Keeping perches clean

[Stacye and Tiki]

I'm having a terrible time keeping one of Tiki's perches clean. It's a pumice perch that she loves to no end. She'll have almost nothing to do with the rope/dowel/natural perches also in her cage.

I take the pumice perch out of her cage 3-4 times a week and give it a good scrub as well as soaking it in a bird safe disinfectant. The problem is, it never seems to come completely clean. It was not inexpensive (26.99 I think as it was a largish perch) and I'd prefer not to buy another one any time soon but I don't want to let her keep perching on it if the white staining is going to harm her in any way

 

[DustyBZoo]

know anyone with a pressure washer?

 

[Stacye and Tiki]

know anyone with a pressure washer?

Nope Wish I did!

 

[Auggie's Dad]

How long do you soak it?

Auggies stone perch gets dirty quickly. I give it a quick brush with a dry scrub brush every few days to knock off what I can. Occasionally I take it out and soak it for a while in hot water with a bit of laundry detergent.

I soak it for a good while: at least an hour. Then when I scrub everything comes right off very easily. It's as good as new each time. (Of course I rinse thoroughly afterwards).

 

[HRH Di]

Bird pooh is like mud - it cleans up much more easily when it's dry. I would suggest getting as much off as you can before you wash or soak it.

Now I'm going to have to check Max's pumice perch when I get home. I don't recall seeing any soiling on it...I guess he angles his little butt just right.

 

[Stacye and Tiki]

I'll try soaking it for longer. In the mean time I think I'm going to get a slightly smaller pumice perch and see if she likes it too... this one is the largest size they make I believe and as much of a princess as she is I think she would make do with a slightly smaller... less expensive one

 

[Gos]

Check out your local garden shop too. Those rocks are sometimes cheaper when it's for a flowerbed and not a parrot...

 

[Stacye and Tiki]

It's a perch not a rock but thanks

 

[KarlaD]

My advice is the same! Get as much off as you can when it's dry and then you may not even have to soak it overly long...it doesn't take too long for me as long as you rub for a little while.

 

[Ecclipse]

Leaving the poop on creates bacteria. Try moving your birds food and water bowls around so that she/he has to trek around to drink and eat and they wont spend as much time on that perch. Another option is to remove it and replace it with another perch to encourage your parrot to get aorund and play more, is he/she spending alot of time in that same area?