Cage/Aviary Maintenance Tips

[Aussie Ben]

So I was doing a bigger than usual cage clean today (thought it was time). While I was at it thought I might share a few things that I do to keep the cage and surrounding in good condition. Feel free to add some if you have any, you never know who it might help.

TIP:

Cleaning ‘used’ natural perches. This is great for those of you that have limited access to ‘bird safe’ natural wood and want to preserve the perches you find…

Does your bird have a natural perch that it loves to poop on and rub its dirty beak on? I find it annoying to throw out these branches, especially when they are the perfect shape/size. I do find it hard to keep them clean, because you cannot wipe them down like metal or plastic surfaces. Well, you could sand them, but that takes forever.

My tip is to get yourself a nice extendable blade (a strong one) and scrape the branch and peel it like a potato. This method works so well, especially with softer woods like Eucalyptus, but it can work with anything. It really is so simple to do and goes like a hot knife through butter. After you have scrapped everything off, give it a quick sand with rough paper to get rid of any splinters. Finally get a damp rag to wipe off the dust. Now your bird can enjoy his favourite branch for much longer… well until he gets bored with it

Checkout the before and afters below, good as knew if not better. Clean up is as easy as a quick sweep. You can do this as many times as you want, until the branch is too thin. PLEASE BE CAREFUL, never cut towards yourself and keep fingers out of the blades path!

 

[Aussie Ben]

TIP:

Keeping food off the walls - I have tried a few methods, this works the best.

After reading Ant’s thread http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/5475-birds-sharings-recipes.html I thought I would share this with you. My birds just love to throw food around and it always ends up on the wall. They also manage to poop on the walls (don’t ask me how). To help solve this problem I purchased some large sheets of clear acrylic (this can be a little pricey, but IMO worth it). I also picked up a couple of wall mountable hooks. I drilled in and fastened one hook either side of the top of the cage. I then drilled corresponding holes in the top corners of the acrylic sheet. The acrylic sheet now acts like a removable wall. You can unhook it, take it away and wipe it down, then put back in place. It has reduced the amount of food on the wall by about 95% and it is practically invisible.

SAFETY, make sure you remove your bird and food bowls before you do any drilling. Also make sure you vacuum up any metal shavings around the cage.

Here is a picture. Eddies cage sits in a corner so I did 2 sides.

 

[wildheart]

Thanks for all the great advice!

How do you recommend cleaning a tree that has bark on? Like this one:

Sterretjie can sit for hours and debark it so I would like to keep it clean with the bark attached.

I take her other branches that is smooth and let it soak in the bath, the poop comes off easily with a scrubbing brush after wards. I generally try and wipe all the branches down in the morning so that soaking wont be necessary, but there are some places that I cant reach while it is inside her cage.

 

[Aussie Ben]

hmmm not quite sure to be honest. I spose a quick bleach bath followed by a quick rinse followed by a long sun bake will be enough to kill any germs without soaking off the bark. Alternatively, if they are small enough, you could put them in the oven and bake them (watch them closely though ))

With the above method you could almost make your own bark, guess you could give it a go. scrape it off like I described and then do it again but only make half slices so the shavings don't fall off and you will have an artificial bark type layer. I might give it a go tomorrow and see if it works.

 

[wildheart]

That is the thing with this tree of her's - it takes two people to move it and cant fit in the bath.

Now that you explain - making bark - it reminds me that it was exactly what we did with my iguana trees after we debarked it. He could not climb it properly so Craig used a hammer and a chisel to make grooves. But, I dont think it will work with Sterretjie's tree cause it isnt thick enough. Using a blade like you said should work better, plus I only have to do the dirty sections.

 

[Aussie Ben]

The 'dirty bits'? thats the whole branch for me lol. Honestly, I don't know how they do it, and in such a short time. It truly is real talent

For cleaning, you could also go at it with a bucket of bleach water and a stiff bristle brush, then hose it off (cuz its so huge). Its a great looking setup you have there btw.

 

[apatrimo94]

My birds just love to throw food around and it always ends up on the wall. They also manage to poop on the walls (don’t ask me how).

Hey, don't worry, you're not alone. Bartleby might be the next Jackson Pollack. She splatter paints my wall (and it was actually painted a few months ago) with her fruit, feathers, pellet mush, and poop. (don't ask me how either).

 

[Aussie Ben]

My birds just love to throw food around and it always ends up on the wall. They also manage to poop on the walls (don’t ask me how).

Hey, don't worry, you're not alone. Bartleby might be the next Jackson Pollack. She splatter paints my wall (and it was actually painted a few months ago) with her fruit, feathers, pellet mush, and poop. (don't ask me how either).

Its scary right? Its like projectile poop :umbrella:

 

[apatrimo94]

I know. And her cage is like a foot away from the wall. I should consider that acrylic thing. Where can I buy an acrylic sheets? I don't need anymore Jackson Pollack painting's on my wall, lol

 

[Aussie Ben]

I just bought mine from the hardware store, although they tend to bump up the price a little. If you can find an acrylic/perspex supplier it would probably be cheaper and could probably cut it to size for you.