How to Make a Safe Environment for Your Pet Bird

Providing a Safe Cage

Make sure the cage is large enough. It should be at least 1.5 times your bird’s adult wingspan in width, depth, and height, so as to allow your bird to move freely. Bigger is even better. In general: The minimum height should be 3 times the length from head to tail of the bird. There should be at least 2 wing beats between perches. Your bird should be able to turn around on his perch without his tail feathers hitting the cage. Even small birds require large cages. Two finches, for instance, require 3-4 square feet of space, so they will have room to fly around.

Select a cage with bars the right distance apart to prevent escape or injury. Your bird should not be able to put its head between the bars. Appropriate bar widths are: Under ½” – For small birds such as finches, canaries, parrotlets, parakeets, and lovebirds 1/2” to 3/4” – For medium birds such as cockatiels, conures, lories, and senegals 3/4” to 1-1/4” – For large birds such as African greys, Amazons, macaws, and cockatoos

Choose a square or rectangular cage. Adding more corners decreases the flight area and makes the cage less safe. A long, low cage is better than a narrow, high one (such as a parrot cage) because it allows the birds to fly and glide.

Provide plenty of perches. Your bird will spend most of its time standing on perches, so the quality and variety of them will have a significant effect on its physical and mental health. It is important to choose numerous perches that can guarantee safety and quality. Natural branch perch – The uneven surfaces of these perches provide sufficient variety for birds' feet, ensuring pressure is placed on different areas and different muscles are exercised. They can also provide some enrichment from chewing and playing. It is most recommended to purchase perches from reputable brands as they can be ensured safe, but it is also possible to create your own. Choose branches from orchard wood trees such as apple, plum, pear, but not cherry. Cut the branch to fit the cage, scrub and clean it with detergent, and let it dry in the sun. Next, heat the branch for 45 minutes in a 200°F oven to kill any insects, bacteria, fungi, or other unwanted contaminants. Allow to cool before placing it in your bird’s cage. Platform perch – These flat perches can provide a comfortable place for birds to rest their feet, though normal perches should be prioritized. Smooth and round dowel perches are common, but should only be used sparingly as their lack of variety can lead to conditions like arthritis, bumblefoot, and pressure sores. Sandpaper perches should generally be avoided as they are known to sometimes irritate birds' feet. Avoid artificial (e.g. cotton) rope perches, especially if you know your bird to chew and destroy things. Chewing on these perches can lead to blockages if the fibers are swallowed or injuries if the bird is caught in a frayed area.

Be sure your bird can’t open the door. It could be dangerous if your bird managed to escape the cage, especially if unsupervised, so exits must be secure. If you are worried that your bird might escape, you can use a padlock, clip, or small carabiner to secure the door.

Keep your bird well fed and hydrated. Check your bird’s food and water supply daily, especially if a child is in charge of caring for the bird. If using a water bottle, check to be sure that it is unclogged, working properly, and clean. A stainless steel bowl is most recommended for safety and cleanliness. Only a few days without sufficient food or water is enough to have adverse health effects on or kill most birds, especially small ones. Unclean bowls can also harbour bacteria, leading to illness.

Provide a birdbath or mist your bird. Birds need to bathe regularly to keep their feathers and skin healthy. Always use room temperature water, as hot water will strip essential oils from your bird’s feathers. If you use a birdbath or see your bird bathing in its water bowl, make sure to clean it and change the water frequently. Alternately, you can mist your bird with a spray bottle once or twice a week. Some birds like to wash in the sink or even in the shower, but ensure any methods are safe, supervised, and noninvasive. Do not force cleaning on a bird if it does not feel comfortable.

Make sure toys are safe and changed frequently. Your bird will chew on its toys, so make sure they are not made from wood treated with toxic chemicals or soft plastic that you bird can swallow. One of the greatest dangers with toys is artificial rope, which can lead to blockages and the bird being caught if chewed. Be sure to rotate toys at least once a week to keep your bird stimulated, as boredom can lead to health problems in your bird.

Cover the birdcage at night. You can use a cover designed for the cage, though an old sheet or pillowcase also works fine. Covering your bird’s cage keeps out drafts and allows the bird to sleep even when you are up late with the lights on. Birds need at least 10 hours of sleep a night, so providing a dark, quiet area for your bird at night is important to prevent sleep deprivation and unwanted hormonal behaviour.

Keeping the Cage and Its Contents Clean and Safe

Use newspaper at the bottom of the cage. Wood shavings and chips are dusty and can irritate your bird’s respiratory system. Use newspaper and be sure to change it daily.

Clean the cage and its contents regularly. To prevent the spread of germs and disease, you need to make sure your bird’s cage is cleaned and disinfected regularly. This means changing the liner, cleaning the dishes, and rinsing and refilling bowls and containers daily for all birds. An additional deep clean is needed weekly for large birds or groups of small birds, and monthly for single smaller birds. For the deep clean: Clean the cage – Remove the bird and all toys and perches. Clean up all seeds and droppings from the cage and scrub it with either a disinfectant intended for birds pr one of the recipes mentioned below. Avoid using toxic chemical solutions that can harm animals. Rinse and let air dry completely before replacing toys and perches. Clean the perches and toys – Remove droppings with scrapers, towels, toothbrushes, water, and the cleaning solution. Wash and rinse by hand or in the dishwasher, and then spray with the cleaning solution. Rinse thoroughly and air dry or oven dry (250° for 10-15 minutes) before returning items to the cage. Save time by having two sets of toys and perches and even two cages, so that your bird can be comfortable in one while you clean the other.

Remember to always use a bird-safe disinfectant. You can buy one at your pet shop, or make your own following one of these recipes: Mix 3 cups of hot water, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Mix 1 part distilled white vinegar and one part water. Vinegar has antibacterial properties whilst being safe for pets.

Clean food and water dishes and keep them away from your bird’s droppings. Your bird’s dishes should be cleaned daily. Do not place them under perches, where they will be contaminated with bird droppings. Be sure food dishes are completely dry before returning them to the cage, as wet food pellets can mold quickly.

Putting Your Bird’s Cage in a Safe Place

Do not place your bird’s cage in the kitchen or bathroom. The temperature often fluctuates kitchens, and cooking can produce fumes toxic to birds. Bathrooms also feature dangerous heat fluctuations, particularly during showers, as well as toxic chemicals from hairsprays and other grooming products.

Keep the level of human interaction appropriate to your bird. For all birds, you’ll want to avoid areas with a lot of traffic and noise, as this can make your bird anxious. Beyond that, you’ll need to select an area that fits your bird. If your bird loves attention, then place it in an area with more activity. Less social birds will be happier in quiet areas of your home. More social birds: Amazon parrots, lovebirds, lorikeets, conures, African greys, cockatoos, macaws Medium social birds: budgies, parakeets, cockatiels, pionus, quaker parakeets Less social birds: finches, canaries, doves

Put your bird near walls and away from windows. The ideal place to put your bird’s cage is in a corner, but having at least one side of your bird’s cage against a wall will give it a sense of security. Don’t put your bird’s cage in front of a window, as this produces dangerous temperature fluctuations, and dogs, hawks, and storms outside the window can frighten your bird.

Place your bird’s cage at your chest level. Birds become anxious when placed too low. Placing them too high can lead to difficulty accessing the cage as well as behavior problems, as height is associated with superiority for birds.

Avoid heat or air conditioning vents. Birds are sensitive to sudden temperature changes, so keep your home at a constant temperature and be sure your bird’s cage is not in the draft of a heat or air conditioning vent.

Keep poisonous plants away from your bird’s cage. Plants like oleanders, azaleas, poinsettias, philodendron, ivy, African violets, tulips, daffodils, and hydrangeas are all naturally toxic to birds and should be kept far from your bird’s cage. Research should be done before placing any plant within the vicinity of your bird. .

Protect your bird from other pets. Absolutely avoid contact between the bird and other pets, such as cats or dogs. They not only pose an extreme physical danger with the birds being small prey, but the simple presence of an animal can greatly frighten the bird and is known to even potentially cause deaths due to shock.

Protecting Your Bird from Airborne Toxins

Use care when using non-stick cook and bake-ware. Birds are incredibly sensitive to toxins, especially when inhaled, and can be easily killed with brief moments of exposure. The coating in a lot of non-stick cookware contains polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a compound that can be deadly to birds. Though this coated cookware can be safe at certain temperatures, it is best not to risk it, as a simple mistake lasting only a few minutes can cost your pet's life.

Be aware of other sources of PTFE. PTFE is not just used in cookware, but also in many products that must withstand high temperatures. Consider replacing any of the following, or call the manufacturer to see if the product is safe for use around your bird: Stain repellants like StainMaster and Scotchguard Space heaters and heat lamp covers Non-stick irons and ironing board covers Hair dryers Non-stick cooking devices like griddles, waffle makers, electric skillets, bread makers, and popcorn poppers Non-stick slow cookers Ceramic cooking stoves

Watch out for other toxic gases. PTFE coated products are the most common source of toxicity for birds, but far from the only one. The following can prove fatal to your bird: Carbon monoxide – Invisible, tasteless, and odorless, carbon monoxide is produced by fires, automobile exhaust, and central heating units. Even if you don’t have a bird, you should have a carbon monoxide detector in your home to protect you and your family. Natural gas – If you use gas for heat or cooking, a leak in the line or an unlit pilot light can result in high levels of natural gas that can prove fatal for birds (and deadly for people). Check your pilots regularly, and position your bird’s cage far from sources of natural gas like fireplaces or heaters. Overheated cooking surfaces. Don’t heat oil or butter on high, as this can produce dangerous fumes. And take your bird out of the house if using the “self clean” mode on your oven. Hair sprays, perfumes, spray-on cooking oil. Basically, anything that sprays, particularly aerosols, can release chemicals that are dangerous to your bird. Move your bird to a separate, well-ventilated room before using these products. Pesticides like bug bombs or insect sprays. Organic solvents found in nail polish remover, gasoline, glue, paint, or mothballs.

Avoid household cleaners containing ammonia. Ammonia is found in many household cleaners, particularly glass cleaners, and can cause respiratory difficulty in birds. When combined with bleach in cleaning products, it produces chloramine gas, which is highly toxic. Try using these cleaners instead: Dishwashing soap and water White vinegar and water (1 part vinegar and 1 part water) Steam from a handheld steamer Laundry detergent for fabrics (but don’t use fabric softener on fabrics your bird will touch) Grapefruit seed extract (about 35 drops ber 32oz. of water), makes for an effective disinfectant Baking soda (1/4 cup per gallon of water)

Be careful when using candles or air fresheners. Avoid using plug-in or spray air fresheners in their vicinity, as they contain essential oils and chemicals that can be toxic to their respiratory systems. Many scented candles are also dangerous, as they contain essential oils and often have zinc alloy wicks. If you are going to burn candles, make sure they are 100% beeswax with all cotton wicks and that the bird is safe inside the cage.

Do not smoke around your bird. Exposure to secondhand smoke has been shown to cause respiratory and circulatory problems in birds, as well as eye and skin problems. If you are going to smoke, do so outside to protect your bird.

Choose new furniture and household products with care. Most particleboard, plywood, and drywall use formaldehyde in the glue that holds them together. The glue that holds down carpets can also contain formaldehyde. New construction, new carpeting, and many types of furniture need time to “off-gas” before they cease releasing formaldehyde, so do not place your bird in a newly constructed room, a newly-carpeted room, or in a room with new furniture built with particle board or plywood.

Protecting Your Bird when Outside the Cage

Allow your bird some time outside of their cage every day. It is important to your bird’s health that it has some time each day to fly outside its cage. You must be sure to create a safe environment for it to do so.

Do not leave your bird alone with your other pets. Predator animals such as dogs and cats, even ones that have grown up around birds, are highly unpredictable and pose a threat to your bird. Even under supervision, only a few seconds can lead to serious injury or death. To be on the safe side, you should not allow other pets in the same room as your bird, especially not if the bird is let out.

Keep toxic houseplants out of the room. Birds love to chew on things, so make sure you remove all toxic plants before letting your bird out of its cage.

Put away dangerous human food. If it’s out, your bird will probably give it a try, and many human foods are toxic to birds, including: Alcohol Chocolate Caffeine Avocado Raw meat Raw dairy Seeds from apples Pits from stone fruits (apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums) Peanuts Raw onions Cassava root Raw mushrooms Rhubarb

Do not leave out open water. Birds can drown in a glass of water, uncovered aquarium, or open toilet. If you are not going to keep a careful eye on your bird the entire time it is out of its cage, you’ll need to be sure to remove all access to open water to prevent drowning.

Hide your wires and antiques. Again, birds like to chew on anything they can get their beaks on. Hide electrical cords and wires to avoid electrocution, and put away antiques, which may be coated with heavy-metal based paints that can cause led-poisoning.

Keep an eye on doors, windows, and cabinets. First off, you’ll want to make sure doors and windows to the outside are closed to keep your pet from flying away. Secondly, you’ll need to always make sure your bird is not on the hinge area or the top of a door or cupboard you are closing, or you could accidentally crush the legs of your pet.

Keep the strings for blinds behind the blinds. Birds can get their heads tangled in the strings and strangle themselves.

Turn off all fans. Standing fans and ceiling fans can both cause serious injury or death to your bird. Always check to be sure they are off before letting your bird out of its cage.

Cover or put decals on windows and mirrors. Your bird does not understand glass. It may injure itself by flying into a mirror or closed window. To prevent this, you can put decals on them so your bird knows they are solid, or simply lower the shades or cover your mirrors.