Can you be too clean?

[madparrotwoman]

Ok this is a subject that I don't racall being raised before and before you all jump up in horror I'd just like to explain myself.
We've all heard how you can be too germ free with children, so much so that when they do eventually catch a bug they have no built-in resistance and the bug can kill them. Well does anyone think this also applies to birds? Now I'm not suggesting we neglect to keep our birds clean but should we really be scrubbing their cages daily, spraying with birdy disinfectant (as I do) and so on. What happens if someone else has to have our precious fid temporarily if for instance, we have to go into hospital, holidays and so on? Let's face it, no matter how much we vet (pardon the pun) our "foster" family they aren't going to be as scupulously clean as we are as we love them as our own don't we.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on this subject.

 

[antoinette]

Each and very one for themselves. I scrub and clean Mishka's cage daily. The reason why, Mishka spends most of the day in the cage. I could not imagine cleaning it every second day, knowing he could be walking in his poppies etc. When I was in hospital recently, my guys looked after Mishka for 2 days........
They did their best, (yeah so they tell me) but Mishka survived, and he never complained to me, not once LoL

 

[Chris Winkler]

Ok this is a subject that I don't racall being raised before and before you all jump up in horror I'd just like to explain myself.
We've all heard how you can be too germ free with children, so much so that when they do eventually catch a bug they have no built-in resistance and the bug can kill them. Well does anyone think this also applies to birds? Now I'm not suggesting we neglect to keep our birds clean but should we really be scrubbing their cages daily, spraying with birdy disinfectant (as I do) and so on. What happens if someone else has to have our precious fid temporarily if for instance, we have to go into hospital, holidays and so on? Let's face it, no matter how much we vet (pardon the pun) our "foster" family they aren't going to be as scupulously clean as we are as we love them as our own don't we.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on this subject.

I have to agree with you! I don't keep my guys in a sterile environment at all. I do clean the paper etc and use either my steamer or white vinegar to clean the cages. However in the wild their world is far from clean and they like us need to have a functioning immune system.

By all means I don't let my guys live in a dirty home and do not use anything that is known to be hazardous to them but their cages only get a "good cleaning" about once a week

Looking forward to others input on this subject!

 

[HRH Di]

Chris, I'm with you. I feel kind of bad sometimes when I read how often people scrub down cages and such. Our cages get cleaned out regularly and there isn't any poop or food build-up anywhere. Their food and water bowls are scrubbed everyday though. I can't imagine feeding them from a dirty dish.

 

[Von1983]

I wipe all the bars/toys/perches/base and clean bowls etc everyday.

I just use very hot water on it's own with a cloth. Once a week I blast the whole lot with vinegar and a tiny tot of baby steriliser.

I wipe everything everyday pretty much to make it easier for me! Cal is so messy with her fresh food that if I didn't clean the bars etc daily it'd be CAKED on lol.

Each to their own! Cal could never be classed as sterilised because she's in a shop with people in and out all day and a house with other animals! It's what she ingests that I am always cautious of.

 

[Spiritbird]

Most members here are very good at keeping our bird's environment clean and it is a never ending job. I have written a Rosie Care Sheet with all details of her care and nutritional intake. I keep this in a binder with all of her medical records and other informtion should it be needed. I have let certain people know about this book in case there is an emergency and I am not available. It really scares me to think of anyone else caring for her.

 

[Chris Winkler]

I have written a Rosie Care Sheet with all details of her care and nutritional intake. I keep this in a binder with all of her medical records and other informtion should it be needed. I have let certain people know about this book in case there is an emergency and I am not available. It really scares me to think of anyone else caring for her.

What an awesome idea SB!

 

[Von1983]

That is a wonderful idea Di......

I do all the caring for our animals as a of force of habit, hubs would be more than willing to help but I have just always taken care of it myself. I must quiz Dave on what he actually knows about all their diets and cleaning regimes.....he doesn't do it often at all....this will be interesting......

 

[Chris Winkler]

That is a wonderful idea Di......

I do all the caring for our animals as a of force of habit, hubs would be more than willing to help but I have just always taken care of it myself. I must quiz Dave on what he actually knows about all their diets and cleaning regimes.....he doesn't do it often at all....this will be interesting......

My husband Len would FAIL big time. He is not a bird person.. As he says he has a wife with birds..

 

[Von1983]

LOL Chris!!!!

Dave always says "our".

It's not like he does nothing, far from it. He's in the shop and I am busy cleaning. He plays with every single one of our bunch daily and loves them all very much. He's insanely protective of them all and especially Cal as he's views her as the most fragile...even though she runs rings round him haha!

I'm very lucky but Di has got me thinking....what if I got sick or worse suddenly....hmmmm