Instructions
Make sure the cage is large enough for your bird. Get the biggest cage possible. When it comes to birds in the classroom, the best choices are canaries and finches. They aren't as social as budgies or other larger parrots. The cage bars should be at most 1/4 inch apart. Bars should be horizontal and vertical to make climbing as easy as possible. The size of the cage should allow the bird to open its wings as well as short flights if it remains inside the cage.
Due to birds' weak immune systems, the cage should be cleaned two to three times a week. This includes the bedding or paper that is used in the bottom tray. Toys, bells, mirrors and perches should be disinfected once a month and left to air dry before you place them back inside the cage.
The bird needs clean food and water every day. Even if it has some seed left in its bowl, throw it out and give it fresh feed.
The class pet should be taken home every weekend with the teacher. Due to how quickly a bird can become ill, leaving it at school over the weekend could result in a dead bird on Monday.
Use bird-safe cleaners. Most schools have custodians who comes in during the evenings. The chemicals they use cannot be used in the same room as a bird. There are bird-safe cleaners available at most pet stores. Use those instead.
Cover birds in the evenings. Windows in the classroom can cause drafts. These drafts can make your bird sick. By keeping a bird covered, you lessen the likelihood of illness or death.
Wash your hands before handling the bird. If the bird is social and the children are old enough to gently handle it, hands must be washed and dried first. This is to keep the bird as well as your students safe.
Check with parents to see if any of your students have allergies to birds or feathers. While the focus is to keep the bird comfortable, the same goes for your students.
Keep the cage at an elevation where it can be monitored, but not bothered by the students. This level should be below the teacher's eye level while standing and out of reach of small hands.
Get the bird checked by an exotic vet on a regular basis. Three to four months between visits is normal. However, if the bird is acting listless, walking on the floor of the cage, not singing or eating, it may need emergency care. Birds don't show signs of illness until its well into their systems. If left untreated, the bird could die overnight.
How to Keep Birds in the Classroom
Keeping birds as class pets isn't as common as keeping fish, rodents or reptiles. However, if the proper precautions are taken, it is possible. Birds, unlike other animals, have very fragile immune systems. They need a clean environment at all times without the use of common cleaners. Such chemicals can damage their lungs, cause upper respiratory infections or even death. They also demand more attention, including being held, talked to and taken out of the cage.