How to Disinfect a Finch Cage

There are a variety of diseases that can infect your birds. These can be bacterial, viral or parasitical in nature. It is important to disinfect your finch cage to maintain the health of your pets. However, disinfecting a cage is not as easy as grabbing any bottle of cleaner off the shelf at your local pet store. Choose the right disinfectant and clean the cage properly to protect your birds.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine which specific germs (pathogens) you want to destroy. Not all disinfectants kill all germs. There are a variety of premixed products available. Some bird owners choose to mix their own disinfectant by combining 3/4 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water.

2. Evaluate the products available to you and choose a disinfectant that destroys the majority of the germs you wish to rid the cage of. It is important to determine which germs pose the most threat to your birds and focus on eliminating those from the finch cage.

3. Read the entire label if you choose a premixed disinfectant. You must learn how to use the product before you start cleaning indiscriminately. A product used incorrectly can be useless or even harmful to your birds.

4. Relocate your finches to a temporary cage while you clean their home.

5. Clean the finch cage of dirt and debris before you disinfect it. The cage can be cleaned with soap and hot water. Once you have cleaned the cage, rinse it thoroughly before applying the disinfectant. If you use a chemical to clean the cage, you need to make sure it is completely removed before using a disinfectant. This is the only way to avoid a reaction between the two chemicals.

6. Leave the cleaner on long enough for it to work without allowing it to damage the surface of the cage. The label could require the disinfectant to be left on anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

7. Rinse the cage completely after you disinfect it, and then allow it to dry in the sun before returning your birds to their home.

Tips & Warnings

• Research a disinfectant online before purchasing the product. Birds N Ways offers product definitions (see Resources below).
• Washing the cage and its contents regularly with soap and water will reduce the need for disinfecting.
• If you choose to use the bleach mixture to disinfect the cage, avoid using it on metal surfaces.
• Do not rely solely on a disinfectant to cure a disease affecting your finches. This is only one step. Take measures to prevent disease and consult your veterinarian if your birds become sick.

Resources

• Birds N Ways for definitions of the different types of disinfectants.