CAGE CARE
Routine cage care is as essential to the cage bird’s well-being as a regular supply of fresh food and water. The cups and perches should be cleaned daily, therefore an extra set of each is desirable. Clean cups are filled with fresh seed and water in advance and along with clean perches are set in the cage when the soiled cups and perches are removed, scrubbed, and dried for use the following day. Uneaten seed can be poured from hand to hand and the husks and chaff blown off, then added to fresh seed and reused. Damp or wet perches are thought to be harmful.
Take out the drawer tray and dump the soiled gravel. Wash the tray with hot suds; rinse, dry, cover it with fresh gravel, and replace it in the cage. One advantage of the removable cage bottom is that if it is soiled it can be withdrawn and cleaned just before the clean drawer tray is replaced.
Once a week the cage should be completely scrubbed with a stiff brush, good suds, and hot water. Be sure all cracks and crevices are cleaned out for they are breeding places for red mites. While this is going on the bird may be allowed free flight if the room is safe; otherwise it should be transferred to a temporary cage.