How to Clean and Maintain a Conure Habitat

Keeping your conure's living space clean is necessary for the bird's health, and fairly simple to do. The cage liner should be changed daily to prevent disease caused by mold or droppings. Dishes and toys should be cleaned everyday as well. For a more thorough weekly cleaning, temporarily remove your conure from its home and wash and disinfect the cage. You should also wash accessories, perches, and cage skirts every week.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning the Cage Daily

  1. Once a day, remove your conure's food and water dishes from its cage and empty them. Wash them with warm water and dish soap and dry them thoroughly to avoid mold-growth on food. Refill the dishes and put them back in the cage. [1]
    • To save time, have a few sets of clean food and water dishes on hand to make the swap easier.
    • Dishes can also be washed in the dishwasher for a more thorough clean.
  2. Line the cage with newspaper that you can replace daily. Remove and dispose of the old newspaper, then place a new layer over the entire bottom surface of the cage. Use only black and white printed pages, as color ink can be toxic to birds. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. Conures are active birds that like to chew and play, and they benefit from having a variety of non-toxic toys at their disposal. Remove and clean any toys that are inside your conure's cage to ensure that they have no debris on them from food or droppings. Wash the toys with warm water and dish soap, and rinse them thoroughly. [3]
    • To make the daily maintenance of your bird's cage easier, have a large number of clean toys on hand to swap with dirty toys that you remove to clean. The variety will keep your pet's interest in addition to reducing your daily washing.
  4. Each day, wipe down any perches inside the cage. Use a clean, damp cloth to remove any debris or dirt that may be stuck to the perch. If the perch looks especially soiled, remove it to wash with soap and water or a bird-safe disinfectant, available in pet stores or online. [4]
  5. Each day, provide your conure with a bowl of lukewarm water to wash in. Leave the bowl in the cage only long enough for the bird to use it, then remove it right away. Discard the water and wash the bowl with warm water and dish soap, or run it through the dishwasher. [5]
    Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Doing a Thorough Weekly Cleaning

  1. Remove your bird from its cage and place it in a safe location, such an an alternate cage in another room of your home. Remove the liner, toys, bowls, and accessories from the cage. Use a brush and dustpan to clear out any visible debris in the cage. [6]
  2. Fill a bucket with hot water and dish soap. Using a clean cloth, wipe down the entire interior of the cage with soapy water, including the perches. Use a scrub brush to remove any stubborn stains or dirt. [7]
    • To avoid a mess, wash the cage in a bathtub or outdoors.
    • If the cage has a seed apron or skirt around it, wash that thoroughly as well. Allow it to air dry.
  3. Rinse out the soapy water using a removable shower head or hose, if possible. Spray it with a bird-safe disinfectant spray (e.g. available at pet stores, or online), coating the entire surface. Rinse the cage thoroughly.
    • Air dry the cage before putting anything back into it. To help it dry faster, place it outdoors in the sun.
  4. Conures require medium or large cages that are at least 24" (approximately 60 cm) wide, 24" deep, and 24" tall, meaning that a large area of floor underneath the cage may become soiled with food or dirt from above. [8] If the floor is carpeted, use a handheld vacuum or If the floor underneath is not carpeted, sweep up debris with a broom and dustpan. [9]
    • Invest in a clear plastic carpet mat like the ones used under desks in offices. This surface will be easier to clean and disinfect than the carpet.
  5. Conures love to hide under soft things like stuffed toys or blankets, and they benefit from having them in their cage. Once a week, wash blankets, plush toys, and soft ropes in the washing machine with a liquid detergent. Dry them fully before returning them to the cage. [10]
  6. Return the cage to its normal spot and put all the items back into the cage. Place fresh newspaper on the floor and refill the food and water bowls. Return your conure to its home. [11]
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make a Dog Stop Biting
      How to
      Stop Cat Bullying: Recognizing the Signs and Stopping the Behavior
      How to
      Remove a Tick from a Cat
      How to
      Identify a Dutch Shepherd
      How to
      Leash Train a Puppy
      How to
      Recognize Distemper Symptoms in Dogs
      How to
      Trick Your Dog Into Drinking Water
      How to
      Tame a Feral Cat
      How to
      Prepare Home Cooked Food for Your Dog
      How to
      Identify Canine Ear Mites
      How to
      Get Dog Poop Out of Your Carpet in 8 Easy Steps
      How to
      Help an Older Dog Grieve the Loss of Its Owner
      How to
      Give an Insulin Shot to Dogs
      How to
      Breed Betta Fish
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.petco.com/content/content-hub/home/articlePages/01/bird-cage-cleaning-daily-weekly-and-monthly-bird-cage-maint.html
      2. ↑ https://www.petco.com/content/content-hub/home/articlePages/01/bird-cage-cleaning-daily-weekly-and-monthly-bird-cage-maint.html
      3. ↑ http://www.superpetwarehouse.co.uk/conure-care.html
      4. ↑ http://www.superpetwarehouse.co.uk/conure-care.html
      5. ↑ http://www.superpetwarehouse.co.uk/conure-care.html
      6. ↑ http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=665
      7. ↑ http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=665
      8. ↑ http://www.bird-cage.com/conure-cages
      9. ↑ https://www.petcha.com/best-ways-to-clean-a-pet-bird-cage-mess/
      1. ↑ http://www.bird-cage.com/conure-cages
      2. ↑ https://www.petco.com/content/content-hub/home/articlePages/01/bird-cage-cleaning-daily-weekly-and-monthly-bird-cage-maint.html

      About this article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,178 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Bernadette Kisselback

        Oct 28, 2018

        "My conure had been a very fun and loving pet, but this is his first time being sick. You have supplied me with the ..." more

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement