Having a pet bird can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, cleaning up after your feathered friend can often feel like an endless chore. Bird droppings, leftover food, and feathers scattered around the cage are an inevitable part of bird ownership. While you can’t eliminate the mess entirely, there are steps you can take to keep your bird’s living space cleaner and make your cleaning routine easier.
Use the right cage lining
The first step in simplifying cage cleaning is choosing appropriate cage liners. The floor of the cage should be lined with sheets of paper or cage liners that can be removed and replaced easily. Good options include:
- Newspaper – Newspaper sheets are inexpensive, absorbent, and can be changed daily. However, ink from newsprint can potentially be toxic to birds who chew on it.
- Plain paper – Unprinted white paper or butcher paper allows for easy spot cleaning. Replace fully at least once a week.
- Recycled paper bedding – Made from shredded recycled paper, this type of bird cage liner is very absorbent and excellent at odor control.
- Paper cage liners – Specifically designed paper mats that fit cage bottoms neatly and soak up messes.
- Corn cob bedding – Absorbs waste and dries out the cage. Needs frequent changing.
Avoid using materials like sandpaper, cat litter, or wood shavings, as they can be dusty or contain harmful phenols. The ideal cage liner will soak up droppings, food spills, and feather debris until it’s time to change it out fully.
Use waste trays
Waste trays are plastic trays that sit under the cage grate and collect fallen mess below. They provide an intermediate surface that keeps the main cage liner cleaner and doesn’t allow waste to pile up directly on the floor of the cage.
Look for trays designed to match the exact footprint of your cage. Line the tray with paper or paper pellets to absorb urine and other liquid waste. Empty and wipe down the tray daily when you clean the cage.
Spot clean often
While you need to fully clean the cage once or twice a week, spot cleaning daily helps keep odors and mess under control in the interim. Take a few minutes each day to:
- Remove and replace soiled cage liners
- Wipe down perches, toys, and cage bars
- Clean and refill food and water dishes
- Empty and sanitize waste trays
- Look for leftover or spoiled food
Doing small cleaning tasks consistently prevents potentially harmful bacteria and fungi from accumulating and gives your bird a cleaner habitat between deep cleans.
Use cage covers
Birds often kick food, droppings and debris out of their cages. These mess “escapees” dirty the area around the cage quickly. To control the mess, cover part or all of the cage when your bird doesn’t need access.
Some options for cage covers include:
- Cage wraps – Decorative cloth wraps that affix around the sides of the cage
- Cage skirts – Cloth skirts with elastic to secure them around cage bases
- Covering draped over top – A decorative scarf or cloth pinned over just the top half of the cage
- Furniture covers – Custom covers that shield the top and sides of the cage
Ensure any coverings allow for sufficient airflow and don’t obstruct your bird’s access to food, water or toys when needed.
Use cage mats
Waterproof, non-slip cage mats placed underneath the cage provide another barrier against messy spills. They keep floors cleaner and simplify cleanup. Look for cage mats made from:
- Plastic – Durable and easy to clean but can appear industrial looking
- Rubber – Absorbent and textured options available
- Vinyl – Waterproof and stylish designs
- Silicone – Extremely durable with non slip grip
- Recycled cotton – Super absorbent and Eco-friendly
Mats with raised edges that catch debris are ideal. Place the cage away from walls and furnishings to allow the mat to catch mess around all sides.
Use cage catchers
Cage catchers attach around the outside of cage grates to catch falling feathers, food and more. Available in materials like plastic, metal and fabric, styles include:
- Catcher trays – Wrap around grates to catch debris
- Catcher nets – Mesh bags secured around and under cages
- Clip-on catchers – Plastic or rubber flaps clipped onto wires
This extra line of defense keeps surrounding areas cleaner. Just empty catchers when full or as needed each day.
Clean the cage thoroughly and frequently
Even with all these measures, you will still need to thoroughly sanitize, disinfect and clean the cage fully on a regular basis. Cleaning schedules vary based on factors like:
- Number of birds
- Size of cage
- Messiness of birds
- Placement of cage
Typically, a full cage cleaning should occur:
- Once or twice weekly for small birds (finches, parakeets)
- Every 3-5 days for medium birds (cockatiels, lovebirds)
- Daily or ever other day for large birds (macaws, cockatoos)
To clean the cage:
- Remove the bird from the cage and place in a safe temporary housing. Avoid using chemicals and disinfectants if the bird is still in the cage.
- Discard all waste, uneaten food, and cage liners.
- Wash the cage grates, perches, toys, litter trays, and other accessories thoroughly with mild soap and water, scrubbing to remove stuck on debris and excrement. Rinse thoroughly.
- Disinfect using a pet-safe cage cleaner following label directions. Or use a 10% bleach solution allowing 5-10 minutes of contact time before a thorough rinse.
- Allow all cage parts to dry completely in the sun if possible.
- Replace cage liner and waste tray. Put washed accessories back into the clean cage.
- Return bird to the cage.
Deep cleaning the cage regularly removes microscopic bacteria and prevents dangerous infections. Allowing parts to dry fully prevents mold and pathogen growth.
Use cage placement strategically
Where you place the cage in your home can make cleaning easier too. Try placing it:
- In a high-traffic area – Being able to see mess ensures you clean it up faster.
- Near a window – Easy access to sunlight aids drying after cleaning. Open windows allow fresh air circulation.
- Not directly on carpeting – Carpet is hard to clean. Use tile, non-porous surfaces.
- Away from walls/furnishings – Allows the cage mat to catch mess around all sides.
Proper cage placement reduces cleaning time while also giving your pet a healthy habitat.
Conclusion
Bird cages will always need regular cleaning to some degree. However, using cage liners designed to catch mess, waste trays, and cage catchers allows you to keep mess contained until full cleaning sessions. Spot cleaning daily and full disinfecting weekly keeps bacteria at bay. Strategic cage placement also reduces mess accumulation. With the right setup, you can streamline cleaning procedures so enjoying your pet bird doesn’t mean endless work.