Cage

We bought a bird cage that previously housed a wild dove, how do i make sure it is clean and disinfected?

This is kind of a double question, I need to know how to clean and disinfect this bird cage before putting my green cheek conure into it, also, how should I go about introducing him to his new home?

Public Comments

1. Take it up to the local car wash and spray the living crap out of it. Rinse the cage thoroughly and leave it out in the sun to bake for a few hours. As for the introduction - I'll leave that for the experts. All I know about birds is what my cats bring me.
2. First, take it outside and spray it down with a hose to loosen up the gunk. Then, go at it with an old toothbrush to remove most of the dirt and grime. To disinfect, use some type of bleach/bathroom cleaner. Use it on the bottom, the bars, everything. Let it sit for ten minutes, then brush it with the toothbrush again. Make sure you rinse it off really well so the chemicals don't harm the birds and just to make sure, set it out in the sun to air dry and the sun will kill any remaining bacteria. For introducting the new birds to the cage, put the cage in the room you want it to be in, line the bottom with newspaper and put a few toys and perches in. Be sure not to overcrowd it. Finally, put the new bird in and leave it alone for a while. Do not try to play with it or take it out for a week or too and until you feel like you can, sit near the cage and talk to it so it can get used to you. If you want it to eventually sit on your hand when you take it out, remove the food a few hours before you do the following: pour the usual food or a few treats into the palm of your hand and gently put your hand in the cage (not too close to the bird or you'll scare it and make him recongnize your hand as something to be scared of) and wait for it to come eat from your hand. Do this every day. Hope I helped!
3. First to disinfect it you should just wash it with soap and hot water. This if the most efficient way of making sure there are no toxic chemicals. After your done washing it spray it with a hose to make sure there is no left over soap. To introduce it just put some treats and fun toys to help it feel happy and safe.
4. Take it outside and scrub it with vinegar or lemon juice -- both of those are good non-toxic disinfectant cleaners, and bleach or just about any other household cleaner will easily kill your bird if you miss even one spot. Then rinse it off with a hose or similar method. Introduce it to him in the morning, so he has all day to get used to it before he actually has to go in to sleep. Transfer his toys over one by one.