Cleaning a pre-owned cage

[Zumaria]

So I recently bought a pre owned macaw cage for my CAG that I'm hoping to bring home at the end of the month. The guy who owned it had a CAG too! He says he cleaned it but naturally I'm not going to rely on that. I want to make sure its clean so part of me wants to use lysol wipes, but I know we're not supposed to, but since its going to be a few weeks before he comes home - think it'd be OK if I rinse it well?

I just never feel like vinegar and water is very effective....what do you use?

 

[SilverSage]

Honestly my favorite method of cage washing has always been a garden hose turned on high with a pressure head on it. I can blast everything away, getting in all the corners and stuff that I feel like a rag never gets. Then I use vinegar, and then blast it again and dry it in the sun if possible. I am looking into Melaleuca products since they are all natural and don't even need safety caps on the cleaning products. Haven't made up my mind on that yet, but considering that one of their cleaners can be used to fog chickens, not to mention a lot of other livestock related uses, I am leaning toward it. Still going to stick with my hose blasting though - I never feel like anything else can get every speck of dust and poop from the last bird out of the nooks and crannies!

 

[SilverSage]

Also, I am running bird names thought my head and can't think of one with those initials. I am new here, could you clue me in to what kind of bird you have?

 

[SoCalWendy]

Honestly my favorite method of cage washing has always been a garden hose turned on high with a pressure head on it. I can blast everything away, getting in all the corners and stuff that I feel like a rag never gets. Then I use vinegar, and then blast it again and dry it in the sun if possible. I am looking into Melaleuca products since they are all natural and don't even need safety caps on the cleaning products. Haven't made up my mind on that yet, but considering that one of their cleaners can be used to fog chickens, not to mention a lot of other livestock related uses, I am leaning toward it. Still going to stick with my hose blasting though - I never feel like anything else can get every speck of dust and poop from the last bird out of the nooks and crannies!

I love Meleluca products

 

[KimKim]

I bought a used cage once when I first adopted my CAG and I used bleach water, then rinsed really well, and put cage in the sun.

 

[SpotsandSally]

Also, I am running bird names thought my head and can't think of one with those initials. I am new here, could you clue me in to what kind of bird you have?

Congo African grey or CAG. I think fid = parrot of some sort, too. Usually you can get a clue if you look at where it says what type of parrot they have.

 

[MonicaMc]

Fid = Feathered (or Furred) Kid
Fildren = Feathered Children
Frat = Feathered Brat
Parront = Parrot Parent



I also like the use of power washing a cage down to get all the nooks and crannies. After that, I scrub it down with hot water and soap. Another rinse and dry the cage.

Between those cleanings, water and vinegar mix. Works great in cleaning and it's bird safe! Vinegar also helps to break up all the poops on the cage and floor making cleaning even easier!

 

[Zumaria]

Yes, Congo African Grey, I'm waiting on approval for adoption from the rescue - their meeting is on the 18th!

And yes Fid = feathered kid lol

I live on a second floor apartment complex and my cage won't fit through the door to go out onto the balcony - we had to take the back door off just to get it inside! Its a California cage.

I think I'm going to have to go with soapy water in a bucket and a whole lotta towels.

 

[SandyBee]

Use Bleach and hot water, then rinse well.
Bleach kills almost everything and rinses clean, smell dissipates quickly and since your new baby is not home yet there is time.

 

[Birdman666]

I use a steam cleaner. Works great!

 

[Zumaria]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I live in Chicago and my father is coming up this weekend to bring bird stuff from Ohio (its so much easier to get there)! We're also going to home depot to snag a bunch of pvc, chains, rope, wire etc. to make a BAD ASS birdy jungle gym!

 

[GinaF]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my steamer. Nothing can live through those temps!

I'm a fanatic when it comes to this stuff simply because I'm a neat freak. When I got my cages, I cleaned the crap out of them. Even my new cages. I don't know where they came from and what they were exposed to, so again, I cleaned the crap out of them.

Step 1: Bleach and water, scrub brush and a toothbrush for the nooks and crannies. Rinse well.
Step 2: vinegar and water. Rinse well.
Step 3: Rinse
Step 4: Rinse
Step 5: Steamer!
Let it dry...

Oh.. get some moisturizer for your hands. You're going to need it!