11 Tips for a Healthy Bird Cage

FIND THE BEST LOCATION FOR YOUR BIRDCAGE

There’s a saying about location. It goes, “Location, location...” Well, we forget how it goes. The point is that location is important. When choosing a place to put your bird’s cage, “enough, but not too much” is the name of the game. Choose a room with plenty of natural light, but don’t put the cage in direct sun. Choose an area where your bird can see you and interact with you, but not a place where there’s so much commotion that it would disturb the bird. A spot by a window is a good idea, because it allows your bird to see outside, but be sure to have thick or dark drapes to block out outside lights at night. And don’t put your birdcage in the kitchen, because the smoke, steam, heat and fumes will be hazardous to your bird’s health. (Hartz)

WHEN IT COMES TO CAGES, SIZE > BEAUTY

If you’re going to keep a bird (or any animal) in a cage, it is absolutely essential that the cage is large enough to provide the bird ample room to move around, stretch out and be comfortable. The cage should be at least wide enough for your bird to be able to stretch out both its wings as far as possible. The wider, the better. There's really no upper limit on how large a birdcage should be, but width is more important than height. Perches and toys are important (we’ll get to them soon), but don’t overcrowd your bird’s cage with so much stuff that it can’t move around easily and comfortably. (Humane Society of the United States)

CLEAN UP

Birdcage cleaning should be performed on a schedule similar to what’s recommended for cat litter boxes. That is, routine maintenance on a daily basis, and a thorough cleaning and changing of all liners once a week. Simple newspaper or paper towel is recommended for lining the cage because they allow you to more easily observe the frequency and consistency of your bird’s droppings. (Association of Avian Veterinarians)

GIVE YOUR BIRD SOMETHING TO SIT ON

Provide a perch or perches that are big enough and sturdy enough to accommodate your bird’s size. How many perches you’ll need depends on what kind of bird you have. Some species prefer to find and stick to the highest place available anyway, making extra perches unnecessary. Other species like to hop and fly around from place to place, and will require multiple perches, but not so many that they take up too much space within the cage. And don’t waste money on fancy or frilly perches. They should be natural wood and easily replaceable. (Humane Society)

STRATEGIC BOWL PLACEMENT

There are three main bowls in your bird’s cage: one for food, one for drinking water and one for bathing water. You’ll want to make sure that drinking water is easily within reach to your bird from its perch. (If you have more than one perch, try to pick your bird’s favorite). Also make sure that, wherever you put these bowls, none of them are in a place where your bird will end up pooping in them on the regular. Because: ew. (PetMD)

TOYS!

Birds are intelligent creatures, and any intelligent being requires mental stimulation. You could give your bird the most beautiful, spacious and accommodating living space a bird has ever known, but it won’t be happy if you don’t also give it some toys to play with. Some bird species are less playful than others, but almost any bird can appreciate something interesting to chew on, a climbing gym to exercise on, or even a mirror to look at. (Association of Avian Veterinarians)

LEARN WHAT FOODS ARE AND AREN'T SAFE

It’s super fun to feed a pet treats (in moderation, of course), so it’s a very good idea to learn what foods your bird can and can’t eat safely. Always consult your vet before feeding your bird something unfamiliar. Here is a list of foods that could be harmful to just about any species of bird:

avocados
alcoholic beverages
chocolate (baking, dark, milk, semi-sweet)
coffee (grounds, beans)
onions and onion powder
potato leaves and stems (green parts)
rhubarb leaves
salt
tea
tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
yeast dough

(Petfinder)

TRIM THOSE CLAWS

Maybe you can’t have your vet or a pro do it regularly, or maybe you just have a DIY spirit and a hands-on approach to your bird’s care, but whatever the reason, it may be a good idea to learn how to trim your bird’s nails at home. No animal loves having its nails clipped, but if you do your best to make our bird as comfy as possible, you should be able to get through the process with a minimum of fuss. If possible, do it starting from a bird’s young age so it will be used to the routine.

Wrap a towel around your bird, leaving the head exposed, and hold the bird gently but firmly. Be careful, because birds can suffocate easily. It’s not going to like this, so hold its head in place, with your thumb on one side of the bird’s head and your middle finger on the other, to keep it from biting. It’s probably best to have someone help you, someone with whom the bird is familiar and comfortable. Using a specially designed bird’s nail clipper than is appropriate for your bird’s size, very carefully clip only a small amount of the nail. Cutting your bird’s quick can be dangerous, so don’t go overboard.

Your bird will probably be squawking in protest, but be sure it’s not in real physical distress. Warning signs to watch for include breathing difficulty, loss of motor control and rolling eyes. If you notice these or other troubling signs, stop and return the bird to the safety of its cage, and try again later. (PetMD)

OUTSIDE TIME IS IMPORTANT

No one expects you to give your pet bird free run of the house all day long, but you don’t want to keep it cooped up in its cage 100 percent of the time, either. Give your bird some out-of-cage time each day, both to provide it will a little bit of freedom, and to spend some quality time together. Make it your special time with your pet, when it can perch on your finger or shoulder, allowing you to pet it and talk to it. The more you and your bird get to know and trust each other, the longer it may become appropriate for you to allow your bird “free” time, and the more space you may be able to let it explore in your home. (Association of Avian Veterinarians)

BE AWARE OF HAZARDS IN YOUR HOME

Provided you’ve given your bird an adequately sized cage placed in an ideal location in your home, the cage should be a safe and comforting place. When you take the bird out for free time, though, there are a lot of household hazards from which you have to keep the bird safe. Of course you’ll want to keep it away from electrical cords and houseplants that may be dangerous. Also be aware of those objects that you wouldn’t normally consider to pose a threat to four-legged pets, like ceiling fans. And always remember how sensitive to fumes birds are. Be careful when using paint, glue and especially Teflon. Get Polly the heck away from the kitchen when cooking with non-stick pans. (Petfinder)