The one tool in your bag of tricks you can't live without

chris-md · Apr 24, 2016

Just wondering, in the care of your birdies, what's the one tool or trick you can't live without. That one item or technique that make the biggest difference in the husbandry.

For me it's a hand chopper. Saves so much cutting time! I easily spent 15 min cutting items and cleaning the cutting board. Now it's 5 minutes including clean up. best of all the size is perfect for single servings!

I use it mainly when I don't want to give him his chop, or for fruits. He still has 3 weeks worth of a very large batch of chop I made, and I don't want to make that the only thing I give him for meals. So when I want to make a single batch of chop with, say, weeds from outside which he LOVES (dandelions, lilacs, purple dead nettle, violets, etc) or fresh garden veggies, the chopper gets it done perfectly in no time flat.

He's not a fruit fan, so the chopper cuts the fruits into the perfect rice sized pieces he can't avoid (when chopped half frozen).

http://mykitchenzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Kitchenaid-hand-chopper-5.jpg

Doublete · Apr 24, 2016

Oh and I offered my guys dandelions today.... They were afraid of them.

As for tools... Vinegar. Lol

Kiwibird · Apr 24, 2016

A plastic paint scraper. When there is dried poo (and there is always dried poo

) scraping it up gets it off stuff easier, quicker and with less scrubbing than anything else I've ever found. Then you can vacuum it up (just dried poo, wet poo will clog the vacuum, which is why I always clean in the morning before I let him out) and only have a tiny and very easy spot to wipe. Otherwise, you have to soak dry poo, then wipe it and it's a big mess and hassle and gross.

chris-md · Apr 24, 2016

Doublete said:
Oh and I offered my guys dandelions today.... They were afraid of them.

As for tools... Vinegar. Lol

Parker won't touch them unless they are smeared in coconut oil or copped up. Then they disappear quickly.

chris-md · Apr 24, 2016

Kiwibird said:
A plastic paint scraper. When there is dried poo (and there is always dried poo) scraping it up gets it off stuff easier, quicker and with less scrubbing than anything else I've ever found. Then you can vacuum it up (just dried poo, wet poo will clog the vacuum, which is why I always clean in the morning before I let him out) and only have a tiny and very easy spot to wipe. Otherwise, you have to soak dry poo, then wipe it and it's a big mess and hassle and gross.

April, I think you just solved my issue cleaning my playstand grate, which is too big to fit into my bathtub when I soak other parts of his stand for cleaning.

GreatBlue320 · Apr 24, 2016

My favorite tool: steam cleaner. Nothing cuts through dried on Baxter poopy better.

My favorite "technique": target (touch) training. Recently I've been using it to help Baxter get over his fear of the Pack-o-Bird. He wouldn't go near it and now he is climbing all over it to touch the stick and get his reward. He's even leaning way into the pack-o-bird to touch the stick.

Christinenc2000 · Apr 25, 2016

I have to agree with a few thing. Paint Scraper and Steam machine

plumsmum2005 · Apr 25, 2016

GreatBlue320 said:
My favorite tool: steam cleaner. Nothing cuts through dried on Baxter poopy better.

My favorite "technique": target (touch) training. Recently I've been using it to help Baxter get over his fear of the Pack-o-Bird. He wouldn't go near it and now he is climbing all over it to touch the stick and get his reward. He's even leaning way into the pack-o-bird to touch the stick.

If you attach a food pot in the back pack and put in some treats, whilst being watched it usually works with getting them to go in under their own steam. Plum goes in and just waits for us to finish getting ready now, so funny. He was very fearful to start with. After a few times they associate it with nice things and not a problem anymore.

I have a long list of essentials from wet wipes, poop off, spiralizer and the all important food processor and mini stick chopper.

Piasa · Apr 25, 2016

Another cleaning tool Skoy cloth (or any other cellulose cloth) saves so many paper towels, great for wiping counters/playstands after paint scraping.

Nylon dish scrubby for cage grates when I don't want to take them out.

I couldn't get by without the dishwasher to wash perches, bowls, and the occasional toy.

Also lidded porcelain ramekins for wet food storage and feeding. I even got some beautiful ones on clearance at Pier 1 that fit the standard bird bowl holders.

Scott · Apr 25, 2016

A good solid cutting board! Large enough to permit slicing and dicing of food while other items are being cooked or microwaved. I have a sequence of adding things to the individual feed cups, so it is more efficient to have several items waiting.

To stretch the topic a bit, most invaluable is a sharp pair of eyes! Birds require lots of observation, from physical appearance to cage and toy integrity to the "litter box" bottom of the cage.

Kiwibird · Apr 25, 2016

chris-md said:
Kiwibird said:

A plastic paint scraper. When there is dried poo (and there is always dried poo) scraping it up gets it off stuff easier, quicker and with less scrubbing than anything else I've ever found. Then you can vacuum it up (just dried poo, wet poo will clog the vacuum, which is why I always clean in the morning before I let him out) and only have a tiny and very easy spot to wipe. Otherwise, you have to soak dry poo, then wipe it and it's a big mess and hassle and gross.

Click to expand...

April, I think you just solved my issue cleaning my playstand grate, which is too big to fit into my bathtub when I soak other parts of his stand for cleaning.

Just be certain it's a plastic one. The metal ones can damage the finish of the cage. And also be sure you only vacuum dry poo, wet poo can still be scraped (like on the grate) but you can just do that outside or wipe the wet poo off the scraper onto a paper towel.

Birdman666 · Apr 25, 2016

Christinenc2000 said:
I have to agree with a few thing. Paint Scraper and Steam machine

Same here. Makes life so much easier, especially in the winter time.

Vapor · Apr 25, 2016

Natural unscented no lotion wet wipes. Cleans up her little mess quickly every time!

RavensGryf · Apr 25, 2016

Paper towels. I would save money on paper towels if I didn't have birds.

psychocircus91 · Apr 25, 2016

Rum...
Only kidding of course.

Taprock · Apr 25, 2016

I'm torn...I'm constantly using my cordless black and decker vacuum, but cages wouldn't get clean without my spray bottle, cleaning mix, and stray socks! I mist the cage down let it sit five minutes and then just wipe it clean with a wet sock.

Brittany741 · Apr 26, 2016

Wet Ones Big Ones - for poop patrol
Bosch Stand Mixer with food processor attachment - for Ekkie mash-making
2 Instant Pots - for making the 7 different types of beans, plus rice and grains/groats

Microfiber towels on Amazon Subscribe & Save, the AmazonBasics large set in baby yellow. Getting a new set every month means I am never running out. No such thing as too many. Bleach doesn't hurt the fibers or color. The large size also works well for laying over a shoulder.

Vetericyn Spray - perfect for a quick misting bath, eye-safe, also great for wound care. No chemicals. It's oxygenated water and kills bacteria. It's what I use for my wound care and urinary care due to my spinal cord injury- it is THE most gentle stuff in the world, better than water or any chemical-laden stuff.

chris-md · Apr 26, 2016

psychocircus91 said:
Rum...
Only kidding of course.

I'm saying wine, and I'm serious

chris-md · Apr 26, 2016

Fabulous lists! Lots of novel ideas here.

I want to add the Dawn/dish soap-infused Bounty sheets. My partner bought these by mistake one day, but they have proven invaluable when cleaning individual pet bowls (don't have enough bowls to wait for the dishwasher). Don't want to use the regular sponge for these.

Brittany741 · Apr 26, 2016

I've been considering getting some of those. I hate using a whole drop for just one dish!

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