the cage

   1. Wash any accessories you remove from the cage. Even though they may appear clean on the outside, you will need to wash every toy, every running wheel, food and water bowl, and every other item that is usually found inside the cage. Wash all items thoroughly to ensure they are as clean as possible.

      • Spray cage accessories with cleaner or even soak in it to disinfect.
      • Wash all items thoroughly with a cloth. Pay special attention to all corners and other hard-to-reach areas.

   2. Wash the cage. Cleaning the cage is the basis for regular maintenance of your hamster's home to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. Wash all surfaces of the cage thoroughly. Hamster cages come in a variety of designs, however, the same cleaning tips apply to all of them.

      • Use a disinfectant solution and a cloth to clean the cage.
      • Sticky litter may remain in some areas of the cage. You will have to put in some effort to scrub it off.
      • Problem areas of the cage can be soaked to make cleaning them easier.
      • If you are using a cage made of metal lattice or mesh, you will need to wipe down each twig.
      • Some types of cages and aquariums require wiping down all surfaces and cleaning out all corners.

   3. Dry the cage and all its accessories. Before reassembling the cage into its original state, it must be dried. If you add fresh bedding before the cage is completely dry, it will become damp and will require replacement sooner than necessary.

      • If you want to speed up the drying process, you can wipe the cage and accessories with a towel.
      • The cage will dry out faster if it is exposed to open sun. In addition, direct sunlight will help disinfect the cage using ultraviolet light.

   4. Reassemble the cage and return the accessories to it. Once everything is sanitized, cleaned and dried, you can assemble your hamster cage. While assembling the cage, double-check all accessories for cleanliness.

      • First of all, add bedding to the cage.
      • Then return toys and exercise accessories and place them on top of the bedding.
      • Place fresh food in the bowl or feeder, fill the drinking bowl with fresh water and place these accessories in the cage.
      • Place your hamster back in his cage and give him some time to adjust and rest before interacting with him again. Try waiting a couple of hours before playing with it.

   5. Schedule a time for the next cage cleaning. Regular cleaning of the cage will make cleaning easier for you and will ensure a happy and healthy life for your hamster. After cleaning the cage, mark this date on your calendar and schedule the next cleaning exactly one week later.

      • Regular cleaning of your hamster's cage is essential.
      • A thorough cleaning of the cage is required at least once a week.
      • Marking your planned cleaning dates on your calendar will serve as a good reminder.

   6. Don't forget about daily spot cleaning. The cage must be thoroughly cleaned weekly. However, this does not mean that cleaning is generally only required once a week. There are a number of operations that need to be performed daily to keep the cage as clean as possible between full cleanings.

      • Remove visible accumulations of excrement.
      • Remove and wash the drinking bowl so you can refill it with clean water later.
      • Promptly remove any remaining fresh food that the hamster has not eaten.
      • If necessary, add fresh bedding to the cage.

   7. Become familiar with the risks that come with keeping your hamster in a dirty cage. Cleaning your hamster's cage makes a significant contribution to maintaining its health. Hamsters are very pampered and require cleanliness in order to remain healthy. If you do not monitor the condition of the cage and do not clean it, then your hamster may get sick. If you keep the cage clean, you can protect your hamster from the following diseases that arise due to unsanitary conditions.

Hamsters are clean animals. Cleaning an animal's home is an important component of pet care.

A dirty and untidy cage can cause illness in a little fidget. When the owner wants to surround the pet with care and love, he keeps the animal’s house in perfect order.

Every cleaning in a hamster’s cage is a shock for the animal, because they are used to making things cozy in their own way. How to get rid of the smell of a hamster in a cage without harming it?

An important question is how often you need to clean your hamster’s cage and remove old food and waste from his house. Let's answer it right now.

The cage is washed with soda solution 2-3 times a month. The litter changes as it becomes dirty and produces an unpleasant odor. When cleaning your hamster's house, you shouldn't completely throw out the old litter and put in a new one. Without the presence of familiar odors, the animal can become disoriented.

If the home is equipped with labyrinths, tunnels and houses, then you need to ensure that leftover food does not accumulate in them, which the hamster hides in reserve. Cleaning a hamster cage with pipes is carried out according to the same algorithm. It is also necessary to wipe all items from dust and dirt.

Cleaning tools

If you start cleaning the cage, then you need to do it carefully. It is important to follow the order of actions. Inspect the room where the pet lives. This is necessary to assess the scale of the work and identify the dirtiest corners. Poor cleaning, which leaves behind dirt, provokes the appearance of pathogenic microbes. Without waiting for general cleaning, clean the following daily:

• The animal's toilet area. Here the litter gets wet more than at other points, and droppings also accumulate.
• Uneaten remains of food that the animal scatters around the cage.
• The water needs to be replaced every day. The bedding on which the drink falls is removed and freshly laid.

Dirty walls are the culprits of the unpleasant odor that the cage emits. In this case, you will have to clean the entire space of the house.

The preparatory stage is no less important. It consists of selecting equipment and cleaning products that will be needed for the job. This must be done so that during the process you are not distracted by searching for the right tool. To work you will need:

• A cloth for wiping the cage and internal accessories.
• Detergent or soap that does not contain aggressive substances such as bleach. Such components can cause irreparable harm to a little furry. It is better if you buy a product intended for washing cells in a specialized store..
• Clean filler to replace the old one.

Before harvesting, the animal will have to be transplanted to another safe place. High-quality cleaning of the cage is possible only without its occupant.

Stages of cage cleaning

Now let’s look in more detail at how to clean a hamster’s cage. As already mentioned, before starting work, transfer the hamster. Choose a clean box or container where he won't escape.

You can use the ball for a walk. In this case, you need to do the cleaning quickly, it is advisable not to delay it for more than half an hour. Otherwise, the animal will get tired and nervous. Next, do the following:

• Remove all items from the house: cups, toys, structures. The contents must be washed thoroughly and dried well with a clean rag or towel.
• Remove the filler.
• Treat the house well from all sides.
• Add fresh bedding.

In addition to the main filler, leave a few clean paper napkins for the animal. They will be useful for your pet to make his home comfortable after your intervention.

You shouldn’t wait until you notice an unpleasant smell coming from the house. If cleaning is done infrequently, the cage can become unsanitary, and a stale smell makes the hamster feel discomfort and can cause viral diseases.

To achieve the best result, you need to restore order using a solution of water and washing liquids. Dishwashing detergents or laundry soap are suitable for the job. Particularly careful owners prefer simple table vinegar to chemical compounds.. You can soak individual elements inside the cage in it. You need to leave parts of the house in the solution for 30 minutes, after which you carefully clean off any remaining dirt with a special scraper.

Before filling the bottom of the cage with filler, it must be thoroughly dried. Otherwise, it will quickly get wet, and you will have to clean the closet again.

If you find items at your hamster's house that are unsuitable for further use, it is better to throw them out and put in new ones.

Cleaning a rodent's home after birth

There's a new addition to the house, but the owner doesn't know when to clean the cage after giving birth to a hamster? This also happens.

It is necessary to clean the house after giving birth, after two weeks. While putting things in order, the mother and babies are left inside the home, trying not to disturb them, or they are carefully moved to another place.

They remove the cage in the same way as before, only observing one rule: touching young offspring with hands is prohibited. It is important to remember this so that the human smell does not remain on the babies. If this is not done, the mother may abandon her cubs. It happened that a hamster ate the offspring that a person touched.

If you can move the babies with the bedding on which they were lying, then it is best to do so. This procedure will preserve the smell to which hamsters are accustomed.

By learning how to properly clean your furry friend's cage, strictly following the cleaning algorithm, you will ensure cleanliness and order for your hamster, making your baby happier. Keeping your home in a hygienic condition will ensure good health for your rodent., and will save the owner from unnecessary problems and worries.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the food that the thrifty animal hides in all corners of its shelter. Remember that the drinking bowl is filled as often as the animal requires.

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At this point, most bird owners will say: “Big deal, that’s also a problem!” Many of us, when asked: “Why clean the cage?”, will answer: “So that there is no smell in the apartment.” Well, let's try to refute these statements and give a couple of tips that will certainly be useful, in extreme cases, to beginners.

Let's start with the fact that the cage is cleaned not only for the sake of a normal smell in the apartment. First of all, dirt in a cage or aviary is a source of various bird diseases. It is not enough to simply remove food debris and excrement; disinfection of the cage is of great importance in keeping healthy parrots.

Tips for cleaning a parrot cage:
- the special paper that is placed on the pallet is changed daily;
- the feeder and water bowl for the parrot are thoroughly washed with a sponge, brush or brush every day before filling them with food or water;
- sand, as well as sawdust, are changed as needed, being contaminated, but at least once a week;
- wet cleaning of the cage is carried out as it gets dirty, but at least once a week.

At the pet store you can purchase hygiene products for birds, including special sand, which will not only keep the cage clean and fresh, but will also be an excellent source of minerals for the parrot’s body. Thus, Padovan Ocean Fresh Air hygienic sand with shells and anise contains small particles of seashells, which help strengthen the bird’s bones, help digest food and participate in the formation of egg shells.

Cunipic Hygenic Sand bird litter is also multifunctional: maintains cleanliness and freshness; thanks to oyster shells, birds receive the necessary minerals; Anise seeds are refreshing and give a pleasant aroma. The sand is changed 1-2 times a week.

Vitakraft (Vitakraft) Sandy hygienic sand for birds of the highest quality, protects the cage of parrots from microbes. The special gastric flint included in the composition ensures optimal digestion and regulates metabolism, in addition, biosand helps improve feather growth, easing the condition of your feathered friend during the molting period.

The entire cage is washed once a week. If parrots fly freely around the apartment, then give them this opportunity while you wash them at home. If the birds are not tamed, use a cage or, best of all, a transport cage. Before washing the cage, remove all removable items from it - tray, bath, drinking bowl, feeder, all twigs and toys, take a brush and safe detergent and clean the entire cage, rinsing it thoroughly with clean water. All equipment for the cage is also washed with warm water, using a brush, and then dried; as for toys, they can be rinsed with hot water after washing.

Once every six months, feeders and drinking bowls for parrots are replaced with new ones, the same applies to perches (perches), which can either be bought new or polished so that the bird does not injure its paws on possible chips.

To please your little feathered friend, buy him new toys and arrange them in a different order in his cage. This will allow the bird to while away the time by learning something new and interesting.

Never smoke, or allow others to smoke, in the area where the bird is located. Nicotine is a poison for parrots, which can cause deep depression in the bird with loss of strength, and can also cause the pet’s early death.

Disinfecting a parrot cage.

After disinfection (for example, using bleach), the cage is washed with clean water. The safest, but at the same time effective means for disinfecting bird cages are infusions of chamomile or wormwood. Take a soft, well-absorbing and moisture-holding fabric, soak it in the infusion and wipe every corner and every twig of the cage.

The situation is more complicated with outdoor aviaries for parrots. It is extremely difficult to disinfect it. Therefore, the periods between disinfections are approximately six months. Pathogenic microbes that are dangerous to the health of parrots can be found in the soil, and the depth of their settlements can be up to 25 cm. Therefore, soil disinfection consists of removing the top layer of soil to the specified depth, then soaking the soil with disinfectants and backfilling with a new layer of soil or sand mixture and gravel.

Not only the cleanliness and comfortable condition of the bird in the cage, but also, most importantly, its health depends on how carefully you adhere to the rules of cage care and follow all the advice!

To clean a parrot's cage you need a spray bottle, a brush, potassium permanganate, an infusion of wormwood and chamomile, and laundry soap.

How to wash a parrot's cage

Once a week (at least) you need to thoroughly clean the parrot’s cage. A small cage is easier to clean. It is convenient to wash it in the bathroom, but large cages can be washed on plastic wrap in the room.

First of all, transplant the cage occupant to another location. All perches, toys, feeder, and drinker must be removed from the cage. You also need to get the grate and the pull-out tray. All this little stuff needs to be brushed and washed with soap or a solution of baking soda. Then you need to pour boiling water over everything and dry it separately.

In the bathroom, it is enough to clean the cage with a brush and laundry soap or any dishwashing detergent that has bactericidal properties, and water it with a shower. But it’s more difficult to clean the room. It is necessary to spray the cage with hot water from a spray bottle so that the remaining food and droppings come off more easily. Wipe the rods with a soapy rag. Then wash off any remaining soap with a clean, damp cloth. If the cage is treated with a special product for treating cages for parrots, then there is no need to pour boiling water over it. But read the instructions, just in case.

Do not use chlorine-containing substances for disinfection. This is dangerous for parrots. For this purpose, use an infusion of wormwood or chamomile, or a solution of potassium permanganate. The cage must be thoroughly dried or wiped dry before disinfection. After treating the cage, you need to rinse it well with water from the shower or wipe it thoroughly with a damp cloth and dry it. This is necessary so that the parrot cannot be poisoned by chemical residues.

After the cage has dried, you can put all the parts in place, put new filler in the tray, and pour fresh water into the drinking bowl. Wash and dry equipment thoroughly. Once in hard-to-reach places, moisture forms mold, which contributes to the development of diseases in the parrot. After restoring the interior of the cage, return the occupant to it.

If you did not buy a new cage, then be sure to replace all the internal contents. After all, the previous occupant could have died from some kind of infection. Why put your pet in danger?

For bedding, you cannot use magazine or newspaper sheets, or sheets with printed text. After all, printing ink contains substances that are harmful to the parrot. If he doesn't chew the litter, he runs along the bottom.

Well, now we can try.

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How to clean a parrot's cage?

It is advisable to monitor the cell daily. Change the water in the drinking bowl and bathing bowl, rinsing them at the same time. A “mixture” of hot water and soda is best for treating the cell. The feeder should be washed preferably every time you change food, while cleaning it from food residues with hot water.

And still. How to wash the entire cage?

Such cleaning should be done at least once a month. First, clean the cage of droppings and change all bedding. Do a dry cleaning, so to speak. Then wash off everything that is stuck (including on the cage itself, and not just on the tray).

There is one good way to disinfect. Make a solution of chamomile (wormwood will also work), wet a sponge with it and wipe the entire surface of the cage. This is an excellent prevention against the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. And most importantly, it will not cause any harm to your feathered friend. Wipe the cage with a dry cloth and let dry.

Don't forget, of course, to wash your bird's toys; they are also susceptible to contamination. After cleaning is completely completed, wait about half an hour. Only after this time has passed will it be possible to let the bird back in.

Once a season (every 3 months), thoroughly clean the cage. After dry cleaning, wash the entire cage with hot water and baking soda.

The use of chemicals during routine cleaning is strictly prohibited. But still, sometimes, in rare cases, you have to do this. If a bird, for example, is tormented by fleas or ticks. In this case, spray the bird itself with dry red wine or bathe it in wormwood tincture. And then place the bird in the reserve cage, take it to another room. And in the main cage it will be necessary to carry out very serious disinfection, including with chemicals. After treatment, you need to give time for the chemicals to wear off.