second hand cotton perches

I just got Connie a new cage from Kijiji because her old one was a little small.
The new one is quite a bit bigger. Im so happy with it. I gave it a huge wash with vinegar.
The only thing is, it didn't come with any wood perches! Not even for the play top part!
It did come with 3 cotton perches all different sizes though. I've wanted cotton perches for so long so I'm really excited about that. But Im a little worried because the perches had some poop on them.
I soaked them for 30 min and gave them a big scrub, but I didn't use vinegar because I thought I wouldn't be able to rinse the smell out afterwards.
The poop's all gone and they look clean now, and they don't smell dirty.
Im wondering if you guys think washing them with hot water and giving them a big scrub is good enough.
The reason the cage was for sale is because they got a better one for their own bird, not because the bird died or anything. So as far as I know they haven't been exposed to diseases.
What do you guys think?

Also this is the new cage, except mines black:
All Living Things® Playtop Cage | Cages | PetSmart

Do you think this is sufficiently large for her for the time being? She's a green cheek conure.

Thank you!

Hmm, I'm not sure. I'm kind of paranoid? If I were going to, though, I'd run them through the dishwasher or the washing machine first though.

Do you use soap when you put it in the washing machine? Isn't that bad for the birds?
Even if I don't use soap, would putting it on hot water setting work?

I would use hot water and bleach and then let it THOROUGHLY dry out in the sun.

Hot water and bleach sounds like a good idea followed by thorough drying. I would rinse it out like crazy to be sure all the bleach is out.

Also, I would definitely get in touch with the seller or mfr in writing via email to let them know about the soiled perches. It's really important they are aware. This is not something a cage seller or mfr would want to be happening, so give 'em a heads up.

I'm also a bit paranoid, so unless I knew 100% the previous bird who used them was healthy (I would swap things with my mom from her birds, but I knew for sure they had no diseases) I'd toss them. I don't think you can get those kinds of things clean enough IF the bird had some disease like PBFD! I personally wouldn't risk it from a strange home. That's my honest opinion.

Rope perches are a little on the expensive side but that's nothing compared to vet bills and a sick bird.

Why not just wash the cotton perches with your laundry, then, if you feel disinfecting is still needed, then you can use your vinegar.....

A good rinsing or extra rinsing will take care of the vinegar odor as it will any soap residue.....

Since you're cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting used cotton rope, an article in the magazine Avian Diseases, published by the American Association of Avian Pathologists (March 2008), entitled Inactivation of Avian Influenza Virus Using Common Detergents and Chemicals said that after performing individual tests on acetic acid 5% (vinegar), citric acid, both 1% & 3% , calcium hypochlorite (750 ppm), sodium hypochlorite (750 ppm), a powdered laundry detergent with peroxygen (bleach) (tested in multiple concentrations), and a commercially available iodine/acid disinfectant, as to which would inactivate the bird flu virus, it was found that only two of the agents, the citric acid and a commercially available iodine/acid disinfectant were found to be effective at inactivating LPAIV (avian flu virus)on both porous and nonporous surfaces, so, where you don't know what pathogens you are trying to disinfect against you might want to change to a citric acid product instead of vinegar for your cotton rope, given that a disinfectant that is capable of inactivating/killing the avian flu virus is better/stronger than one that inactivates/kills the common Rhino virus (common cold virus).....

While the article concerned disinfecting/inactivating the avian flu virus, it did not name any specific laundry detergents tested, though most brand name laundry detergents should be OK as a preliminary cleaning agents, then, if you are after something particular, get/use the correct disinfectant for the specific pathogen.....



For those who swear by vinegar, The average white vinegar is 5% acetic acid, but Heinz has a 6% acetic acid vinegar on the market.....I believe it's called cleaning vinegar.....

I throw rope perches, boings, and cargo nets in the washing machine, and just wash them normally the same way you wash clothes. Been doing this for over ten years with no ill effects...

I do a nasty cleaning towel and dirty toys load at the end of the day, after clothes are done, and then just clean out the washer real good with spic n span on a sponge. It's the easiest and most effective way.

Personally I'd just throw them away and start new. Not worth saving.

Okay thanks guys, I'm starting to think that I might just throw them away. They also gave me a "happy hut" I think they're called. Well I definitely didn't use it, it had red/brown stains on it, that honestly looked maybe like dried blood (i might just be a bit paranoid too)! But either way.. its just adding to my suspicions about how honest the seller was..
Christmas is around the corner so maybe I'll just drop a few hints to my parents about wanting cotton perches hehe

I think it's probably best. Amazon actually has some very affordable ones, starting at around $5 (small ones of course), so I would check online. When you get new ones, once they become dirty from your bird using them, washing them with the above methods are all great ways to wash for the purposes of keeping your birds cage clean.

Since you didn't get any wood perches, Home Depot & Lowes both sell oak dowels in 5/8" & 3/4" diameters, both of which would be suitable for making your own perches.....your new feathered friend needs different material perches in different sizes.....

Thats a great idea. For the time being though, it turned out that the wood perches from my old cage still fit it. The new cage is taller and deeper but the width is only half an inch more. I should post a picture for you guys to see it, Im so overjoyed about how it turned out!

andrea.b said:

I should post a picture for you guys to see it, Im so overjoyed about how it turned out!

Click to expand...

Yes you should! We'd love to see

IMO that cage is too small for a conure. I would look into getting a larger one. I am purchasing my 'tiel a larger cage and it isnt to expensive.

Bird Cages & Aviaries: Prevue Wrought Iron Flight Cage F040 w/ Stand

I would definitly look for a large cage for your conure.