Having birds as pets can be very rewarding, but their odor and mess can make your house smell less than fresh. Birds themselves don’t smell bad, but their droppings, food, cages, and dusty feathers can make your home stinky. Luckily, there are many things you can do to keep your house smelling clean and pleasant even with feathered friends flapping around. Here are some tips for making your home smell nice when you have pet birds.
Clean the Bird Cage Frequently
One of the biggest sources of odor in a home with birds is a dirty cage. Droppings, leftover food, and feather dust build up quickly and start to stink. To prevent this, you need to clean your bird’s cage thoroughly and regularly. Here are some cage cleaning tips:
– Clean the cage at least once a week. For larger parrots who are messier, you may need to clean the cage every 3-4 days.
– Remove all perches, food bowls, and toys. Wash them with hot, soapy water and let them air dry completely before putting them back in the clean cage.
– Use a bird-safe cage cleaner to wipe down the bars and tray. Avoid cleaners with strong fumes.
– Scrub the bars and tray with a brush to remove stuck-on debris and stains.
– Rinse the cage thoroughly with plain water and let it dry completely before putting your bird back in.
– Replace cage liners, substrate, and litter frequently.
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your bird’s cage prevents the buildup of odors and keeps your house smelling fresh.
Use Cage Covers
In addition to cleaning the cage, using cage covers can help contain mess and odors. There are few options for bird cage covers:
– A fitted sheet or cloth cage cover: This can be tossed in the wash regularly to keep smells down.
– Plastic wrap: Wrapping the top and sides of the cage with plastic wrap contains dust and debris. Replace the wrap frequently.
– Cage skirt or cage drape: This cloth skirt hangs from the bottom of the cage to catch fallen debris and food. Shake it out or wash it often.
The right cage cover traps bird droppings, feathers, and food crumbs so they don’t make a mess around the cage. This prevents your surrounding area from getting dirty and smelly.
Use Odor Eliminators
Even with frequent cleaning, some odor can linger from your pet birds. Using odor eliminators can help get rid of bad smells between cage cleanings:
– Baking soda: Keep an open box of baking soda near your bird’s cage. The baking soda will help absorb odors. Replace it every 2-3 weeks.
– Activated charcoal: Use charcoal odor absorbers in the room with your bird’s cage. You can buy them or make your own charcoal bags.
– Essential oils: Put a few drops of lemon, eucalyptus, or lavender oil on cotton balls near the cage. Don’t diffuse oils around birds.
– Ventilation: Ensure the room is well-ventilated so odors don’t build up. Open windows regularly. Use fans or air purifiers.
– Commercial sprays: Bird-safe deodorizing sprays can eliminate odors on hard surfaces, carpets, and fabrics. Avoid strongly scented products.
Using natural odor fighters helps keep the area around your bird cage smelling clean between full cage cleanings. Rotate different deodorizers to maximize their effectiveness.
Clean Surrounding Areas
In additional to cleaning the cage itself, be diligent about cleaning the areas around your bird’s cage. Droppings and feathers can land around the cage and make an odor. Here are some tips:
– Place cage on washable mats or liners that can be cleaned or swapped out when soiled. Avoid fabric mats.
– Vacuum or sweep around the cage daily to remove fallen debris, food, feathers, etc.
– Wipe down hard surfaces near the cage frequently with a bird-safe cleaner.
– Shake out fabric curtains or furniture covers near the cage regularly. Wash them if necessary.
– Use a wet/dry vacuum on carpets and upholstery to remove dander, dust, and other debris.
– Take out the trash frequently so food waste doesn’t accumulate.
Keeping your bird’s surrounding space clean prevents odor buildup. Develop a regular cleaning routine focusing on areas near the cage.
Cleaning Products to Avoid
When cleaning around your bird’s cage, avoid products like:
– Strong Disinfectants: Opt for gentle, bird-safe disinfectants instead. Avoid bleach.
– Scented Detergents: Scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners can be irritating to birds’ respiratory systems. Use fragrance-free options.
– Air Freshening Sprays: Avoid strongly scented air fresheners, which contain chemicals hazardous to birds.
– Essential Oils: Don’t diffuse essential oils around birds. Some oils can be toxic.
– Candles & Incense: Don’t burn candles, incense, or wax melts near birds as the smoke can be dangerous.
Stick to gentle, bird-friendly cleaning products. Strong chemical fumes can be harmful to your feathered friends.
Replace Food Frequently
Bird food can get smelly as it starts to spoil, especially moist foods like fruits, veggies, sprouts, etc. To avoid food odors:
– Remove uneaten fresh foods within a few hours. Don’t let produce sit overnight.
– Give only an amount of food your bird will finish at one sitting.
– Clean food bowls daily and replace soiled foraging toys.
– Discard perishable foods that look or smell spoiled. Don’t take chances.
– Keep dry foods in sealed containers to prevent them from getting stale.
– Replace bagged bird food every 3-6 months once opened. Seal bags tightly between use.
Promptly removing uneaten foods and replacing stale food reduces odors. Follow your bird food’s expiry dates and storage guidelines.
Use Air Purifiers
A good air purifier can remove dander, dust, and other odor-causing particles from the air. Look for units with these features:
– HEPA filter: Removes tiny particles like dander and dust. Units with activated carbon also filter odors.
– Enough capacity for the room size. Calculate the unit’s CADR rating.
– Quiet operation so it doesn’t disturb your birds. Some have a whisper-quiet sleep mode.
– Optional UV sanitization to kill bacteria and germs.
– Bird-safe design. Avoid purifiers with fans that birds could get caught in.
Run your air purifier whenever your birds are out of the cage. Place it as close to the cage as possible without disturbing your pet.
Alternatives to Air Purifiers
If an air purifier isn’t an option, try these other ways to freshen the air:
– Open windows regularly to circulate fresh air through the room.
– Use fans to keep the air moving. Position fans near your bird’s cage.
– Ventilate the room well after cleaning the cage or vacuuming to remove dust and dander stirred up in the air.
– Place bowls of baking soda or charcoal around the room to absorb odors.
– Grow houseplants to naturally filter the air. Spider plants, philodendrons, and Dracaena are good options.
Proper ventilation and air circulation prevents odor buildup in areas where birds live.
Use Enzymatic Cleaners for Carpet and Upholstery
Carpets and upholstered furniture easily trap odors. Bird droppings that get ground into the carpet can smell especially bad. To clean and deodorize:
– Use an enzymatic cleaner formulated for pet messes. Enzymes break down odor molecules.
– Spot clean droppings and food stains right away to prevent odors later.
– Shampoo carpets and fabic furniture regularly to control odors. Use bird-safe products.
– Replace absorbent cushion covers if they get soiled.
– Use a wet/dry vac on carpet and fabric instead of sweeping to extract debris.
Enzymatic cleaners work better than regular carpet cleaners to eliminate difficult odors. Avoid products with strong perfumes.
Change Out Substrate Frequently
The substrate at the bottom of your bird’s cage easily picks up odors. Change it out regularly:
– Replace paper cage liners daily or every other day.
– Change litter, bark chips, corn cob bedding, or other substrates every 2-3 days.
– Discard soiled cage lining promptly. Don’t let it sit.
– Avoid aromatic cedar and pine substrates, which contain oils harmful to birds.
– Rinse and replace gravel or reptile carpet 1-2 times per week.
Frequently changing cage substrate keeps the mess contained and prevents smells inside the cage itself.
Clean Birds Themselves
In addition to cleaning the cage, occasionally cleaning your birds can reduce overall household odors:
– Give a gentle mist bath once or twice a week. The moisture loosens dirt, dust and dander.
– Spot clean heavily soiled feathers with a damp towel. Avoid over-bathing.
– Clip wing feathers once or twice yearly to reduce dust from scattered feathers.
– Take birds into the bathroom when you shower so steam loosens particles.
– Discourage excessive preening that spreads feather dust. Provide toys.
– Consider professional deshedding for excessive feather dust.
Cleaning your birds minimizes the amount of feather debris and dander around your home. Use safe bird grooming practices.
Watch For Signs of Illness
Sometimes a bad smell can signal an underlying health issue in your bird. Be alert for these signs of illness:
– Discolored or foul-smelling droppings
– Unusual or stronger odor from mouth, feathers or vent area
– Loss of appetite, decreased activity level
– Evidence of vomiting or regurgitation
– Feathers appearing dirty, matted or unkempt
Severe or persistent odor changes in your bird or its cage could mean a health problem. Contact an avian vet promptly if you observe any issues.
Use Natural Febreze
Common commercial air freshening sprays can be hazardous to pet birds. Make this easy homemade Febreze instead:
Ingredients
– 1 cup water
– 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
– 10-15 drops lemon essential oil (or other bird-safe oil)
– Spray bottle
Instructions
1. Mix water, vinegar, and essential oil in spray bottle. Shake well.
2. Lightly mist over fabrics, carpets, and other areas to freshen. Avoid spraying near birds.
The vinegar neutralizes odors while the essential oil leaves a pleasant scent. Shake before each use. You can adjust the oil amount to suit your smell preferences.
Conclusion
While birds naturally create some mess and odor, there are many effective ways to minimize smells and keep your home fresh. Focus on frequently cleaning your bird’s cage, surrounding areas, and the birds themselves. Use odor eliminators and air circulation strategies. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners and air fresheners. Address any possible health issues causing unusual odors in your birds. With diligent cleaning routines and proactive odor control, you can enjoy your feathered friends while maintaining a pleasant-smelling home.