How to Disinfect Your Dead Bird's Cage

Disinfecting your bird's cage should be a regular procedure, and a cage should certainly be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after the death of a bird. The last thing any owner wants to deal with after the death of a pet is the thought that their new pet could be infected by the bacteria that harmed their old animal. The steps in disinfecting a cage are generally the same as for a normal cleaning, but with more emphasis on killing germs than just freshening up the cage.

Things You'll Need

  • Cleaning tub
  • Scrub brush
  • Vinegar or bleach
  • Spray bottle of vinegar
  • Spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide (any strength)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove all of your old bird's various toys and accessories. If you intend to use the cage again for a new bird, disinfect them using the same process detailed here and set them aside to put back into the cage. If you don't intend to reuse them right away, disinfect them and put them into storage.

    • 2

      Throw out all toys and accessories that are wooden or contain food. Bacteria from your previous bird may have infected the items, and you don't want to pass anything on to your new bird.

    • 3

      Take out the removable tray at the bottom of the cage and empty it out.

    • 4

      Soak the cage and the removable tray in hot water with either vinegar or bleach for 10 minutes. Use a solution that is 10 parts water to 1 part bleach or vinegar. For example, measure out 10 cups of water and add 1 cup of vinegar. This will kill germs and loosen any dirt or droppings that could be hard to get off. Rinse the cage and tray with clean water when the 10 minutes have elapsed.

    • 5

      Scrub both the cage and tray to remove any crust. A dish or bathroom brush should work just fine for this. Once the cage is free of dirt, spray the cage with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar to create a powerful disinfectant. Just spray an area with vinegar and then spray same area with the hydrogen peroxide. The vinegar and hydrogen peroxide will mix together and disinfect the cage, and since this mixture is non-toxic rinsing the cage again is optional.

    • 6

      Reassemble the cage or put it into storage until you are ready to use it again.